BACKGROUND: Imatinib mesylate (Gleevec) was evaluated as a treatment for Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC, neuroendocrine carcinoma of the skin) based on the identification of strong c-KIT staining of these neoplasms. METHODS: Eligibility included patients with measurable metastatic or unresectable MCC, c-KIT (CD117) expression and a Zubrod performance status of 0 to 2. Imatinib 400 mg daily was administered orally in 28-day cycles to 23 patients. RESULTS: Overall, imatinib was well tolerated with grade 1 or 2 nausea, diarrhea, and hematologic toxicity as the most frequent side effects. A partial response was seen in 1 patient (4%; 95% CI: 0%-22%). Median progression-free survival was 1 month (95% CI: 1-2 months). Median overall survival was 5 months (95% CI: 2-8 months). One patient achieved a partial response and another had prolonged disease stabilization while receiving treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of patients progressed rapidly within 1 to 2 cycles of treatment. The observed progression-free survival and overall survival were not adequate to conclude that this agent was active in advanced MCC, and thus the planned second stage of patient accrual was not opened.
BACKGROUND:Imatinib mesylate (Gleevec) was evaluated as a treatment for Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC, neuroendocrine carcinoma of the skin) based on the identification of strong c-KIT staining of these neoplasms. METHODS: Eligibility included patients with measurable metastatic or unresectable MCC, c-KIT (CD117) expression and a Zubrod performance status of 0 to 2. Imatinib 400 mg daily was administered orally in 28-day cycles to 23 patients. RESULTS: Overall, imatinib was well tolerated with grade 1 or 2 nausea, diarrhea, and hematologic toxicity as the most frequent side effects. A partial response was seen in 1 patient (4%; 95% CI: 0%-22%). Median progression-free survival was 1 month (95% CI: 1-2 months). Median overall survival was 5 months (95% CI: 2-8 months). One patient achieved a partial response and another had prolonged disease stabilization while receiving treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of patients progressed rapidly within 1 to 2 cycles of treatment. The observed progression-free survival and overall survival were not adequate to conclude that this agent was active in advanced MCC, and thus the planned second stage of patient accrual was not opened.
Authors: J Crown; R Lipzstein; S Cohen; M Goldsmith; N Wisch; P A Paciucci; L Silverman; M Weiner; I Jaffrey; L Norton Journal: Cancer Invest Date: 1991 Impact factor: 2.176
Authors: Sungjune Kim; Evan Wuthrick; Dukagjin Blakaj; Zeynep Eroglu; Claire Verschraegen; Ram Thapa; Matthew Mills; Khaled Dibs; Casey Liveringhouse; Jeffery Russell; Jimmy J Caudell; Ahmad Tarhini; Joseph Markowitz; Kari Kendra; Richard Wu; Dung-Tsa Chen; Anders Berglund; Lauren Michael; Mia Aoki; Min-Hsuan Wang; Imene Hamaidi; Pingyan Cheng; Janis de la Iglesia; Robbert J Slebos; Christine H Chung; Todd C Knepper; Carlos M Moran-Segura; Jonathan V Nguyen; Bradford A Perez; Trevor Rose; Louis Harrison; Jane L Messina; Vernon K Sondak; Kenneth Y Tsai; Nikhil I Khushalani; Andrew S Brohl Journal: Lancet Date: 2022-09-12 Impact factor: 202.731