Pazopanib at a glance
Medicine class
Multi-targeted protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor
Main licensed uses
Advanced renal cell carcinoma and selected advanced soft-tissue sarcomas in adults
Food
Take on an empty stomach because food substantially increases absorption
Tablets
Swallow whole with water; do not break or crush
What is Pazopanib used for?
Licensed uses in adults include:
First-line treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma.
Advanced renal cell carcinoma following previous cytokine therapy.
Selected advanced soft-tissue sarcomas following previous chemotherapy for metastatic disease or progression after neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapy.
How does Pazopanib work?
Pazopanib blocks several receptor tyrosine kinases, particularly VEGF receptors, PDGF receptors and c-KIT. This reduces signals promoting tumour blood-vessel formation, growth and spread.
Pazopanib preparations and strengths
Tablet
Route: Oral
Strengths: 200 mg, 400 mg
How to take Pazopanib
Follow the oncology team's instructions and check the leaflet supplied with the tablets.
Take without food.
Swallow the tablets whole with water.
Do not break or crush them because this changes absorption and may increase adverse effects.
Avoid grapefruit juice.
Pazopanib side effects
Common or expected effects
- Diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting or abdominal discomfort
- Reduced appetite, weight loss or altered taste
- Tiredness, weakness or headache
- High blood pressure
- Hair-colour change, hair thinning or skin-pigment changes
- Rash, sore mouth, or redness and soreness of the hands and feet
- Changes in liver tests, blood counts or urine protein
Get urgent medical advice
- Severe hypertension or neurological symptoms suggesting posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome
- Liver injury or liver failure
- Serious bleeding or blood clots
- Heart failure, heart attack or serious rhythm disturbance
- Gastrointestinal perforation or fistula
- Interstitial lung disease or pneumonitis
- Tumour lysis syndrome or serious infection
Pazopanib in pregnancy
Pazopanib may harm a developing baby and is generally avoided during pregnancy unless specialist assessment finds it clinically necessary. Discuss pregnancy or pregnancy plans promptly. Effective contraception is required during treatment and for the advised period afterwards; ask the oncology team about barrier contraception where relevant.
Pazopanib while breastfeeding
Breastfeeding should stop during treatment because transfer into human milk is unknown and a risk to the child cannot be excluded.
Pazopanib interactions
The oncology or pharmacy team should review all prescribed, non-prescribed and herbal products before treatment.
Strong CYP3A4, P-glycoprotein or BCRP inhibitors
Clarithromycin, itraconazole and ritonavir can increase pazopanib exposure and toxicity, so alternatives are generally preferred.
Strong CYP3A4 inducers
Medicines such as rifampicin can reduce pazopanib exposure and potentially reduce its effect.
Proton-pump inhibitors, H2-receptor antagonists and antacids
Increasing stomach pH can reduce pazopanib absorption; use only with specialist guidance.
Common questions about Pazopanib
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
Is Pazopanib chemotherapy?
It is a targeted anticancer treatment rather than traditional cytotoxic chemotherapy. It blocks protein kinases involved in tumour growth and blood-vessel formation.
Why must Pazopanib be taken without food?
Food can approximately double pazopanib exposure, making its effects and adverse reactions less predictable.
Can Pazopanib tablets be crushed or split?
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.