Is the actual cure rate of Axitinib targeted therapy high?

Axitinib is an oral, small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor mainly used to treat advanced renal cell carcinoma, especially in patients who are resistant to initial treatment. It effectively blocks tumor angiogenesis by targeting and inhibiting vascular endothelial growth factor receptors (VEGFR) 1, 2 and 3, thereby inhibiting tumor growth and spread. Although axitinib is effective in controlling the disease, as a targeted therapy drug, its actual "cure" rate is still low. It is more about delaying disease progression and improving quality of life.

In clinical studies, axitinib demonstrated higher disease control rates and longer progression-free survival (PFS). Especially in a clinical trial called AXIS, compared with sorafenib, the median progression-free survival of patients in the axitinib group was significantly longer, reaching 6.7 months. For some patients who respond well to treatment, their tumors can shrink significantly or even achieve partial response (PR). However, cases that truly achieve "complete remission" or even long-term "cure" are extremely rare, and the vast majority of patients eventually still face the challenge of disease recurrence or progression.

From the actual treatment situation, axitinib is more commonly used as a second-line or third-line treatment drug. The main purpose is to prolong survival and stabilize the disease rather than to completely eliminate the tumor. In some patients, axitinib has also been combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors such as pembrolizumab, which is expected to further improve the response rate and prolong survival time. However, even under these combination regimens, clinical "cure" results are rarely seen.

To sum up, axitinib has certain efficacy in targeted therapy, especially in specific patient groups, which can achieve longer disease control time. However, its "cure rate" is relatively low, and it is regarded more as a drug that prolongs life, improves symptoms, and controls the disease. When patients are treated with axitinib, they should maintain reasonable expectations, actively cooperate with doctors for regular follow-up and evaluation, and adjust treatment strategies in a timely manner to achieve maximum treatment benefits.

Reference materials:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axitinib