Current treatments and future potential of surufatinib in neuroendocrine tumors (NETs)

Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are rare, heterogeneous, often indolent tumors that predominantly originate in the lungs and gastrointestinal tract. An understanding of the biology and tumor microenvironment of NETs has led to the development of molecularly targeted treatment options including somatostatin analogs, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors and peptide receptor radionuclide therapy. Although increases in progression-free survival have been demonstrated, most currently approved NET therapies are limited by the development of tumor resistance. Surufatinib (HMPL-012, previously known as sulfatinib) is a new, oral, small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor that potently inhibits vascular endothelial growth-factor receptor 1–3, fibroblast growth-factor receptor 1, and colony-stimulating-factor-1 receptor. This unique combination of molecular activities inhibits tumor angiogenesis, regulates tumor-immune evasion, and may decrease tumor resistance. Surufatinib demonstrated statistically significant, clinically meaningful antitumor activity, including tumor shrinkage, in two phase III studies recently completed in China in advanced pancreatic NETs and advanced extrapancreatic NETs. The safety profile of surufatinib in neuroendocrine tumors studies was consistent with previous surufatinib clinical studies. In an ongoing study in United States (US) patients with NETs of pancreatic origin and NETs of extrapancreatic origin previously treated with everolimus or sunitinib, surufatinib has also demonstrated promising efficacy. Furthermore, the pharmacokinetic and safety profile of surufatinib in US patients is similar to data collected in studies done in China. These positive phase III results support the efficacy of surufatinib in patients with advanced, progressive, well-differentiated NETs regardless of tumor origin.