The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently approved sunitinib malate, a new targeted anti-cancer treatment. This development marks the first time the FDA approved a new oncology product for two indications – kidney cancer and gastrointestinal stromal stumors, simultaneously.
"This important advancement in cancer therapy is truly an exciting and amazing day for us, our Oncology division and the patients we serve," said Hank McKinnell, chairman and chief executive officer of the manufacturing company.
According to the American Cancer Society, about 32,000 new cases of advanced kidney cancer and 5,000 cases of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are diagnosed each year.
Kidney cancer, also known as renal cell carcinoma (RCC), is a relatively rare, but often serious disease in which cancer cells are found in certain tissues of the kidney.
An estimated 208,500 new cases of kidney cancer will be diagnosed this year worldwide and 101,900 patients will die from the disease.
In the early stages, kidney cancer does not usually show symptoms. However, late symptoms include blood in the urine, a lump in the abdomen, low back pain, fatigue, weight loss, recurrent fevers, high blood pressure and swelling of the ankles and legs. It usually occurs in people over the age of 50 and is more common in men than women.
GIST belongs to a group of rare cancers called soft tissue sarcomas found in the GI tract. Sarcomas begin in the connective tissues which include the muscle, fat, fibrous tissue, blood vessels, or other supporting tissue of the body. Symptoms include painless lump in the abdomen, abdominal discomfort or pain, vomiting, blood in stools or vomit, fatigue, high fever and anemia.
GIST patients range from the teens to the 90s but the peak age is around 60 years old. Currently, there are no known risk factors for GIST.
Sunitinib malate is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor working through multiple targets to deprive the tumor cells of the blood and nutrients needed to grow.
It is a prescription medicine requiring registration with the Bureau of Food and Drugs. Its manufacturer is currently applying for its registration to enable them to market and distribute the said medicine in the Philippines. Being a prescription medicine, patients are encouraged to always consult with their doctors prior to taking the drug.
This health information is brought to you by Pfizer, a global, research-based healthcare company that discovers, develops, manufactures and markets effective, innovative and safe medicines for humans and animals, and many of the best-known consumer products.
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