Sign in Subscribe
Drugs

Efficacy and Tolerability of Motesanib in Advanced Medullary Thyroid Cancer

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

A study conducted in Villejuif, France, investigated the efficacy and tolerability of motesanib, a selective inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor receptors, in patients with advanced medullary thyroid cancer (MTC). The study enrolled 91 patients who received motesanib 125 mg/d orally for up to 48 weeks. The primary end point was objective response by independent review, and other end points included duration of response, progression-free survival, safety, pharmacokinetics, and changes in tumor markers.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study found that 2% of patients achieved objective response, with a duration of response of 32 weeks and 21 weeks, respectively.
  • 81% of patients had stable disease, with 48% experiencing durable stable disease (24 weeks or more).
  • 8% of patients had disease progression as the best response, and 9% were not evaluated.
  • 76% of patients experienced a decrease in target lesion measurement.
  • Median progression-free survival was 48 weeks.
  • Among patients with tumor marker analysis, 83% had decreased serum calcitonin and 75% had decreased carcinoembryonic antigen during treatment.
  • The most common treatment-related adverse events were diarrhea, fatigue, hypothyroidism, hypertension, and anorexia.
  • Motesanib trough concentrations were lower compared to patients with differentiated thyroid cancer from the same study.

Statistics:

  • 2% of patients achieved objective response (95% CI, 0.3% to 7.7%).
  • 81% of patients had stable disease (48% had durable stable disease).
  • 8% of patients had disease progression as the best response.
  • 9% of patients were not evaluated.
  • 76% of patients experienced a decrease from baseline in target lesion measurement.
  • Median progression-free survival was 48 weeks (95% CI, 43 to 56 weeks).
  • 83% of patients had decreased serum calcitonin.
  • 75% of patients had decreased carcinoembryonic antigen.
  • Diarrhea (41%), fatigue (41%), hypothyroidism (29%), hypertension (27%), and anorexia (27%) were the most common treatment-related adverse events.

Sources:

  • Schlumberger, M. J., et al. "Phase II Study of Safety and Efficacy of Motesanib in Patients With Progressive or Symptomatic, Advanced or Metastatic Medullary Thyroid Cancer." Journal of Clinical Oncology, vol. 27, no. 23, 2009, pp. 3794-3801.
  • University of Paris, Institute Gustave Roussy, Rue Camille Desmoulins, F-94805 Villejuif, France.
  • American Society Clinical Oncology, 2318 Mill Road, Ste. 800, Alexandria, VA 22314, USA.

Read more