Video: Therapeutic Approach Demonstrates Improved Progression-Free Survival in Patients with Bone and Soft Tissue Sarcoma

Medical oncologist Gary Schwartz, Chief of Memorial Sloan-Kettering’s Melanoma and Sarcoma Service, describes promising results from a multicenter phase II clinical trial of a novel combination of cixutumumab and temsirolimus in slowing disease progression in patients with soft tissue and bone sarcomas. Alternatives to current chemotherapy regimens for these cancers are needed. Cixutumumab, an investigational drug, inhibits a protein involved in cancer growth called type 1 insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGF-1R). Temsirolimus, which is approved to treat renal cell carcinoma, blocks a protein called mTOR, an important regulator of tumor growth. Preclinical studies indicated that these two agents would work effectively together. Results of this open-label trial at 19 cancer centers confirm this drug combination is active and does not result in serious toxicities in patients with soft tissue and bone sarcomas. A randomized clinical trial is the next step in ultimately acquiring approval of this drug combination for use in general sarcoma care.