Phase II trial of concurrent sunitinib, temozolomide, and radiotherapy with adjuvant temozolomide for newly diagnosed MGMT unmethylated glioblastoma

BACKGROUND: The overall prognosis of glioblastoma (GBM) remains dismal, particularly for patients with unmethylated O6-methylguanine-DNA-methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter. In this phase II trial, we tested the combination of the antiangiogenic agent sunitinib with radiotherapy and temozolomide (TMZ) for newly diagnosed unmethylated MGMT GBM patients. METHODS: We enrolled 37 patients with unmethylated MGMT promoter GBM, age 18–70, and KPS ≥70. Patients received 12.5 mg of daily sunitinib for 7 days, followed by concurrent chemoradiation plus 12.5 mg sunitinib, then adjuvant TMZ. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS), and secondary endpoints were overall survival (OS), safety, and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) biomarker. RESULTS: At a median follow-up time of 15.3 months (range: 3.1–71.3 months), the median PFS was 7.15 months (95% CI: 5.4–10.5) and the 6-month PFS was 54.0%. Median OS was 15.0 months (95% CI: 13.8–19.4) and 2-year OS rate was 17.1%. Patients receiving >3 cycles of adjuvant TMZ, undergoing surgery at progression, and presenting a post-concurrent NLR ≤6 experienced a significant improved OS with hazard ratios of 0.197 (P = .001), 0.46 (P = .049), and 0.38 (P = .021), respectively, on multivariable analysis. Age >65 years predicted for worse OS with hazard ratio of 3.92 (P = .037). Grade ≥3 thrombocytopenia occurred in 22.9%, grade ≥3 neutropenia in 20%, and grade ≥3 thromboembolic events in 14.3% of patients. There were no grade 5 events. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest a potential benefit of combining sunitinib with chemoradiation in newly diagnosed GBM patients with unmethylated MGMT status and provide a strong rationale to test this combination in future studies.