Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of sunitinib for the treatment of advanced pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

Despite being the second most common malignancy of the pancreas, pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNET) have long been understudied due to their low incidence and heterogeneous clinical presentation. Emerging data from a Phase III trial demonstrates improved progression-free survival of patients with advanced PNET on treatment with sunitinib .

AREAS COVERED:

This article reviews the role of sunitinib, a multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor with potent antiangiogenic and antitumor effects, in the clinical management of PNET. Furthermore, the authors also discuss the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics as well as other clinically relevant aspects regarding sunitinib.

EXPERT OPINION:

A recent Phase III clinical trial of sunitinib demonstrated significant improvement of progression-free survival in patients with advanced or metastatic well-differentiated PNET that led to its approval in several countries, including Europe and United States. This marks a significant step forward in the clinical management of this disease and spurs hopes to further improve overall survival in this once difficult-to-treat set of patients in the coming years. Fields of future interest will include evaluation of combinatorial regimens, including conventional cytotoxic agents as well as additional targeted drugs in order to overcome resistance to sunitinib.

• Authors: Savita Bisht, Georg Feldmann, Peter Brossart
• Journal: Expert opinion on drug metabolism & toxicology (Expert Opin Drug Metab Toxicol) Vol. 9 Issue 6 Pg. 777-88 (Jun 2013) ISSN: 1744-7607 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 23590356 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Review)

Chemical References

• Angiogenesis Inhibitors
• Antineoplastic Agents
• Indoles
• Pyrroles
• Sunitinib

Topics

• Angiogenesis Inhibitors (pharmacokinetics, pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Animals
• Antineoplastic Agents (pharmacokinetics, pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic
• Disease-Free Survival
• Humans
• Indoles (pharmacokinetics, pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Neovascularization, Pathologic (drug therapy, pathology)
• Neuroendocrine Tumors (drug therapy, pathology)
• Pancreatic Neoplasms (drug therapy, pathology)
• Pyrroles (pharmacokinetics, pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Sunitinib