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Published on: April 3, 2026
Sunitinib for patients with locally advanced or distantly metastatic dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans but resistant to
Yan Fu1, Huanrong Kang1, Hui Zhao1
1Department of Medical Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of PLA General Hospital Beijing 100048, China.
Purpose:
This study evaluated the efficacy and adverse effects of Imatinib therapy to advanced Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberan (DFSP) and Sunitinib therapy to advanced Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberan (DFSP) after Imatinib resistance.
Methods:
We analyzed the efficacy, adverse effects and survival of 95 patients with locally advanced or metastatic DFSP treated by Imatinib between January 2003 and December 2009, and also analyzed the efficacy and adverse effects of 30 patients after Imatinib failure between January 2008 and December 2011.
Results:
In all 95 patients treated by Imatinib, 16 had complete response (CR, 16.8%), 44 had partial response (PR, 46.3%), 23 had stable disease (SD, 24.2%) and 12 had progressive disease (PD, 12.6%). The DCR (CR+PR+SD) was 87.4%. The median PFS was 23 months and the OS was 40 months. For 30 patients had Sunitinib treatment after Imatinib failure, 2 had CR (6.7%), 10 had PR (33.3%), 12 had SD (40%) and 6 had PD (20%). The disease control rate (DCR=CR+PR+SD) was 73.3%. The progression free survival (PFS) of CR and PR patients were 22 months and 20 months respectively. The PFS of 12 SD was 18 months, and overall survival (OS) was 28 months. And the median PFS and OS of all 30 patients were 19 and 27 months respectively after Sunitinib treatment. Most of the Imatinib-induced adverse effects are of grade 1-2, including nausea, water retention/edema, fatigue, etc.
Conclusion:
Imatinib has been proven to be effective and well-tolerated in the treatment of locally advanced or inoperable patients with DFSP. After Imatinib failure, Sunitinib therapy showed good clinical efficacy and tolerated adverse effects as a new treatment option for such patients.
Insights
Imatinib is effective for advanced Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP). Sunitinib offers a new treatment option for DFSP patients resistant to Imatinib, showing good efficacy and tolerability.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Medical Research
Background:
- Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is a rare skin cancer.
- Advanced or unresectable DFSP poses treatment challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate Imatinib efficacy in advanced DFSP.
- To assess Sunitinib efficacy in DFSP post-Imatinib resistance.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 95 patients treated with Imatinib.
- Analysis of 30 patients treated with Sunitinib after Imatinib failure.
Main Results:
- Imatinib achieved an 87.4% disease control rate (DCR) with median progression-free survival (PFS) of 23 months.
- Sunitinib showed a 73.3% DCR in Imatinib-resistant cases, with median PFS of 19 months.
Conclusions:
- Imatinib is effective and well-tolerated for advanced DFSP.
- Sunitinib is a viable treatment option for Imatinib-resistant DFSP, with good efficacy and tolerability.
