Axitinib in R/M Salivary Gland Cancers of the Upper Aerodigestive Tract - SGC-AX14

SGCs are rare (less than 1% of head and neck cancers) and include many malignant histotypes. SGCs are treated mainly with surgery, followed by radiotherapy in selected cases. Chemotherapy is reserved for palliative treatment of metastases or local recurrence but results in term of response rate are very low. Adenoid cystic cancer (ACC) is the most common SGC histotype observed in metastatic subjects while the other histotypes (non-ACC) such as mucoepidermoid cancer (MEC), salivary duct gland cancer, adenocarcinoma, myoepithelial carcinoma are more uncommon. A phase II trial with sorafenib carried out in 37 subjects (19 ACC and 18 non-ACC) with recurrent and/or metastatic SGCs showed a response rate of 16% (11% in ACC and 22% in non-ACC). In preclinical models, VEGF seems to contribute to tumor aggressiveness and to distant metastatization of SGCs, in particular in ACC and MEC. Remarkably three confirmed partial responses, one ACC, one renal cancer and one lung cancer, on 36 patients were observed in a phase I study with Inlyta, a potent VEGFR specific-inhibitor approved by FDA as second line treatment for renal cancer. Based on these data, we want to test Inlyta in patients with relapsed and/or metastatic SGC.