Pfizer Releases Good Results for Sutent

Pfizer released results from a Phase III trial of Sutent in patients with advanced pancreatic islet cell tumors, also known as pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, which is a different type of cancer than the more common pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Study findings demonstrated that median progression-free survival (PFS) was 11.1 months in patients treated with Sutent compared to 5.5 months in patients treated with placebo. Researcherspresented the data at the 11th World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer in Barcelona, Spain. The independent Data Monitoring Committee (DMC) recommended halting the trial earlier this year because Sutent showed significant benefit and the study had met its primary endpoint. Full analysis of the data is ongoing.

“In this study, Sutent demonstrated an impressive improvement in progression-free survival for patients with pancreatic islet cell tumors,” said Dr. Eric Raymond, M.D., Ph.D., professor of Medical Oncology and head of University Department of Medical Oncology (Service Inter Hospitalier de Cancerologie) Bichat-Beaujon, Clichy, France, and lead investigator on this study. “This is encouraging news for patients, especially given that there are limited treatment options for this type of advanced cancer.”

“The observation of substantial improvement in progression-free survival in Sutent-treated patients was the basis for the independent Data Monitoring Committee’s recommendation to halt accrual to the study early,” said Dr. Mace Rothenberg, senior vice president of Clinical Development and Medical Affairs for Pfizer’s Oncology Business Unit. “This is welcome news, as there is currently no standard of care for patients with pancreatic islet cell tumors who progress on prior therapy.”