Axitinib is an active treatment for all histologic subtypes of advanced thyroid cancer: results from a phase II study.

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Cohen EE, Rosen LS, Vokes EE, Kies MS, Forastiere AA, Worden FP, Kane MA, Sherman E, Kim S, Bycott P, Tortorici M, Shalinsky DR, Liau KF, Cohen RB

Axitinib is an active treatment for all histologic subtypes of advanced thyroid cancer: results from a phase II study.

J Clin Oncol. 2008 Oct 10;26(29):4708-13. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2007.15.9566. Epub 2008 Jun 9.

PubMed ID

18541897 [ View in PubMed

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Abstract

PURPOSE: Patients with advanced, incurable thyroid cancer not amenable to surgery or radioactive iodine ((131)I) therapy have few satisfactory therapeutic options. This multi-institutional study assessed the activity and safety of axitinib, an oral, potent, and selective inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor receptors (VEGFR) 1, 2, and 3 in patients with advanced thyroid cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with thyroid cancer of any histology that was resistant or not appropriate for (131)I were enrolled onto a single-arm phase II trial to receive axitinib orally (starting dose, 5 mg twice daily). Objective response rate (ORR) by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors was the primary end point. Secondary end points included duration of response, progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival, safety, and modulation of soluble (s) VEGFR. RESULTS: Sixty patients were enrolled. Partial responses were observed in 18 patients, yielding an ORR of 30% (95% CI, 18.9 to 43.2). Stable disease lasting > or = 16 weeks was reported in another 23 patients (38%). OBJECTIVE: responses were noted in all histologic subtypes. Median PFS was 18.1 months (95% CI, 12.1 to not estimable). Axitinib was generally well tolerated, with the most common grade > or = 3 treatment-related adverse event being hypertension (n = 7; 12%). Eight patients (13%) discontinued treatment because of adverse events. Axitinib selectively decreased sVEGFR-2 and sVEGFR-3 plasma concentrations versus sKIT, demonstrating its targeting of VEGFR. CONCLUSION: Axitinib is a selective inhibitor of VEGFR with compelling antitumor activity in all histologic subtypes of advanced thyroid cancer.

DrugBank Data that Cites this Article

Drugs

Axitinib

Drug Targets

Drug	Target	Kind	Organism	Pharmacological Action	Actions
Axitinib	Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1	Protein	Humans	Yes	Inhibitor	Details
Axitinib	Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2	Protein	Humans	Yes	Inhibitor	Details
Axitinib	Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 3	Protein	Humans	Yes	Inhibitor	Details