Sunitinib in malignant melanoma: a treatment option only for KIT-mutated patients?

Future Oncol. 2013 Dec;9(12):1809-11. doi: 10.2217/fon.13.170.

Abstract

Sunitinib has previously been reported to be potentially effective in the treatment of malignant melanomas expressing c-KIT. Here we report on the case of a 77-year-old gentleman affected by a metastatic clear cell carcinoma of the kidney and a metastatic malignant melanoma with liver and lung metastases. Despite the negativity for CD117 and the absence of KIT amplification or mutations in the melanoma specimen, he achieved a partial response both in the lungs and in the liver while on sunitinib (50 mg once/day, 4 weeks on/2 weeks off) for the treatment of kidney cancer. To our knowledge, this represents the first evidence of sunitinib activity in KIT wild-type melanoma. Further studies should be performed to confirm these preliminary data.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Biomarkers, Pharmacological
  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell / drug therapy*
  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell / genetics
  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell / secondary
  • Humans
  • Indoles / administration & dosage*
  • Liver Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Liver Neoplasms / genetics
  • Liver Neoplasms / secondary
  • Lung Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Lung Neoplasms / genetics
  • Lung Neoplasms / secondary
  • Male
  • Melanoma / drug therapy*
  • Melanoma / genetics
  • Melanoma / pathology
  • Mutation
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / genetics
  • Pyrroles / administration & dosage*
  • Skin Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Skin Neoplasms / genetics
  • Skin Neoplasms / pathology
  • Sunitinib

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Pharmacological
  • Indoles
  • Pyrroles
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit
  • Sunitinib