Pfizer Oncology will present new data across its portfolio representing novel approaches to researching treatments for patients with rare and difficult-to-treat cancers.  These results will be presented at the 35th European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress in Milan, Italy from October 8 to 12.  

"Pfizer has focused its oncology research on targeting molecular drivers and pathways in various cancers, such as EGFR, ALK and IGF-1R," said Dr Mace Rothenberg, senior vice president of clinical development and medical affairs for Pfizer's Oncology Business Unit. "We are committed to using this approach to seek treatments for well-known, difficult-to-treat and rare tumour types that have few or no therapeutic options and where we can make a big impact in defined patient populations."

At ESMO, Pfizer will present data on key compounds from its portfolio, which includes – PF-00299804. Updated results from a global, randomized phase-2 trial evaluating the anti-tumour activity and safety of PF-00299804 compared to erlotinib in patients with NSCLC following progression on treatment with one or more chemotherapy regimens (Abstract #365PD, October 10).  In addition, preliminary efficacy and safety data from a phase 2 study evaluating PF-00299804 as first-line treatment in patients with advanced NSCLC whose tumours are likely to carry the EGFR mutation will be presented as a late breaker in a Proffered Paper session (Abstract #LBA18, October 11).  

PF-00299804 is an investigational, oral, pan-HER (pan-human epidermal growth factor receptor) inhibitor. PF-00299804 is currently being evaluated in the BR.26 clinical trial, a phase-3, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study in patients with stage IIIB/IV NSCLC who have progressive disease following standard chemotherapy and EGFR inhibitor therapy. BR.26 is led by the NCIC Clinical Trials Group (CTG).

Crizotinib (PF-02341066) - Updated data on crizotinib (PF-02341066), a first-in-class, oral ALK inhibitor, will also be presented, from the ongoing expansion cohort from the Phase 1 study evaluating the compound in patients with ALK-positive advanced NSCLC (Abstract #366PD, October 10).

Sunitinib - Pfizer will also present results from SUN 1087, a phase-3 trial evaluating sunitinib plus erlotinib compared to erlotinib alone in patients with advanced NSCLC who have received at least one previous treatment with a platinum-based regimen (Abstract #LBA6, October 11). In August, Pfizer announced that this study demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in progression-free survival but not in overall survival. Overall survival was the primary endpoint of the study and progression free survival was the secondary endpoint of the study.

Pfizer will also present progression-free survival (PFS) data as determined by blinded independent central review (BICR) from the pivotal, placebo-controlled SUN 1111 phase-3 trial evaluating sunitinib in patients with progressive, well-differentiated pancreatic neuroendocrine tumour (NET) (Abstract #747P, October 9).

Figitumumab - Results from a Phase 1/2 study evaluating figitumumab (CP-751,871), a selective fully human IgG2 monoclonal antibody against the IGF-1R (insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor) pathway, in patients with refractory Ewing's sarcoma and other sarcomas will be presented in a Proffered Paper session (Abstract #1344O, October 10).

Pfizer continues to investigate approved therapies within its portfolio, including Aromasin (exemestane tablets). At the Congress, research findings for the compound will be presented in two key presentations.

Distant recurrences at median of five-years among 9,779 postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive early breast cancer treated on the TEAM trial of adjuvant endocrine therapy (Abstract #213O, October 11)

Effects of exemestane or tamoxifen on bone health within the Tamoxifen Exemestane Adjuvant Multinational (TEAM) trial: a meta-analysis (Abstract #225P, October 10)

Data on the following compounds and investigational agents will also be presented: neratinib (HER2 positive breast, solid tumours), axitinib (renal cell carcinoma or RCC), inotuzumab (non-Hodgkin's lymphoma), and Torisel (temsirolimus) (RCC, solid tumours).

Sutent is an oral multi-kinase inhibitor approved for the treatment of advanced RCC and for the treatment of GIST after disease progression on or intolerance to imatinib mesylate.

Aromasin is the only aromatase inhibitor indicated for sequential therapy in postmenopausal women with hormone-receptor (HR) positive early breast cancer after two to three years of tamoxifen for a total of five years of adjuvant therapy.  

Torisel is the only intravenous mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor approved for the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in the first-line setting.