Pazopanib (Votrient) is a Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor (TKI) that targets Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor (VEGFR), Platelet-Derived Growth Factor Receptor (PDGFR), c-kit and Ret. This drug is presently approved by the FDA for the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Data presented at the ASCO 2010 demonstrated impressive responses using Pazopanib (Votrient) in advanced radioiodine-refractory Follicular, Papillary and even Hurthle cell thyroid carcinomas.
This is an important step forward, in addressing this malignancy, as the benefit seen with chemotherapy is at best marginal, in the subset of patients studied. VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor) appears to play a very important role in the pathogenesis of Thyroid Carcinomas. Learning and targeting the molecular mechanism of a malignancy is clearly the wave of the future.
