Introduction: The role of angiogenic inhibitors is clearly established in the treatment of diverse malignancies. The field of antiangiogenesis is expanding rapidly, with an increasing number of agents currently approved by the FDA. Axitinib is a vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR)-specific inhibitor currently being developed for the treatment of various malignancies. The pharmacokinetic (PK) properties of axitinib may provide a selective treatment effect while minimizing adverse reactions and enhancing safety. It is paramount that health-care providers understand the properties and nuances of each agent inclusive of PK variability in the patient population as well as current safety and tolerability data.
Areas covered: This article provides a comprehensive and critical review of the PK properties of axitinib as they relate to safety and tolerability, as well as potential pharmacodynamic and efficacy parameters.
Expert opinion: Axitinib is a unique VEGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), which acts through greater receptor specificity compared with many other VEGFR TKIs. An understanding of axitinib's PK characteristics and common adverse events may allow for a tailored dosing approach in patients with cancer, in an attempt to maximize efficacy while minimizing toxicity.