Friday, February 19, 2016

How does Pazopanib (Brand name Votrient) work?

I thought I would share a little more information about the targeted chemo Dom is on.  I found this as I was just trying to learn more about what is going on in his body.

Votrient tablets contain the active ingredient pazopanib, which is a type of medicine known as a protein kinase inhibitor. It works by interfering with the pathways that signal certain cancer cells to grow. The way that cells in the body work and grow is regulated by various enzymes called protein kinases. These enzymes can be found in certain receptors on the surface of cells that are involved in the growth and spread of cancer cells. In cancerous cells, the kinases make the cells grow and multiply abnormally. They also stimulate nearby blood vessels to grow into the tumour. The new blood vessels allow the cancer cells to grow and multiply by supplying them with oxygen and nutrients. They also allow the cancerous cells to spread into other areas of the body through the blood circulation. Pazopanib works by attaching to certain receptors on cancer cells and cells in blood vessel walls and blocking the action of the protein kinases. This stops the signals that tell the cancer cells to grow and multiply. It also stops blood vessels growing into the tumour. This reduces the tumour’s blood supply and with it, its supply of oxygen and nutrients. Both these effects stop the tumour from growing.

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