Exelixis Trial Shows Cabozantinib Boosts PFS in Advanced GI NET

Exelixis, Inc., an internationally focused oncology firm, revealed findings from a subgroup analysis of the phase 3 CABINET pivotal trial involving patients with extra-pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (epNET) originating in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The analysis indicated that cabozantinib was linked to a better progression-free survival (PFS) relative to placebo in individuals with advanced GI neuroendocrine tumours (NET), which was a subgroup within the epNET cohort.

“Treating neuroendocrine tumours after disease progression can be challenging, including for those with tumours in the gastrointestinal tract, as treatment options are limited,” said Jonathan Strosberg, M.D., President Emeritus, North American Neuroendocrine Tumour Society and Chair, GI Research Program, Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute. “This subgroup analysis from the CABINET study showed that cabozantinib improved progression-free survival for patients with tumours arising in the GI tract and provides a more detailed picture of how patients with the most common form of this cancer may benefit from this treatment. As a physician, I’m encouraged by these findings, as they suggest cabozantinib has potential to become a standard of care for patients greatly in need of new options.”

This subgroup analysis comprised 116 out of the 203 patients within the epNET cohort. The primary tumour locations that were most frequently observed included ileum/cecum (54%), unspecified small intestine (20%), colon or rectum not involving the cecum (11%), stomach (4%), duodenum (3%), jejunum (3%), and an unspecified midgut location (3%).