# Sunitinib malate for the treatment of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours

Source: https://onco.cc/key-papers/paper-raymond-sunitinib-pnet-nejm-2011/  
OnCo record `paper-raymond-sunitinib-pnet-nejm-2011` (Key paper). Data CC BY-NC 4.0, attribute "Data from OnCo (onco.cc)"; commercial use needs a licence.

## TL;DR

The multikinase inhibitor sunitinib doubled the time to progression in advanced pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours and was approved at the same time as everolimus, giving the disease its first targeted therapies.

## Summary

Phase 3 placebo-controlled trial of 171 patients with advanced, well-differentiated, progressive pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours randomised to sunitinib 37.5 mg daily or placebo, stopped early after an independent monitoring committee observed more deaths and serious events with placebo.

Median progression-free survival was 11.4 versus 5.5 months (hazard ratio 0.42) with response of 9.3 versus 0 percent; hypertension, hand-foot syndrome and fatigue were the main toxicities.

## Fields

- Kind: Key paper
- Last checked: 2026-09-17
- Journal: New England Journal of Medicine
- Year: 2011
- DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1003825
- Authors: Raymond E, Dahan L, Raoul JL, et al.
- Findings: Median progression-free survival 11.4 vs 5.5 months; hazard ratio 0.42.; Objective response 9.3 percent vs 0 percent.
- What it means: Sunitinib is a standard targeted option for progressive pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours; the choice between it and everolimus is guided by comorbidity and side-effect profile.
- Caveats: Trial stopped early with 171 of a planned 340 patients, which can overestimate effect.

## Sources

- N Engl J Med 2011: https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1003825
- PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21306237/

## Connected records

- cancers: [Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours](https://onco.cc/cancers/pancreatic-net/)
- drugs: [Sunitinib](https://onco.cc/drugs/sunitinib/)
- journals: [New England Journal of Medicine](https://onco.cc/journals/nejm/)

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