Sunitinib for the treatment of thyroid cancer.
Sunitinib is an oral oxindol derivative and a potent inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor and platelet-derived growth factor receptor and a multitargeted tyrosine-kinase inhibitor, which has antitumor and antiangiogenic activity due to the selective inhibition that can stabilize progressive metastatic disease. The aim of this review is to expose whether the drug could be considered as a new promising therapy compared with other tyrosine-kinase inhibitors. Areas covered: In seven open-label studies carried out with sunitinb, the drug showed its anti-tumoral activity in advanced differentiated thyroid carcinoma and in medullary thyroid carcinoma. The reported objectives in advanced differentiated thyroid carcinoma, partial response ranges 13% to 55.5%, stable disease ranges 44.4% to 68%, progressive disease ranges 10% to 21% of patients, progression free survival ranges 3 to 13.3% months. In medullary thyroid carcinoma, PR ranges 0% to 55%, SD ranges 44.4% to 87.5%, PD ranges 7% to 18.8% and progression free survivalranges seven to 21 months. Expert opinion: Sunitinib has demonstrated a potent anti-tumoral activity in differentiated thyroid carcinoma and in medullary thyroid carcinoma, but the results of the open-label trials single arm are limited. Further investigations with this agent with randomized trials are warranted.
a Researcher of CIBERDEM (Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas Asociadas), Endocrinology Service , Hospital Universitario de Bellvitge , Barcelona , Spain.
José-Manuel
JM
Gómez-Sáez
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018278:Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D006801:Humans; D007211:Indoles / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077210:Sunitinib; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D007211:Indoles; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D011758:Pyrroles; D000077210:Sunitinib
Differentiated thyroid carcinoma; medullary thyroid carcinoma; open-label trials; randomized trials; sunitinib; tyrosine-kinase inhibitors