Use of multikinase inhibitors/lenvatinib in patients with high cardiovascular risk/vasculopathy and radioiodine refractory-differentiated thyroid cancer

Abstract

Antiangiogenic tyrosine kinase inhibitors are the treatment of choice in radioiodine refractory-differentiated thyroid cancer (RR-DTC). Nevertheless, these therapies present class toxicities that may impact their feasibility and patient's quality of life. Their mechanism of action explains the high prevalence of hypertension associated with their use, which reaches 68% with lenvatinib. Moreover, up to 85% of patients treated in the SELECT clinical trial were receiving baseline antihypertensive treatment. These data support the need for prevention, detection, and early management of hypertension. Prevention can be accomplished by controlling cardiovascular risk factors (hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and dyslipidemia) and those associated with lifestyle (smoking, harmful alcohol consumption, and physical inactivity) and electrolyte disorders. It is necessary to achieve stabilization of cardiovascular diseases. Detection involves baseline measurement and monitoring of blood pressure and cardiac function. Treatment requires optimization of baseline blood pressure and early initiation of antihypertensive agents.