Another Advanced Thyroid Cancer Drug

Axitinib Effective in All Subtypes of Advanced Thyroid Cancer

Researchers involved in a multi-center trial have reported that axitinib (AG-013736) has activity for the treatment of advanced thyroid cancer of all histological types. The details of this study were published in the October 10, 2008 issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology and presented in part at the 2007 meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in June of 2007.¹ 

Thyroid cancer is treated by surgery and 131 Iodine. Patients who fail these therapies respond poorly to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Thus, new treatments are needed for patients who fail conventional therapy. Axitinib is an oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor that also inhibits vascular epithelial growth factor receptors (VEGFR) 1, 2, and 3. This agent has shown activity in several cancers, including breast, lung and possibly pancreatic cancer.

In the current study, 60 patients with advanced thyroid cancer were treated with axitinib. These patients were deemed refractory to or unsuitable for treatment with 131Iodine. Approximately half of the patients had papillary histology; 88% had prior surgery, 70% had received prior 131Iodine, 45% had received prior radiotherapy and 15% prior chemotherapy. A partial response was observed in 30% of patients, with an additional 38% having stable disease for 16 weeks or more. Median progression-free survival was 18 months. Axitinib was discontinued in 13% due to side effects or adverse events. The main side effects included stomatitis/mucositis, diarrhea, hypertension and nausea.

The authors also reported that soluble VEGFR2 and VEGFR3 plasma levels decreased with increased VEGF in the blood. They conclude that axitinib has “has compelling anti-tumor activity in all subtypes of advanced thyroid cancer.”

Comments: These findings are very important, as there are very few effective treatments available for refractory advanced thyroid cancer.

Related News:

Axitinib May Be Effective in Advanced Thyroid Cancer (6/21/2007)

Axitinib Provides Activity in Kidney Cancer (10/29/2007)

Axitinib plus Taxotere® Maybe Superior to Taxotere alone for Metastatic Breast Cancer (06/19/2007)

Axitinib, an Oral Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor, has Activity in NSCLC (06/15/2007)

Reference:

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¹ Cohen EEW, Cohen LS, Vokes EE, et al. Axitinib is an active treatment for all histological subtypes of advanced thyroid cancer: Results of a phase II study. Journal of Clinical Oncology 2008;26:4708-4713.

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These materials may discuss uses and dosages for therapeutic products that have not been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration. All readers should verify all information and data before administering any drug, therapy or treatment discussed herein. Neither the editors nor the publisher accepts any responsibility for the accuracy of the information or consequences from the use or misuse of the information contained herein.