Axitinib-induced acute pancreatitis: a case report

Anticancer Drugs. 2014 Apr;25(4):478-9. doi: 10.1097/CAD.0000000000000076.

Abstract

Axitinib is an oral second-generation selective inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor receptors recently approved for the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma. Numerous cases of acute pancreatitis have been reported after treatment with nonselective tyrosine kinase inhibitors such as sorafenib and sunitinib. We present the first report of a patient under axitinib treatment presenting with acute pancreatitis for which no other etiology has been found. The patient was a 29-year-old woman treated for renal cell carcinoma. The patient had no history of chronic illness, gallstone-related disease, or alcohol consumption. She had been previously treated with sunitinib and everolimus. Four months after the onset of axitinib treatment she was hospitalized for acute pancreatitis. Symptoms and blood lipase levels normalized within a few days after axitinib was withheld. We believe that acute pancreatitis should be recognized as a potential axitinib-related adverse event.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Adult
  • Antineoplastic Agents / adverse effects*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Axitinib
  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell / drug therapy*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Imidazoles / adverse effects*
  • Imidazoles / therapeutic use
  • Indazoles / adverse effects*
  • Indazoles / therapeutic use
  • Kidney Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Pancreatitis / chemically induced*
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / adverse effects*
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Imidazoles
  • Indazoles
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Axitinib