Pfizer's Sutent shows progress-free survival in patients with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors

Global pharmaceutical behemoth Pfizer says that final results from a randomized Phase III trial of its kidney cancer drug Sutent (sunitinib malate) in patients with advanced pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, a type of cancer which originates in the hormone-producing area of the pancreas, showed that the drug more than doubled the time patients lived without disease progression compared with subjects given placebo. The study findings that will be presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium in Orlando, Florida.

An independent Data Monitoring Committee recommended halting the trial in February 2009 because sunitinib showed significant benefit and the primary endpoint was met.

"This trial advances our understanding of the use of novel targeted therapies in a patient population with limited treatment options," said Mace Rothenberg, senior vice president of clinical development and medical affairs for Pfizer's Oncology Business Unit.