Elsevier

Annals of Oncology

Volume 22, Issue 12, December 2011, Pages 2646-2653
Annals of Oncology

original articles
urogenital tumors
Phase II study of sunitinib as first-line treatment of urothelial cancer patients ineligible to receive cisplatin-based chemotherapy: baseline interleukin-8 and tumor contrast enhancement as potential predictive factors of activity

https://doi.org/10.1093/annonc/mdr023Get rights and content
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Abstract

Background

A strong rationale supports the role of antiangiogenic drugs in urothelial cancer. This trial was designed to assess the activity of sunitinib as first-line treatment in patients with metastatic urothelial cancer ineligible for cisplatin and to explore molecular and imaging variables predictive of clinical benefit.

Patients and methods

This was a multicenter phase II trial with sunitinib 50 mg daily in 4/2-week schedule. Eligibility criteria were as follows: creatinine clearance 30–60 ml/min, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Pperformance Sstatus of one or less, and adequate hepatic and hematologic function. Twelve circulating cytokines were evaluated at baseline and sequentially using Luminex xMAP® (Austin, TX). Baseline and treatment-related changes in perfusion were evaluated in a patient subgroup using contrast-enhanced computed tomography.

Results

On intention-to-treat analysis, 38 patients showed 3 (8%) partial responses (PRs) and 19 (50%) presented with stable disease (SD), 17 (45%) of them ≥3 months. Clinical benefit (PR + SD) was 58%. Median time to progression (TTP) was 4.8 months and median overall survival 8.1 months. Toxicity was consistent with previous reports for sunitinib. Low interleukin-8 (IL-8) baseline levels were significantly associated with increased TTP. Baseline tumor contrast enhancement with >40 Hounsfield units was associated with clinical benefit.

Conclusions

This study highlights the potential role of the angiogenic pathway as a therapy target in urothelial cancer. Baseline IL-8 serum levels and contrast enhancement of lesions warrant further study.

Keywords

biomarkers
interleukin-8
sunitinib
urothelial carcinoma

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