Axitinib is an oral, selective inhibitor of vascular endothelial cell growth factor receptor (VEGFR)-1, -2, -3. It is currently registered for the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma progressing on sunitinib or cytokine therapy.
The AXIS phase III registration trial was the first study to directly compare two different targeted agents for metastatic renal cell carcinoma. The study also validated hypertension as a clinical biomarker of axitinib efficacy.
The main benefits of axitinib include a relatively favorable toxicity profile, with relatively uncommon, predictable and usually manageable side effects.