Sunitinib to Treat Recurrent Brain Cancer

Background: One way tumors are able to grow is by forming new blood vessels that supply them with nutrients and oxygen. Sunitinib blocks certain proteins on the surface of tumor and blood vessel cells that are involved with the formation of new blood vessels. Blocking these proteins may prevent the tumor cells or blood vessels from continuing to grow. Objectives: To determine whether sunitinib can cause tumors to shrink or stabilize in patients with recurrent brain cancer. Eligibility: Patients 18 years of age or older with brain cancer whose disease has worsened after standard treatment with surgery, radiation. Design: Patients take a sunitinib pill once a day in 4-week treatment cycles. Treatment may continue as long as the tumor remains stable or decreases in size and the side effects of treatment are tolerated. Routine blood tests are done every 2 weeks during the first 8 weeks of treatment and then every 4 weeks after that. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans are done before starting treatment (at baseline) and at the end of every 4-week cycle to monitor tumor growth. Positron emission tomography (PET) scans are done at baseline and at the end of the first cycle. Neurological and physical examinations are done at baseline, at week 2 of treatment and at the end of every treatment cycle. Health-related quality of life is assessed every 4 weeks. Pregnancy tests, electrocardiograms and echocardiograms are repeated as needed.