title: Sunitinib in malignant melanoma: a treatment option only for KIT-mutated patients?
abstract: Sunitinib has previously been reported to be potentially effective in the treatment of malignant melanomas expressing c-KIT. Here we report on the case of a 77-year-old gentleman affected by a metastatic clear cell carcinoma of the kidney and a metastatic malignant melanoma with liver and lung metastases. Despite the negativity for CD117 and the absence of KIT amplification or mutations in the melanoma specimen, he achieved a partial response both in the lungs and in the liver while on sunitinib (50 mg once/day, 4 weeks on/2 weeks off) for the treatment of kidney cancer. To our knowledge, this represents the first evidence of sunitinib activity in KIT wild-type melanoma. Further studies should be performed to confirm these preliminary data.
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology, University Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Santini
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vincenzi
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Venditti
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dell'Aquila
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Frezza
authors.forename: Marianna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Silletta
authors.forename: Francesco Maria
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Guida
authors.forename: Rosario Francesco
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Grasso
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Silvestris
authors.forename: Gaetano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lanzetta
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tonini
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D054316:Biomarkers, Pharmacological; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000556:secondary; D006801:Humans; D007211:Indoles / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000556:secondary; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000556:secondary; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D009154:Mutation; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000235:genetics; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D000077210:Sunitinib
chemical_list: D054316:Biomarkers, Pharmacological; D007211:Indoles; D011758:Pyrroles; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit; D000077210:Sunitinib