Maintenance Sunitinib for Small-Cell Lung Cancer

Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) often progresses after chemotherapy. To evaluate the effectiveness of maintenance therapy with the tyrosine kinase inhibitor sunitinib, investigators conducted a phase II, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (CALGB 30504) involving 138 patients who had received standard chemotherapy with platinum and etoposide for extensive-stage SCLC. Of these patients, 85 nonprogressors were randomized to maintenance sunitinib or placebo. Crossover to sunitinib was allowed if progression occurred during treatment with placebo.

Results were as follows:

• Three patients had a complete response with sunitinib.

• Median progression-free survival (the primary endpoint) was longer with sunitinib than with placebo (3.7 vs. 2…