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More potent vascular endothelial growth factor targeting improves progression-free survival as second-line treatment in metastatic renal cell carcinoma
Axitinib, an investigational selective inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor receptors 1, 2, and 3 significantly extended progression-free survival compared with sorafenib in patients with previously treated metastatic renal cell carcinoma.
Axitinib, an investigational selective inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptors 1, 2, and 3 significantly extended progression-free survival (PFS) compared with sorafenib in patients with previously treated metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC), according to results from an international phase 3 randomized, open-label study.
PFS was significantly longer in axitinib-treated patients who had received sunitinib or cytokines as first-line therapy, said Brian I. Rini, MD, at the Society of Clinical Oncology meeting in Chicago. Data from the study support the hypothesis that more potent biochemical targeting of the VEGF receptor improves the clinical outcome in mRCC, Dr Rini said, and axitinib "should be considered as a reference standard in the second-line treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma." Dr Rini is associate professor of medicine at Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University and director for clinical research at the Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Institute.
The trial included 723 patients with clear-cell mRCC who had progressed despite prior therapy with either sunitinib, cytokines, bevacizumab, or temsirolimus-based regimens. Patients were assigned to axitinib 5 mg twice daily or sorafenib 400 mg twice daily. Axitinib patients had their dosage titrated to 7 mg twice daily, then to 10 mg twice daily as tolerated.
Adverse events that led to discontinuation of treatment occurred in 3.9% of the axitinib group and 8.2% of the sorafenib group. Common adverse events with axitinib were hypertension, fatigue, dysphonia, and hypothyroidism.
Coalition promotes important acetaminophen dosing reminders
November 18th 2014It may come as a surprise that each year Americans catch approximately 1 billion colds, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that as many as 20% get the flu. This cold and flu season, 7 in 10 patients will reach for an over-the-counter (OTC) medicine to treat their coughs, stuffy noses, and sniffles. It’s an important time of the year to remind patients to double check their medicine labels so they don’t double up on medicines containing acetaminophen.
Support consumer access to specialty medications through value-based insurance design
June 30th 2014The driving force behind consumer cost-sharing provisions for specialty medications is the acquisition cost and not clinical value. This appears to be true for almost all public and private health plans, says a new report from researchers at the University of Michigan Center for Value-Based Insurance Design (V-BID Center) and the National Pharmaceutical Council (NPC).
Management of antipsychotic medication polypharmacy
June 13th 2013Within our healthcare-driven society, the increase in the identification and diagnosis of mental illnesses has led to a proportional increase in the prescribing of psychotropic medications. The prevalence of mental illnesses and subsequent treatment approaches may employ monotherapy as first-line treatment, but in many cases the use of combination of therapy can occur, leading to polypharmacy.1 Polypharmacy can be defined in several ways but it generally recognized as the use of multiple medications by one patient and the most common definition is the concurrent use of five more medications. The presence of polyharmacy has the potential to contribute to non-compliance, drug-drug interactions, medication errors, adverse events, or poor quality of life.
Medical innovation improves outcomes
June 12th 2013I have been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer of the pancreas, a disease that’s long been considered not just incurable, but almost impossible to treat-a recalcitrant disease that some practitioners feel has given oncology a bad name. I was told my life would be measured in weeks.
