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Treatment Options > Chemotherapy > OncoLink Rx

Sunitinib (Sutent®)

Carolyn Vachani, RN, MSN, AOCN
Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania
Last Modified: April 16, 2006

Sunitinib is a type of targeted therapy. This means it works by targeting something specific to the cancer cells, therefore decreasing side effects caused by damage to the healthy cells. Sunitinib actually works by targeting and inhibiting several kinase receptors, including VEGF. VEGF receptors are responsible for angiogenesis, or the development of a blood supply to the tumor, so blocking these receptors removes the tumor's source of nutrients.

Facts about sunitinib

• Sunitinib is approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration to treat patients with advanced renal cell cancer and gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) that have not responded or progressed on imatinib.
• Sunitinib is also being studied in many other diseases, including: lung, breast, prostate, and gastric cancers.

How to take sunitinib

Sunitinib is given in a pill form. Fifty milligrams a day is the typical dose, taken for 4 weeks, then 2 weeks off from therapy.

How long should you take sunitinib? You can receive sunitinib for as long as the cancer cells continue to respond to this therapy and you are tolerating any side effects.