Lack of effect of smoking status on axitinib pharmacokinetics in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer

Purpose Axitinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor targeting vascular endothelial growth factor receptors 1–3, is approved for second-line treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma. Axitinib is partially metabolized by cytochrome P450 1A2, which is induced by chronic heavy smoking. The effect of smoking on axitinib pharmacokinetics was evaluated in a non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patient population with a large number of active and ex-smokers.