Sutent Dosage

Generic name: SUNITINIB MALATE 12.5mg
Dosage form: capsule
Drug classes: Multikinase inhibitors, VEGF/VEGFR inhibitors

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Mar 25, 2025.

Recommended Dosage for GIST and Advanced RCC

The recommended dosage of SUTENT for gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) and advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is 50 mg taken orally once daily, on a schedule of 4 weeks on treatment followed by 2 weeks off (Schedule 4/2) until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. SUTENT may be taken with or without food.

Recommended Dosage for Adjuvant Treatment of RCC

The recommended dosage of SUTENT for the adjuvant treatment of RCC is 50 mg taken orally once daily, on a schedule of 4 weeks on treatment followed by 2 weeks off (Schedule 4/2), for nine 6-week cycles. SUTENT may be taken with or without food.

Recommended Dosage for pNET

The recommended dosage of SUTENT for pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNET) is 37.5 mg taken orally once daily until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. SUTENT may be taken with or without food.

Dosage Modifications for Adverse Reactions

To manage adverse reactions, the recommended dosage modifications are provided in Table 1. Table 2 provides the recommended dosage reductions of SUTENT for adverse reactions.

Table 1. Recommended Dosage Reductions of SUTENT for Adverse Reactions
Indications	GIST	RCC		pNET
Indications	GIST	Advanced RCC	Adjuvant RCC	pNET
First dose reduction	37.5 mg once daily	37.5 mg once daily	37.5 mg once daily	25 mg once daily
Second dose reduction	25 mg once daily	25 mg once daily	NA	NA

Table 2. Recommended Dosage Modifications for SUTENT for Adverse Reactions
Adverse Reaction	Severity	Dosage Modifications for SUTENT
Hepatotoxicity	Grade 3	• Withhold until resolution to Grade 0 to 1 or baseline. • Resume at a reduced dose. • For recurring Grade 3 permanently discontinue.
Hepatotoxicity	Grade 4	• Permanently discontinue.
Cardiovascular events	Asymptomatic cardiomyopathy (left ventricular ejection fraction greater than 20% but less than 50% below baseline or below the lower limit of normal if baseline was not obtained)	• Withhold until resolution to Grade 0 to 1 or baseline. • Resume at reduced dose.
Cardiovascular events	Clinically manifested congestive heart failure (CHF)	• Permanently discontinue.
Hypertension	Grade 3	• Withhold until resolution to Grade 0 to 1 or baseline. • Resume at a reduced dose.
Hypertension	Grade 4	• Permanently discontinue.
Hemorrhagic events	Grade 3 or 4	• Withhold until resolution to Grade 0 to 1 or baseline. • Either resume at a reduced dose or discontinue depending on the severity and persistence of adverse reaction.
Thrombotic microangiopathy	Any Grade	• Permanently discontinue.
Proteinuria or Nephrotic syndrome	3 or more grams proteinuria in 24 hours in the absence of nephrotic syndrome	• Withhold until resolution to Grade 0 to 1 or baseline. • Resume at a reduced dose.
Proteinuria or Nephrotic syndrome	Nephrotic syndrome or recurrent proteinuria of 3 or more grams per 24 hours despite dose reductions	• Permanently discontinue.
Dermatological toxicities Erythema multiforme (EM), Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), Necrotizing fasciitis	Any Grade	• Permanently discontinue.
Reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome	Any Grade	• Permanently discontinue.
Osteonecrosis of the jaw	Any Grade	• The safety of resumption of SUTENT after osteonecrosis has not been established. • Either resume at a reduced dose or discontinue depending on the severity and persistence of the adverse reaction.
Impaired wound healing	Any Grade	• The safety of resumption of SUTENT after resolution of wound healing has not been established. • Either resume at a reduced dose or discontinue depending on the severity and persistence of the adverse reaction.

Dosage Modification for Drug Interactions

Strong CYP3A4 Inhibitors

Select an alternate concomitant medication with no or minimal enzyme inhibition potential. If coadministration of SUTENT with a strong CYP3A4 inhibitor cannot be avoided, consider a dose reduction for SUTENT to a minimum dosage as follows:

•: GIST and RCC: 37.5 mg orally once daily, on a schedule of 4 weeks on treatment followed by 2 weeks off (Schedule 4/2)
•: pNET: 25 mg orally once daily

Strong CYP3A4 Inducers

Select an alternate concomitant medication with no or minimal enzyme induction potential. If coadministration of SUTENT with a strong CYP3A4 inducer cannot be avoided, consider a dose increase for SUTENT to a maximum dosage as follows:

•: GIST and RCC: 87.5 mg orally once daily, on a schedule of 4 weeks on treatment followed by 2 weeks off (Schedule 4/2)
•: pNET: 62.5 mg orally once daily

If the dose of SUTENT is increased, monitor patients carefully for adverse reactions.

Dosage Modification for End-Stage Renal Disease Patients on Hemodialysis

No starting dose adjustment is required in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on hemodialysis. However, given the decreased exposure compared to patients with normal renal function, subsequent doses may be increased gradually up to 2-fold based on safety and tolerability.