What Is Lenvatinib and How Is It Used in Kidney Cancer?

Lenvatinib (brand name Lenvima) is a targeted therapy used to treat advanced kidney cancer. It belongs to a group of drugs called tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), which block specific proteins that cancer cells use to grow and form new blood vessels.

In kidney cancer, lenvatinib is typically used:

  • In combination with pembrolizumab (an immunotherapy)
  • After previous treatment with other targeted or immune therapies
This combination has shown strong effectiveness, especially in people with advanced or metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

How Does It Work?

Lenvatinib blocks multiple growth pathways—specifically VEGFR, FGFR, PDGFR, RET, and KIT—which are involved in:

  • Tumor blood vessel formation (angiogenesis)
  • Cell growth and survival
  • Tumor spread and drug resistance

By targeting these pathways, lenvatinib slows tumor growth, reduces blood supply to the tumor, and enhances immune response when combined with immunotherapy.

How Is It Taken?

  • Taken by mouth as a capsule, once daily
  • Often given in combination with pembrolizumab, which is administered through IV
  • Standard dose in combination therapy is usually 20 mg once daily, but it can be adjusted based on side effects

The treatment is continuous as long as it remains effective and side effects are manageable.

Common Side Effects

Side effects can range from mild to severe and include:

  • High blood pressure
  • Fatigue
  • Diarrhea
  • Nausea
  • Loss of appetite
  • Mouth sores
  • Protein in the urine
  • Weight loss

Regular blood tests and blood pressure checks are necessary during treatment.

Is It Effective?

Lenvatinib combined with pembrolizumab has shown high response rates, shrinking tumors in many patients. It also improves progression-free survival and may delay the need for more aggressive treatments.

Looking for more questions?

Visit our Kidney Cancer Questions page for all other topics explained in plain language.

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