Major Research Findings

Pazopanib is an oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor approved for the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma and soft tissue sarcoma. 18 , 16 . It works by blocking the growth of blood vessels that feed tumors. 1 . However, pazopanib can cause side effects such as liver toxicity. 18 , 13 , 2 . If liver toxicity is severe, pazopanib should be stopped and restarted at a lower dose after liver function returns to normal. 18 . If liver toxicity recurs at the lower dose, it is recommended to permanently stop pazopanib. 18 .

Pazopanib has been shown to be effective as a first-line treatment for metastatic renal cell carcinoma. 6 . Real-world data from a single Chinese center showed that the objective response rate of pazopanib was 34.5% and the disease control rate was 75.9%. 6 . Pazopanib appears to have relatively fewer cardiac effects compared to other tyrosine kinase inhibitors used in the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma. 16 . However, pazopanib can still have an impact on the heart. 7 . Pazopanib may also cause side effects such as gum bleeding, osteonecrosis of the jaw, and lymphadenopathy. 1 , 3 .

Pazopanib is an effective drug for treating cancers such as renal cell carcinoma and soft tissue sarcoma. 18 , 16 , 12 . However, pazopanib can cause side effects such as liver toxicity, skin toxicity, and cardiac toxicity. 18 , 17 , 7 . Pazopanib side effects are generally mild to moderate, but can be severe in some cases. 17 . Pazopanib side effects can vary depending on the dosage and duration of pazopanib administration. 18 .

Reasons for Side Effects

Pazopanib works by inhibiting vascular endothelial growth factor receptors (VEGFR), which blocks the formation of new blood vessels and thus inhibits tumor growth. 16 , 1 . However, VEGFR is present not only in blood vessels, but also in organs such as the liver and heart. Therefore, pazopanib can also affect these organs, leading to side effects. 16 , 4 .

Common Side Effects

Liver Toxicity

One of the most common side effects of pazopanib is liver toxicity. 18 , 2 . Liver toxicity can manifest as elevated liver function test results, and in some cases, can progress to hepatitis or cirrhosis. 18 , 13 . Pazopanib's liver toxicity has been shown to be dose-dependent. 18 . If liver toxicity is severe, pazopanib administration should be stopped. 18 .

Skin Toxicity

Pazopanib can also cause skin toxicity. 17 , 20 . Skin toxicity manifests as rashes, itching, and pigmentation. 17 , 20 . Pazopanib skin toxicity is generally mild to moderate, but can be severe in some cases. 17 . If skin toxicity is severe, pazopanib administration should be stopped. 17 .

Cardiac Toxicity

Pazopanib can also cause cardiac toxicity. 16 , 7 . Cardiac toxicity manifests as hypertension, QT prolongation, and heart failure. 16 , 7 . Pazopanib's cardiac toxicity is generally mild to moderate, but can be severe in some cases. 7 . If cardiac toxicity is severe, pazopanib administration should be stopped. 7 .

Other

In addition to the above, pazopanib can cause side effects such as fatigue, loss of appetite, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, constipation, mouth sores, headache, dizziness, joint pain, muscle pain, and fever. 6 , 10 . Pazopanib side effects can vary from person to person. 11 .

Side Effect Management

Liver Toxicity

Liver toxicity from pazopanib needs to be monitored through regular liver function tests. 24 . If liver function test results are elevated, pazopanib administration should be stopped or the dosage reduced. 18 .

Skin Toxicity

Skin toxicity from pazopanib can be treated with topical medications such as steroid ointments. 17 . If skin toxicity is severe, pazopanib administration should be stopped. 17 .

Cardiac Toxicity

Cardiac toxicity from pazopanib needs to be monitored through regular blood pressure checks. 16 . If blood pressure is elevated, medications such as antihypertensives should be administered. 16 . If QT prolongation is observed, pazopanib administration should be stopped. 16 . If heart failure is observed, pazopanib administration should be stopped and heart failure treatment should be given. 7 .

Comparison Between Studies

Commonalities

All these studies show that pazopanib is effective in treating cancers such as metastatic renal cell carcinoma and soft tissue sarcoma. 18 , 6 , 16 , 12 , 9 . However, they also show that pazopanib can cause side effects such as liver toxicity, skin toxicity, and cardiac toxicity. 18 , 17 , 16 , 7 , 2 . These studies show that pazopanib side effects are generally mild to moderate, but can be severe in some cases. 17 , 7 . Pazopanib side effects can vary depending on the dosage and duration of pazopanib administration. 18 .

Differences

There are some differences in the effectiveness and side effects of pazopanib reported in these studies. 6 . For example, the objective response rate of pazopanib varies between studies. 6 . Also, the incidence of pazopanib side effects varies between studies. 11 . This could be due to differences in the patient population studied or the study design. 11 .

Caution Regarding Application in Real Life

While pazopanib is an effective drug for treating cancer, it is important to understand the risks of side effects. 18 , 16 . Before taking pazopanib, it is important to consult with a doctor to discuss your medical condition and any other medications you are taking, and to understand the risks and benefits of pazopanib. 18 , 16 . While taking pazopanib, regular checkups are necessary to detect and treat side effects early on. 18 , 16 .

Limitations of Current Research

Research on the side effects of pazopanib is still insufficient. 18 , 16 . In particular, there are still many unknowns about the long-term side effects of pazopanib, and further research is needed. 18 , 16 .

Future Research Directions

Further research is needed on the side effects of pazopanib. 18 , 16 . In particular, research is needed on the long-term side effects of pazopanib, biomarkers to predict pazopanib side effects, and new treatments to reduce pazopanib side effects. 18 , 16 .

Conclusion

Pazopanib is an effective drug for treating cancers such as metastatic renal cell carcinoma and soft tissue sarcoma, but it can cause side effects such as liver toxicity, skin toxicity, and cardiac toxicity. 18 , 16 . It is important to consult with a doctor before taking pazopanib and to understand the risks and benefits. 18 , 16 . It is also essential to undergo regular checkups while taking pazopanib to detect and treat side effects early on. 18 , 16 .