Novel kinase inhibitors in renal cell carcinoma: Progressive development of static agents

The rapidly expanding knowledge regarding neoplastic diseases is providing a plethora of new targets for drug discovery and development as exemplified by recent data in renal cell carcinoma. The initial experience with molecularly "targeted" agents has demonstrated that development of the newer non-cytotoxic agents will provide unique challenges requiring modification of many traditional drug development concepts and methods. We discuss recently reported data from a few renal cell carcinoma trials with putative cytostatic agents and highlight issues that need to be addressed for efficient development of cytostatic agents during various phases of clinical development. Copyright © 2006 by Current Science Inc.