Response to sunitinib in combination with proton beam radiation in a patient with chondrosarcoma: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Chondrosarcoma is well-known to be primarily resistant to conventional radiation and chemotherapy.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We present the case of a 32-year-old Caucasian man with clear cell chondrosarcoma who presented with symptomatic recurrence in his pelvis and metastases to his skull and lungs. Our patient underwent systemic therapy with sunitinib and then consolidation with proton beam radiation to his symptomatic site. He achieved complete symptomatic relief with a significantly improved performance status and had an almost complete and durable metabolic response on fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our findings have important clinical implications and suggest novel clinical trials for this difficult to treat disease.</p

Can we develop effective combination antiangiogenic therapy for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma?

Antiangiogenic therapy has shown promise in the treatment of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Bevacizumab, sorafenib, and sunitinib showed efficacy in patients with HCC; and sorafenib is approved by the FDA for treatment of this cancer. In practice, the clinical benefit of these agents has been heterogeneous; and in patients who do respond, the benefit is modest and/or short-lived. Recent advances in the molecular understanding of tumor angiogenesis along with the rapid development of targeted drug discovery have made it possible to explore novel combination therapy for HCC. We review the clinical trial results, discuss possible molecular mechanisms of resistance, and suggest novel combinations with antiangiogenic therapy