Avapritinib Provided Greater Benefit Than Other Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors for Mutated Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors
Data from a new study by researchers at Fox Chase Cancer show that avapritinib, a platelet-derived growth factor receptor A (PDGFRA) inhibitor, has a “clinically meaningful benefit” for the treatment of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) with PDGFRA D842V mutations. According to lead author Margaret von Mehren, MD, chief of the Division of Sarcoma Medical Oncology and professor in the Department of Hematology/Oncology at Fox Chase, PDGFRA mutations occur in about 10% to 15% of GISTs and D842V is the most common PDGFRA mutation. “Until the Food and Drug Administration approval of avapritinib, we did not have a drug that was effective against this mutation,” von Mehren said. “If these patients had their disease return, we had no real therapeutic options apart from attempting surgery or enrolling in a clinical trial.”