Axitinib
From Kidney Cancer Resource
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Overview
Made by Pfizer, research is being carried out at the Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Institute. See article of The EUropean CanCer Org. (ECCO) on KC of 26-Sep-2007 Click Here
There is a little additional information on Pfizer's web site at Click Here
Articles
Click Here for a list of all 2009 Articles
Washington Post (KC) 30-Oct-07
- New Drug Promising Against Tough-to-Treat Kidney Cancer
23-Oct-2007 - Axitinib Provides Activity in Kidney Cancer
Axitinib Provides Activity in Kidney Cancer
According to results recently published in The Lancet, the agent Axitinib provides anticancer activity in patients with renal cell carcinoma, a form of Kidney Cancer.
The Kidneys are each filled with tiny tubules that clean and filter the blood—the process that removes waste and makes Urine. Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a malignancy involving these tubules of the Kidney and is the most common type of kidney cancer. Standard treatment for RCC may include cytokins, or agents that stimulate the immune system to fight cancer. Once cancer progresses following Cytokine therapy, it is referred to as cytokine-resistant RCC.
The vascular endothelial growth factor receptors (VEGFR) 1, 2, and 3 are involved in the growth of blood vessels to cancer cells. The blood vessels provide nutrients and oxygen to the cancer cells and allow them to grow and spread. Axitinib targets VEGFR 1, 2, and 3 and stops or reduces the growth of blood vessels supplying food to cancer cells.
Researchers recently conducted a clinical trial to evaluate Axitinib in the treatment of RCC. This trial included 52 patients who were treated with two oral tablets daily.
Anticancer responses occurred in 44% of patients. The median duration of response was nearly two years. Approximately 45% of patients also achieved a stabilization of their cancer.
Side effects included diarrhea, high blood pressure, fatigue, nausea, and hoarseness. The researchers concluded that Axitinib provides significant anticancer activity in the treatment of Cytokine-resistant RCC.
Patients with RCC whose cancer has progressed following Cytokine therapy may wish to speak with their physician regarding their individual risks and benefits of participating in a clinical trial further evaluating Axitinib or other promising therapies. Two sources of information regarding ongoing clinical trials include the National Cancer Institute (Click Here) and Click Here.
Reference: Rixe O, Bukowski R, Michaelson M, et al. Axitinib Treatment in Patients with Cytokine-Refractory Metastatic Renal-Cell Cancer: A Phase II Study. The Lancet [early online publication]. October 23, 2007. DOI: 10.1016/S1470-2045(07)70285-1.
To view the original article Click Here
26-Sep-2007 - New Drug Axitinib Brings Hope to Advanced Kidney Cancer Patients
New Drug Axitinib Brings Hope to Advanced Kidney Cancer Patients
By Regina Sass
There is cutting edge therapy that is available for patients who are in the advanced stages of Kidney Cancer. But they do not always respond to it and once these options do not work there is nothing more that can be done. But research at the Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Institute involving a new drug called Axitinib, made by Pfizer, is holding out some hope to these patients.
The research showed that the drug, which is still in the experimental stage, shrank tumors and also delayed the progression of the disease when it was tested in a group of patients who were determined to be the toughest to treat.
The researchers gave 62 patients whose kidney cancer had spread and who had also not had any benefit from the standard treatment axitinib. The standard treatment they had received was sorafenib, which is a targeted therapy whose purpose is to block the ability of the tumor to form new blood vessels that help the tumor to grow. Fourteen of the patients had also received another similar drug, sunitinib, after the sorafenib had failed to work, but it had no effect. Axitinib is similar to these two, but it is thought to be a more potent alternative.
The results showed that 51% of the patients had tumor shrinkage and 23% of them had shrinkage that was determined to be significant. It also showed that the patients were progression free on the average, for more than 7.7 months. These results are considered to be impressive because all of the patients had previously been treated with drugs similar to axitinib without any positive effect.
The disease progressed only in 24% of the patients, which is a very low percentage considering the level of the disease in the patients. Also, in 37% of the patients there was no change in the tumor. It nether got any better, or any worse.
Metastatic kidney cancer is one of the most difficult to treat. The average survival is 12 months.
The lead researcher is Dr. Brian I. Rini, who is an associate professor of medicine at the Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Institute in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. He is also a paid member of the Pfizer scientific advisory board.
To view the original of this article Click Here
References
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