Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 20, 2026
Tumor Treating Field Therapy in Combination with Bevacizumab for the Treatment of Recurrent Glioblastoma
Published on: October 27, 2014
A prospective phase II single-institution trial of sunitinib for recurrent malignant glioma
Edward Pan1, Daohai Yu, Binglin Yue
1Department of Neuro-Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612-9416, USA. edward.pan@moffitt.org
Abstract:
Single-agent sunitinib, an oral small molecule inhibitor of multiple tyrosine kinase receptors, was evaluated for treatment of patients with recurrent glioblastoma (GB) and anaplastic astrocytoma (AA). Fourteen AA and 16 GB patients, all previously treated with surgery, radiotherapy, and temozolomide, were enrolled in a prospective phase II study at either first or second relapse. Patients were treated with daily sunitinib for 4 consecutive weeks, followed by a 2-week break. For AA patients, the most common side effects were fatigue (86 %), diarrhea (43 %), hand-foot syndrome (36 %), neutropenia (36 %), thrombocytopenia (36 %), and nausea (29 %). In the GB cohort, the most common side effects were fatigue (56 %), diarrhea (44 %), neutropenia (31 %), and thrombocytopenia (25 %). Six of 14 (43 %) AA and 5 of 16 (31 %) GB patients experienced grade 3 or greater toxicities. Five patients discontinued study due to drug toxicities. There were no partial or complete responses in either cohort; 8/14 (57 %) AA and 5/16 (31 %) GB patients had stable disease at the first planned assessment. Progression-free survival at 6 months was 21.5 % (AA) and 16.7 % (GB). Median overall survival was 12.1 months (AA) and 12.6 months (GB). These results are comparable to those reported in the literature in patients treated with standard cytotoxic therapies. This is the largest reported trial of sunitinib in recurrent malignant astrocytic gliomas to date, as well as contains the largest AA cohort. Nonetheless, sunitinib did not demonstrate significant anti-glioma activity in patients with recurrent malignant astrocytic gliomas.
Insights
Sunitinib did not show significant anti-glioma activity in patients with recurrent glioblastoma (GB) or anaplastic astrocytoma (AA). This study evaluated sunitinib
Area of Science:
- Neuro-oncology
- Medical oncology
- Clinical trial research
Background:
- Recurrent glioblastoma (GB) and anaplastic astrocytoma (AA) have limited treatment options.
- Sunitinib is an oral small molecule inhibitor targeting multiple tyrosine kinase receptors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy and safety of single-agent sunitinib in patients with recurrent malignant astrocytic gliomas.
- To assess treatment outcomes in patients with recurrent glioblastoma and anaplastic astrocytoma previously treated with standard therapies.
Main Methods:
- Prospective phase II clinical trial involving 14 anaplastic astrocytoma and 16 glioblastoma patients at first or second relapse.
- Patients received daily sunitinib for 4 weeks followed by a 2-week break.
- Adverse events and clinical outcomes including response, stable disease, progression-free survival, and overall survival were monitored.
Main Results:
- Common side effects included fatigue, diarrhea, neutropenia, and thrombocytopenia in both cohorts.
- Grade 3 or greater toxicities occurred in 43% of AA patients and 31% of GB patients.
- No partial or complete responses were observed; stable disease was achieved in 57% of AA and 31% of GB patients. Progression-free survival at 6 months was 21.5% (AA) and 16.7% (GB). Median overall survival was 12.1 months (AA) and 12.6 months (GB).
Conclusions:
- Sunitinib did not demonstrate significant anti-glioma activity in patients with recurrent malignant astrocytic gliomas.
- The observed efficacy and toxicity profiles were comparable to standard cytotoxic therapies.
- This study represents the largest trial of sunitinib in recurrent malignant astrocytic gliomas to date, including the largest anaplastic astrocytoma cohort.
