axitinib at a glance
Medicine class
VEGF receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor
Usual licensed use
Advanced renal cell carcinoma after specified previous treatment has failed
How it is taken
Swallow the film-coated tablet whole with water; it may be taken with or without food
Food to avoid
Avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice because they can increase axitinib exposure
What is axitinib used for?
The selected UK product is licensed for:
Adults with advanced renal cell carcinoma after failure of previous treatment with sunitinib or a cytokine.
How does axitinib work?
Axitinib blocks VEGF receptors 1, 2 and 3, which are involved in forming and maintaining tumour blood vessels. Reducing these signals can restrict the tumour’s blood supply and slow cancer growth and spread.
axitinib preparations and strengths
How to take axitinib
Follow the specialist cancer team’s prescription and instructions.
Swallow tablets whole with a glass of water.
Take with or without food.
Do not crush, chew or break tablets unless the specialist team specifically instructs otherwise.
Avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice.
Check with the cancer team or pharmacist before starting prescription, non-prescription or herbal products.
axitinib side effects
Common or expected effects
- Diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting or constipation
- Tiredness, weakness, reduced appetite or weight loss
- Raised blood pressure
- Hoarse voice, cough or headache
- Sore mouth or inflamed mucous membranes
- Hand-foot syndrome, rash or dry skin
- Underactive thyroid
- Protein in the urine
- Minor bleeding, such as nosebleeds or easy bruising
Get urgent medical advice
- Severe hypertension or hypertensive crisis
- Major bleeding
- Arterial or venous blood clots, including heart attack, stroke or pulmonary embolism
- Heart failure
- Gastrointestinal perforation or fistula
- Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome
- Severe proteinuria or nephrotic syndrome
- Aneurysm or artery dissection
axitinib in pregnancy
Axitinib may harm an unborn baby. It should not be used during pregnancy unless the specialist judges treatment clinically necessary. People who could become pregnant should use effective contraception during treatment and for one week after it ends; discuss pregnancy plans or a suspected pregnancy promptly with the specialist team.
axitinib while breastfeeding
It is unknown whether axitinib passes into human milk, and harm to a breastfed child cannot be excluded. The selected product should not be used while breastfeeding; the oncology team should discuss feeding and treatment options.
axitinib interactions
Axitinib is mainly metabolised through CYP3A4/5. A full medication and herbal-product review is required.
Strong CYP3A4/5 inhibitors, including ketoconazole, itraconazole, clarithromycin, erythromycin and ritonavir
May increase axitinib concentrations and toxicity; an alternative with little or no CYP3A4/5 inhibition is preferred.
Strong CYP3A4/5 inducers, including rifampicin, carbamazepine, phenytoin, phenobarbital and dexamethasone
May substantially reduce axitinib exposure and effectiveness; an alternative is preferred.
St John’s wort
May lower axitinib exposure through enzyme induction and should be avoided unless the oncology team specifically advises otherwise.
Common questions about axitinib
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
What cancer is axitinib licensed to treat in the UK?
The selected product is licensed for adults with advanced renal cell carcinoma after previous sunitinib or cytokine treatment has failed.
Is axitinib chemotherapy or targeted therapy?
It is targeted therapy—a tyrosine kinase inhibitor that blocks VEGF receptors involved in tumour blood-vessel growth.
Can axitinib be taken with food?
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.