Initial testing (stage 1) of sunitinib by the pediatric preclinical testing program

John M Maris1, Joshua Courtright, Peter J Houghton

  • 1Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. maris@chop.edu

Pediatric Blood & Cancer
|February 23, 2008
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Sunitinib showed significant tumor growth inhibition in pediatric solid tumor models but limited effectiveness against neuroblastoma and ALL. Its anti-angiogenic effects primarily caused tumor growth delay in preclinical models.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Oncology
  • Pharmacology
  • Cancer Research

Background:

  • Sunitinib is an orally bioavailable, multi-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor.
  • It targets PDGF receptors, VEGF receptors, FLT3, and KIT.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the in vitro and in vivo efficacy of sunitinib in pediatric cancer models.
  • To assess sunitinib's activity against various pediatric cancer histologies.

Main Methods:

  • Sunitinib was tested in 23 pediatric cancer cell lines in vitro.
  • Sunitinib efficacy was evaluated in 46 murine xenograft models across 9 pediatric cancer types.
  • Drug administration was via oral gavage for 28 days.

Main Results:

  • Kasumi-1 leukemia cell line with a KIT mutation showed in vitro response (IC50 75.7 nM).
  • Sunitinib significantly prolonged event-free survival in 54% of solid tumor xenografts and 38% of ALL xenografts.
  • Activity was observed against rhabdomyosarcoma, Ewing tumor, and rhabdoid tumor xenografts, with one complete response in a rhabdoid tumor.

Conclusions:

  • Sunitinib demonstrated significant tumor growth inhibition in most pediatric solid tumor models.
  • Activity was limited against neuroblastoma and ALL models.
  • The primary antitumor effect was tumor growth delay, suggesting an anti-angiogenic mechanism.