ATLANTA—Sunitinib (Sutent), which blocks several tumor tyrosine kinase targets, and sorafenib (Nexavar), which targets the tumor Raf/MEK/ERK pathway, are both active in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), according to phase II studies, and should be investigated further in earlier stages of the disease and in combination with other targeted agents, researchers said at the American Society of Clinical Oncology 42nd Annual Meeting.

Sunitinib Trial

Sunitinib is an oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor targeting a number of ligands on tumor cells, tumor neovasculature, and tumor pericytes. Mark A. Socinski, MD, of the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, reported that in an open-label phase II trial of sunitinib in 63 patients with advanced refractory NSCLC, the drug shrank or stabilized tumors in over 52% of patients (abstract 7001). "This is the first clinical trial to evaluate sunitinib alone in advanced lung cancer patients for whom prior therapy has failed," Dr. Socinski said. "Our findings suggest that sunitinib may have a place in the treatment of lung cancer, alone or in combination with other agents." Sunitinib is a once-daily oral drug that inhibits several kinase enzymes in cancer cells, including vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR).

Patients received 50 mg of sunitinib daily for 4 weeks, followed by 2 weeks off. Treatment continued until disease progression. Dr. Socinski reported confirmed partial responses (PRs) in 6 patients (9.5%) and stable disease in another 27 patients (42.9%) (see Table). One patient had an ongoing tumor response at 30.3 weeks.

"The majority of patients had a decrease in the size of the target lesion," Dr. Socinski said. "This is outstanding in such a refractory group of patients."

Most side effects were mild or moderate, most commonly fatigue, nausea, shortness of breath, vomiting, anorexia, or diarrhea. Serious (grade 3-4) side effects included fatigue (27%), shortness of breath (13%), asthenia (9.5%), and nausea/vomiting (10%). There were three deaths, all due to bleeding. Two were pulmonary, and one was a cerebral hemorrhage. Dr. Socinski said that this type of problem might be a class effect with antiangiogenesis drugs. "The therapeutic benefit warrants some risk," he said.

This trial is being extended to explore a continuous dosing strategy of sunitinib at 37.5 mg/d. Dr. Socinski said that the next step for sunitinib will be to move the drug from the refractory setting to first-line use.

Ulrich Gatzemeier, MD, of Hospital Grosshansdorf, Hamburg, Germany, reported data from a phase II trial of single-agent sorafenib in 54 patients with advanced relapsed or refractory NSCLC (abstract 7002). Patients were treated with sorafenib (400 mg twice daily) and were evaluated every 8 weeks.