title: Experience in the use of sunitinib given as a single agent in metastatic chemoresistant and castration-resistant prostate cancer patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) and platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR) correlate with poor prognosis in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Sunitinib has shown activity in CRPC and at the time of this analysis there was no standard therapy for docetaxel-refractory CRPC.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present a case series data collection of 19 patients with a median age of 73 years, CRPC and rising prostate-specific antigen (PSA). Patients received sunitinib 37.5 mg continuous daily dose. One cycle comprised a 4-week period. Patients were evaluated by CT scan every 8 weeks and PSA was monitored every 4 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Median Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status score was 2. Patients received a median of two previous treatment lines for the hormone-refractory setting. Baseline median PSA was 280 ng/ml. Patients received a median of 16 weeks of therapy (4 - 48+). One patient achieved a partial response (5%) and 12 (66.7%) achieved stable disease for at least 3 months according to RECIST criteria. Median progression-free survival was 4 months. PSA declined > 50% in 5/19 (26.3%) and stabilized in 7/19 (37%) patients. Frequent adverse events were grade 3 asthenia (21%), grade 3 diarrhea (10%) and grade 3 hand-foot syndrome (15.7%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Activity with sunitinib was observed in highly pretreated docetaxel-refractory CRPC with acceptable tolerability. Additional studies should confirm the role of antiangiogenic agents in this setting.
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology Department, 12 de Octubre University Hospital, Av. Córdoba Km 5,4, PO Box 28041, Madrid, Spain. cdanicas@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Castellano
authors.forename: José L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: González-Larriba
authors.forename: Luis M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Antón-Aparicio
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cassinello
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Grande
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Esteban
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sepúlveda
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000740:Anemia / Q000139:chemically induced; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002369:Castration; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000139:chemically induced; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D005221:Fatigue / Q000139:chemically induced; D060831:Hand-Foot Syndrome; D006801:Humans; D007211:Indoles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077210:Sunitinib; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D007211:Indoles; D011758:Pyrroles; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen; D000077210:Sunitinib