Lenvatinib

Lenvatinib is a targeted therapy medication primarily used to treat various types of advanced or metastatic cancers. It belongs to a class of drugs called kinase inhibitors, which work by blocking the enzymes that promote cancer cell growth and spread. Lenvatinib is commonly prescribed for patients with thyroid cancer, liver cancer, and kidney cancer that has not responded well to other treatments or has returned after previous therapy.
Lenvatinib’s mechanism of action involves inhibiting multiple receptor tyrosine kinases, such as VEGFR (vascular endothelial growth factor receptor), FGFR (fibroblast growth factor receptor), and PDGFR (platelet-derived growth factor receptor). By blocking these receptors, lenvatinib helps to inhibit angiogenesis (the formation of new blood vessels) and tumor growth. This results in the shrinking of tumors and alleviation of symptoms in affected patients.
When administered as a treatment for thyroid cancer, lenvatinib is typically used in combination with another drug called everolimus. This combination therapy has shown promising results in prolonging the survival of patients with differentiated thyroid cancer that has not responded to radioactive iodine treatment or has metastasized.
For patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer), lenvatinib is often used as a first-line treatment in combination with another drug called pembrolizumab. This combination therapy has demonstrated improved overall survival and progression-free survival compared to other standard treatments.
In cases of advanced renal cell carcinoma (kidney cancer), lenvatinib is typically prescribed as a single agent for patients who have not benefited from prior treatment with a VEGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor or have experienced disease progression on such treatment.
It is essential for healthcare professionals to monitor patients closely during lenvatinib therapy to detect and manage potential side effects, such as high blood pressure, diarrhea, fatigue, and proteinuria. Lenvatinib should be used with caution in patients with a history of cardiovascular diseases, as it may exacerbate these conditions.