Sorafenib for the treatment of kidney and liver cancer

Sorafenib for the treatment of kidney and liver cancer 

http://www.tajaccura.com/product/sorafenibsoranib-200mg/
 

Sorafenib is a member of the tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), which are a class of anti-cancer drugs. Sorafenib is one of many generic oncology products available from Taj Accura Pharmaceuticals. 

What is Sorafenib used for?
Sorafenib is mainly used for the treatment of:

·         Renal cell carcinoma (a cancer that begins in the kidneys but then spreads out to other regions)[i]

·         Hepatocellular carcinoma (this is the most common type of liver cancer. It is often caused by alcoholism or a viral hepatitis infection)[ii] and

·         Advanced Thyroid Carcinoma that has become resistant to radioactive iodine.

How does Sorafenib work?
Sorafenib induces a process known as autophagy.[iii] This involves the destruction of the cancer cells. Autophagy actually takes places with normal cells all the time as it is necessary for maintaining the body in a healthy state.

Sorafenib works by inhibiting the actions of the tyrosine kinase enzymes. These enzymes are present on cancer cells and on blood vessels. They prevent the tumour from making new blood vessels (angiogenesis). This is beneficial because angiogenesis is what provides the tumour with blood and thus limits the blood supply to important organs.

Sorafenib is a targeted therapy so it is much less toxic than the chemotherapeutic agents that were used in the past.  The reason that the old anti-cancer drugs caused so many side effects was that they targeted all fast-dividing cells which includes cancer cells but also naturally fast-dividing cells such as those in the bone marrow. Targeted therapies avoid this by focusing on more characteristic features of cancer cells that healthy cells are less likely to share.

Are there any side effects associated with the use of Sorafenib?
As mentioned previously, Sorafenib is a safer drug than many of the older chemotherapeutics because it is a targeted therapy. Having said that, there is always a risk of side effects developing when patients are treated with any medicine. Possible side effects that might arise include: 

·         An increased risk of infection due to low white blood cell counts

·         Hair Loss (alopecia)

·         Hand-foot syndrome (rashes and skin-peeling on the hands and feet. Symptoms can be alleviated by reducing the dose of sorafenib).

·         Itchiness (pruritis) and

·         Hypertension (high blood pressure).

Patients are advised to contact their doctor, pharmacist or nurse if they have any questions regarding treatment with Sorafenib. 

How is Sorafenib given?
Patients should take their Sorafenib tablets without food. It is best to take Sorafenib either an hour before food or at least 2 hours after. The exact dose differs between patients, according to the instructions of their doctor because it depends on the type of cancer and on other features of the patients such as their general health.

Conclusion  Sorafenib tablets are available from Taj Accura Pharmaceuticals at doses of 200 mg. Please visit www.tajaccura.com for further details.

Always remember to consult your Doctor or Healthcare Professional if you have any questions about your own health or medications.   

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[i] Escudier B, Eisen T, Stadler WM, Szczylik C, Oudard S, Siebels M, Negrier S, Chevreau C, Solska E, Desai AA, Rolland F, Demkow T, Hutson TE, Gore M, Freeman S, Schwartz B, Shan M, Simantov R, Bukowski RM (January 2007). "Sorafenib in advanced clear-cell renal-cell carcinoma". New England Journal of Medicine 356 (2): 125–34

[ii] Llovet et al. (2008). "Sorafenib in Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma". New England Journal of Medicine 359 (4): 378–90

[iii] Zhang Y (Jan 2014). "Screening of kinase inhibitors targeting BRAF for regulating autophagy based on kinase pathways." J Mol Med Rep 9 (1): 83–90.

http://www.tajaccura.com/product/sorafenibsoranib-200mg/