BIOLOGICALLY TARGETED THERAPIES

Targeted therapies work by focusing on specific cancer genes, proteins or other substances that are necessary for particular cancer cells to grow and divide. The aim of all targeted therapies is to attack the cancer cells, while limiting damage to normal cells. Some of these medications block (inhibit) the biological signals that cancer cells receive – signals that tell them to multiply at an uncontrolled rate and form tumours.

For select patients with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours, medications from the mTOR inhibitor and tyrosine kinase inhibitor drug classes have shown promising anti-tumour activity.

Everolimus (Afinitor)

The treatment of well-or moderately differentiated neuroendocrine tumours of pancreatic origin (PNET) in patients with unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic disease that has progressed within the last 12 months.

NEW Indication – May 2016 – AFINITOR for the treatment of unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic, well differentiated NETs of GI or lung origin in adults with documented disease progression within 6 months and with a good performance status conditional on improved cost-effectiveness.

10 mg daily

Afinitor in pNETs

British Columbia – Funded
Alberta – Funded
Saskatchewan – Funded
Manitoba – Funded
Ontario – Funded
Quebec – Funded
Nova Scotia – Funded
New Brunswick – Funded
Newfoundland – Funded
PEI – Under Provincial Consideration

Afinitor in Lung/GI

Positive recommendation from pCODR – October 2016.  Funding status pending.

Everolimus plus octreotide long-acting repeatable for the treatment of advanced neuroendocrine tumours associated with carcinoid syndrome (RADIANT-2): a randomised, placebo-controlled, phase 3 study. Reference – RADIANT-2 – Lancet 2011 Dec 10;378(9808):2005

Everolimus for the treatment of advanced, non-functional neuroendocrine tumours of the lung or gastrointestinal tract (RADIANT-4): a randomised, placebo-controlled, phase 3 study. Reference – RADIANT-4 trial (Lancet 2016 Mar 5;387(10022):968), editorial can be found in Lancet 2016 Mar 5;387(10022):924

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Everolimus Afinitor Novartis Novartis ACCESS Program

1-866-281-4688

Hours: 8:00AM – 8:00PM ET

Sunitinib (Sutent)

The treatment of patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic, well differentiated pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (pancreatic NET), whose disease is progressive. Approval for pancreatic NET is based on progression free survival in patients with good performance status.

12.5 mg, 25 mg, 37.5 mg, 50 mg sunitinib per capsule 37.5 mg daily

British Columbia – Funded
Alberta – Funded
Saskatchewan – Funded
Manitoba – Funded
Ontario – Funded
Quebec – Funded
Nova Scotia – Funded
New Brunswick – Funded
Newfoundland – Funded
PEI – Under Provincial Consideration