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Lenvatinib effective for differentiated thyroid cancer despite adverse effects
The use of lenvatinib for the treatment of radioiodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer in adults was relatively effective, but adverse events are common and should be monitored, study data show.
Berdelou Amandine, MD, of the department of nuclear medicine and endocrine oncology at Gustave Roussy and Université Paris-Saclay in France, and colleagues evaluated 75 adults with radioiodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer (44% women; median age, 65 years) to determine the efficacy and toxicity profile of lenvatinib (Lenvima, Eisai) in real life. Follow-up was a median 7 months after initiation of lenvatinib.
Before lenvatinib initiation, disease progression occurred in 63% of participants; 69% of participants had comorbidities at baseline.
Median duration of treatment was 6 months; 43% of participants discontinued treatment during that time. Seventy-two percent of participants received an initial treatment dose of 24 mg per day, 15% received 20 mg per day, 1% received 18 mg per day, 11% received 14 mg per day and 1% received 10 mg per day. After a median time of 63 days, 59% of participants needed a dose reduction. Most participants progressed to stable disease (51%) followed by a partial response (31%) and progressive disease (5%); the morphologic response was unknown in 13%, and none of the participants achieved complete response.
Median progression-free survival was 10 months with survival rates of 89% at 6 months and 79% at 12 months. Eleven participants had died at the end of the study.
Treatment was interrupted due to adverse events in 31% of participants. Adverse events occurred in 93% of participants, and serious adverse events occurred in 16%. Hypertension was the most common adverse event related to treatment (67%), followed by fatigue (61%), weight loss (59%), diarrhea (45%) and anorexia (36%). – by Amber Cox
Disclosures: The authors report no relevant financial disclosures.