Clinical trials of VEGF receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors in pancreatic cancer

Abstract

Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Western countries and is among the deadliest diseases in humans. At present, gemcitabine is the standard chemotherapy for advanced pancreatic cancer, although (despite its use) prognosis continues to be dismal with a median survival of < 6 months. While targeting tumor vasculature has provided improved outcomes in colon, lung, breast and renal cell cancers, trials of angiogenesis inhibitors have lagged behind in pancreatic cancer. This review provides the rationale for exploring antiangiogenic therapies in the treatment of pancreatic cancer as well as summarizes present clinical development of VEGF receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors and their application to pancreatic cancer.

Keywords::

• angiogenesis
• bevacizumab
• drug development
• oral therapy
• pancreatic cancer
• tyrosine kinase inhibitors
• vascular endothelial growth factor
• vascular endothelial growth factor receptor

Disclosure

G Fisher has received research support for clinical trials from Bristol, AstraZeneca, Novartis and Genetech, Inc., as well as share support from Exelixis and pending support from Amgen. E Cabebe has received an honorarium from Genentech.