Sunitinib is one of several new antiangiogenic agents undergoing tests of efficacy in the treatment of various types of cancer. Renal-cell carcinoma of the clear-cell type is particularly important in this regard because of the evidence that mutations in the VHL gene result in stimulation of cellular receptors that promote angiogenesis and tumor growth. This trial found promising results with sunitinib in the treatment of metastatic renal-cell cancer.

The prognosis in metastatic renal-cell cancer, especially of the dominant clear-cell type, is dismal. This trial compared sorafenib, an orally active inhibitor of the proliferation of cancer cells and tumor angiogenesis, with placebo in patients with metastatic clear-cell renal cancer. The results with sorafenib were modest but encouraging enough to test the drug as an initial adjuvant treatment.

This study analyzed the response to nevirapine-based antiretroviral treatment among 218 HIV-infected women in Botswana who had previously received either a single dose of nevirapine or placebo at the time of labor. After the single dose of nevirapine, 18.4% of recipients had treatment failure, as compared with only 5.0% who received placebo. However, the risk of virologic failure did not seem to be increased when antiretroviral treatment was initiated 6 months or more, as compared with less than 6 months, after the peripartum dose of nevirapine.

Homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia is a serious disorder resulting in early-onset vascular disease. This preliminary study explored a new therapy, an inhibitor of microsomal triglyceride transfer protein, which was very effective in lowering low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. Practical application of this therapy may be limited, however, by substantial accumulation of hepatic fat and elevation of liver aminotransferase levels.