Can sunitinib malate treat leukemia?

Sunitinib is a potent multi-TKI that has been approved by the FDA for renal cancer and imatinib-resistant gastrointestinal tumors. Although some studies have shown the effect of sunitinib on the growth of AML cell lines, its effect on AML clonogenic cells has not been studied. A study highlights the relevance of TKI inhibitors in targeting AML. Further studies aim to identify the molecular mechanisms involved in suppression and to further exploit this research into targeting patient-derived leukemia stem cells using immunodeficient mouse models.

Acute myeloid leukemia(AML) is a clonal hematopoietic disease characterized by enhanced proliferation and blocked differentiation of immature myeloid cells. In nearly half of AML cases, AML pathogenesis is attributed to several recurrent chromosomal abnormalities, while the remaining AML cases display at least one or more molecular abnormalities. In AML, activating mutations and/or high expression of receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) family members (FLT3, cKIT) have been well documented. Specific RTK inhibitors (TKIs) have been developed for targeted therapy of AML, and one study showed that sunitinib effectively reduced clonogenic AML cells and also inhibited normal hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell-derived CFCs, although not as effectively as AML-CFCs.

The original sunitinib drug has been launched in China and has entered the scope of Class B medical insurance. SpecificationsThe price of 12.5mg*28 tablets is around RMB 3,500. The original sunitinib drug has also been launched overseas. The price of 12.5mg*7 tablets is around RMB 1,500 (the price may fluctuate due to the exchange rate). There are also generic drugs produced in other countries. The price of 12.5mg*28 tablets produced by an Indian pharmaceutical factory is around RMB 750 (the price may fluctuate due to the exchange rate). The ingredients of the generic drugs produced abroad are basically the same as those of the original drugs at home and abroad. There may be differences in the prices of different specifications of drugs.