Nexavar for sarcoma – pro
Lay Summary: Nexavar is being investigated for treatment of sarcoma.
Nexavar is currently FDA approved for renal cell carcinoma and hepatocellular carcinoma . Sorafenib (Nexavar) is designed to interfere with growth of new blood vessels and the growth of new cancer cells.Inhibition of KIT signaling provides a direct anti-tumor effect in most GIST tumors and inhibition of VEGF receptors and PDGFR-β provide antiangiogenesis effects (similar to Sutent). Since RAF is downstream of KIT, inhibition of RAF might also contribute an anti-tumor effect. While inhibition of PDGRF-β has been reported, inhibition of PDGFRα, an alternative target in about 5% of GISTs has NOT BEEN reported.
Because sacomas generally have a poor prognosis, Nexavar can sometimes be requested for use in sarcoma.
Sarcomas can be divided into roughly two groups: chemo responsive varieties, such as Kaposi, soft tissue sarcoma, Ewings etc; poorly responsive varieties, such as chodrosarcoma and others.
Two Sorafenib (Nexavar) Clinical Trials are Currently Recruiting Sarcoma Patients in Different Locations Across the USA.
1. Phase II Study of Sorafenib in Patients With Advanced Soft Tissue Sarcomas
2. Sorafenib in Treating Patients With Soft Tissue Sarcomas
There is also an angiosarcoma trial: Sorafenib in Treating Patients With Angiosarcoma That is Locally Advanced, Metastatic, or Unable to Be Removed by Surgery, NCT00874874. There is also a Kaposi’s phase I trial and trials for GIST and other sarcoma types. Nexavar is an investigational treatment currently for sarcoma.
http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/NCI-06-C-0083
B . Kasper , T . Gil , V . D’Hondt , M . Gebhart , A . Awada Novel treatment strategies for soft tissue sarcoma Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology , Volume 62 , Issue 1 , Pages 9 – 15, 2007