Expert review of anticancer therapy
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Axitinib is the most recent targeted therapy approved by the US FDA and EMA in the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). It is a second-generation, orally available, potent tyrosine kinase inhibitor targeting selectively VEGF receptor (VEGFR)-1, -2 and -3, resulting in inhibition of angiogenesis, metastasis and tumor growth. ⋯ Its potent and selective inhibition of VEGFR was the rationale for its development in the second-line setting after failure of prior cytokines or sunitinib. Here we examine the preclinical and clinical data of axitinib for mRCC, and its use in the treatment algorithm.