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Expanding the boundaries of clinical practice: building on experience with targeted therapies

C N Sternberg1

  • 1Department of Medical Oncology, San Camillo Forlanini Hospital, Rome, Italy. cstern@mclink.it

Annals of Oncology : Official Journal of the European Society for Medical Oncology
|May 12, 2009
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Targeted agents like sunitinib significantly improve survival for advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST). These therapies are becoming standard care, offering new hope for patients with these difficult-to-treat cancers.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Pharmacology
  • Clinical Medicine

Background:

  • Understanding cancer mechanisms in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST) has identified key therapeutic targets.
  • Targeted therapies have significantly improved patient outcomes for RCC and GIST.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review management strategies for metastatic RCC (mRCC) and advanced GIST using targeted agents.
  • To examine clinical evidence for these targeted therapies.
  • To consider future directions in RCC and GIST treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Review of clinical evidence for targeted agents in mRCC and advanced GIST.
  • Analysis of phase III trial data for sunitinib in treatment-naive mRCC patients.
  • Examination of sunitinib efficacy in imatinib-resistant/intolerant advanced GIST.

Main Results:

  • Sunitinib more than doubled progression-free survival and exceeded 2-year overall survival in treatment-naive mRCC patients compared to interferon-alfa.
  • Sunitinib is now a standard of care for first-line mRCC treatment; bevacizumab plus interferon-alfa is also recommended.
  • Sunitinib extends survival in advanced GIST patients resistant or intolerant to imatinib and is approved globally for this indication.

Conclusions:

  • Targeted agents represent a significant advancement in treating advanced RCC and GIST.
  • These developments may also benefit patients in adjuvant and neoadjuvant settings.
  • Future research will likely focus on expanding the role of targeted therapies in various cancer stages.

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