De fik behandling med enten sunitinib i en gentagen cyklus på 6 uger, bestående af 4 uger på 50 mg daglig oral administration, efterfulgt af 2 ugers pause (doseringsskema 4/ 2) eller IFN- α, administreret som en subkutan injektion på 3 millioner enheder (MIE) den første uge, 6 MIE den anden uge og 9 MIE den tredje uge, og herefter 3 på hinanden følgende dage hver uge.
Seven hundred and fifty patients were randomized 1:1 to the treatment arms; they received treatment with either sunitinib in repeated 6-week cycles, consisting of 4 weeks of 50 mg daily oral administration followed by 2 weeks of rest (Schedule 4/ 2), or IFN-α, administered as a subcutaneous injection of 3 million units (MU) the first week, 6 MU the second week, and 9 MU the third week and thereafter on 3 non-consecutive days each week.