Dr. Cella on His Focus in the Axitinib and Sorafenib Trial

David Cella, PhD, a clinical research specialist and chair of the Department of Medical Social Science at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago on the side effect focus of the axitinib and sorafenib trial discovered as the lead investigator of the patient-reported outcomes phase III AXIS trial comparing axitinib to sorafenib as second-line therapy for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC).

Dr. Cella says both axitinib and sorafenib are generally well tolerated and don't produce the kinds of side effects that the more cytotoxic systemic chemotherapies produce. Axitinib and sorafenib are more targeted. Dr. Cella adds that for the side effects that do exist with these more targeted and more tolerated agents, they want to be sure that those side effects don't outweigh the clinical benefit to delaying progression. Because patients have advanced disease, they have symptoms of disease. A way should be found to measure the time that a patient's freedom from the worsening of symptoms can be extended.