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New perspectives: role of Sunitinib in breast cancer

M E Fratto1, M Imperatori, B Vincenzi

  • 1Department of Medical Oncology, University Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy.

La Clinica Terapeutica
|July 1, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Sunitinib malate is an oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor effective against renal cell carcinoma and gastro-intestinal stromal tumours. This review explores its potential in treating metastatic breast cancer by blocking key growth signals.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Sunitinib malate (SU11248) is an FDA-approved oral multitarget tyrosine kinase receptor (RTK) inhibitor.
  • It is approved for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and imatinib-resistant/intolerant gastro-intestinal stromal tumour (GIST).
  • Sunitinib targets RTKs including platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF-Rα, β) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGFRs).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To overview relevant studies on Sunitinib in metastatic breast cancer (BC).
  • To explore the rationale for using Sunitinib in BC treatment, potentially combined with other antiangiogenetic therapies.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing scientific literature on Sunitinib and its targets in breast cancer.
  • Analysis of Sunitinib's mechanism of action, including its inhibition of multiple intracellular signaling pathways.

Main Results:

  • Sunitinib inhibits key RTKs and intracellular signaling molecules (KIT, CSF-1R, RET, FLT-3, STAT3, AKT) crucial for tumor growth and survival.
  • Many of these targets are implicated in the progression of human breast cancer.

Conclusions:

  • Sunitinib's ability to simultaneously block multiple RTKs and downstream signals provides a strong rationale for its investigation in metastatic breast cancer.
  • Further studies are warranted to evaluate its efficacy and safety in this patient population.

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