Nintedanib (Vargatef)

Mechanism of action

From the NCI Drug Dictionary: An orally bioavailable, indolinone-derived, receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) inhibitor with potential antiangiogenic and antineoplastic activities. Multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor BIBF 1120 selectively binds to and inhibits vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR), fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) and platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR) tyrosine kinases, which may result in the induction of endothelial cell apoptosis; a reduction in tumor vasculature; and the inhibition of tumor cell proliferation and migration. In addition, this agent also inhibits members of the Src family of tyrosine kinases, including Src, Lck, Lyn, and FLT-3 (fms-like tyrosine kinase 3).

Preliminary data

Mesothelioma

• Grosso F, Steele N, Novello S, Nowak AK, Popat S, Greillier L, John T, Leighl NB, Reck M, Taylor P, Planchard D, Sørensen JB, Socinski MA, von Wangenheim U, Loembé AB, Barrueco J, Morsli N, Scagliotti G. Nintedanib plus pemetrexed/cisplatin in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma: Phase II results from the randomized, placebo-controlled LUME-Meso trial. J Clin Oncol. 2017 Nov 1;35(31):3591-3600. Epub 2017 Sep 11. link to original article PubMed

Non-small cell lung cancer

• Reck M, Kaiser R, Mellemgaard A, Douillard JY, Orlov S, Krzakowski M, von Pawel J, Gottfried M, Bondarenko I, Liao M, Gann CN, Barrueco J, Gaschler-Markefski B, Novello S; LUME-Lung 1 Study Group. Docetaxel plus nintedanib versus docetaxel plus placebo in patients with previously treated non-small-cell lung cancer (LUME-Lung 1): a phase 3, double-blind, randomised controlled trial. Lancet Oncol. 2014 Feb;15(2):143-55. 2. Epub 2014 Jan 9. link to original article PubMed

Ovarian cancer

• du Bois A, Kristensen G, Ray-Coquard I, Reuss A, Pignata S, Colombo N, Denison U, Vergote I, Del Campo JM, Ottevanger P, Heubner M, Minarik T, Sevin E, de Gregorio N, Bidziński M, Pfisterer J, Malander S, Hilpert F, Mirza MR, Scambia G, Meier W, Nicoletto MO, Bjørge L, Lortholary A, Sailer MO, Merger M, Harter P; AGO Study Group led Gynecologic Cancer Intergroup/European Network of Gynaecologic Oncology Trials Groups Intergroup Consortium. Standard first-line chemotherapy with or without nintedanib for advanced ovarian cancer (AGO-OVAR 12): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial. Lancet Oncol. 2016 Jan;17(1):78-89. Epub 2015 Nov 16. link to SD article PubMed