Efficacy and safety of sunitinib in Chinese patients with advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumors / 中华普通外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of sunituib in Chinese patients with advanced imatinib-resistant/intolerant gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). Methods From Mar 2008to Sep 2009, the clinicopathological data of patients treated with sunitinib were retrospectively analyzed.Initial 5 patients received 50 mg/day of sunitinib on a protocol of 4/2 ( 4 weeks on treatment, 2 weeks off treatment), 13 patients subsequently admitted were switched onto protocol of 37.5 mg/day continuous daily dosing treatment. Results Eighteen patients received sunitinib for more than 8 weeks following imatinib failure. Median progression-free survival was 44. 0 weeks (95% CI22. 7 ～ 65. 3 weeks). Partial responses were observed in 1 patient, disease stable in 11, disease progression in 5 and assessment was not applicable in 1 patient. The most common adverse effects of sunitinib were hand-foot syndrome and leucopenia.Conclusions Sunitinib is effective in patients with imatinib resistant/intolerant advanced GIST and Chinese patients generally tolerate to 37. 5 mg/day continuous daily dosing of sunitinib. Adverse effects are manageable using dose interruption/reduction and/or standard medical treatments.