Lenvatinib/lenvatinib belongs to several generations of targeted drugs

Lenvatinib is considered a targeted therapy rather than a traditional chemotherapy drug. The core of targeted cancer therapy is to intervene in specific target molecules that cause cancer to grow and spread. Lenvima (lenvatinib) works by blocking tyrosine kinases, proteins that promote cell growth and proliferation. It belongs to a class of drugs called vascular endothelial growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and is a third-generation anti-tumor targeted drug.

Lenvatinib belongs to a class of small molecules that are particularly effective in combating tumor progression by preventing the phosphorylation and subsequent activation of many tyrosine kinases involved in tumor cell proliferation and neovascularization. Lenvatinib exhibits diverse activities in different tumors and has been shown to be an effective treatment option in renal cell carcinoma, differentiated thyroid cancer, endometrial cancer, and hepatocellular carcinoma, with a manageable toxicity profile. However, there are no known biomarkers to predict response or resistance to it.

Lenvatinibis an emerging multikinase inhibitor with preferential anti-angiogenic activity that inhibits the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor family (VEGFR 1–3), the fibroblast growth factor receptor family (FGF R1–4), the platelet-derived growth factor receptor–α (pdgfrα), the tyrosine kinase receptor (KIT), and the receptor rearranged during transfection (RET). Treatment withlenvatinib causes side effects (hypertension, proteinuria, fatigue, and diarrhea) that are primarily related to inhibition of angiogenesis. Therefore, when using lenvatinib, doctors need to individualize treatment according to the patient's specific situation and closely monitor the patient's response and side effects.