Dr. Tannir on Sunitinib Plus Temsirolimus for mRCC

Nizar M. Tannir, MD, FACP, associate professor, deputy department chair, Department of Genitourinary Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses a phase I trial of sunitinib and temsirolimus in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

This combination was previously studied, though was found to be “not viable,” Tannir says. The question remained as to whether these drugs should be tested in combination again.

This phase I trial took a long time to accrue 20 patients, Tannir says, though it was found that these drugs could be combined. Researchers found that temsirolimus must be reduced to 8 or 10 mg weekly in order to maintain the 37.5-mg dosing of sunitinib.