Axitinib

Indications

Cancer

Axitinib tablet is used to treat advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in people who have already tried one other systemic therapy and whose disease did not respond to it.

⚠️ Always consult a registered physician before taking any medicine.

Pharmacology

At therapeutic plasma concentrations, axitinib blocks several receptor tyrosine kinases, including vascular endothelial growth factor receptors (VEGFR)-1, VEGFR-2 and VEGFR-3. These receptors are linked to pathologic angiogenesis, tumor growth and the progression of cancer. In laboratory studies and in mouse models, axitinib stopped VEGF-mediated endothelial cell proliferation and survival. It also slowed tumor growth and reduced phosphorylation of VEGFR-2 in tumor xenograft mouse models.

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Pregnancy Category D. Axitinib can harm an unborn baby when given to a pregnant woman, and this is based on how the medicine works. There are no adequate, well-controlled studies of axitinib in pregnant women. In developmental toxicity studies in mice, axitinib was teratogenic, embryotoxic and fetotoxic, even at maternal exposures lower than the human exposure at the recommended clinical dose.

Women who could become pregnant should be advised to avoid pregnancy while taking axitinib. If the medicine is used during pregnancy, or if a patient becomes pregnant while taking it, she should be told about the potential hazard to the fetus.

Nursing Mothers: It is not known whether axitinib is excreted in human milk. Many drugs pass into human milk, and axitinib could cause serious adverse reactions in nursing infants. So a decision should be made either to stop nursing or to stop the drug, taking into account how important the drug is to the mother.

⚠️ Talk to your doctor before taking any medicine during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

Dosage Reference

⚠️ Reference ranges from official sources only. Consult your doctor for personalized dosing.

Adults: Recommended Dosing The recommended starting oral dose of Axitinib is 5 mg twice daily. Doses should be about 12 hours apart, with or without food, and Axitinib should be swallowed whole with a glass of water. If the patient vomits or misses a dose, no extra dose should be taken. The next prescribed dose is taken at the usual time. Dose Modification Guidelines The dose may be increased or reduced, depending on individual safety and tolerability. Over the course of treatment, a dose increase may be considered for patients who tolerate Axitinib for at least two consecutive weeks with no adverse reactions > Grade 2 (according to the Common Toxicity Criteria for Adverse Events), who are normotensive, and who are not receiving anti-hypertension medication. When an increase from 5 mg twice daily is recommended, the dose may go up to 7 mg twice daily, and then to 10 mg twice daily using the same criteria. Over the course of treatment, managing some adverse drug reactions may need a temporary interruption, a permanent discontinuation and/or a dose reduction of Axitinib therapy. If a reduction from 5 mg twice daily is required, the recommended dose is 3 mg twice daily. If a further reduction is needed, the recommended dose is 2 mg twice daily.

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Indications

Pharmacology

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Dosage Reference

Side Effects & Interactions

Side Effects

Key Interactions