Is cediranib available in the UK?

I have heard about a new drug called cediranib – is it available in the UK?

This page is about a new drug called cediranib. There is information about

 
 

What cediranib is

Cediranib is a new drug that researchers are investigating. It is also known as Recentin or AZD2171. It is pronounced sed-ih-ran-ib.

Cediranib is a type of biological therapy called a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI). Tyrosine kinases are proteins that cells use to signal to each other. They act as chemical messengers for the cells to tell each other to grow and develop.

Cediranib blocks signals telling cancer cells to make blood vessels. If they can’t grow blood vessels, cancer cells can’t get the nutrients they need and so the cancer cannot grow. Drugs that stop (inhibit) blood vessels forming are called angiogenesis inhibitors.

Cediranib is a tablet that you take once a day. Researchers have tested it in trials with chemotherapy and on its own.

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Cediranib in the UK

Cediranib is not licensed in the UK and is only available as part of clinical trials.

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Research into cediranib

All new drugs go through a detailed research process. First of all, research in the laboratory finds out if it harms cancer cells in any way. Then researchers look at whether it is safe to give to people, what the dose should be, and which side effects it causes in people.

Researchers have carried out a number of phase 1 trials with cediranib. We know from this research that it is safe to give to people and that side effects are manageable. Once we know a new drug is safe, it can then be tested in larger trials to find out how well it works as a cancer treatment. These trials also find out more about safety and the side effects of the drug.

A number of trials are looking at cediranib for different types of cancer including

Ovarian cancer

Researchers are looking at treating ovarian cancer with cediranib in combination with chemotherapy. A phase 3 trial called ICON 6 is comparing chemotherapy alone to chemotherapy with cediranib for ovarian cancer, fallopian tube, and peritoneal cancer that has come back after treatment. The trial started in 2007 and is not due to end until 2014. So it will be some time before we know the results. 

Bowel cancer

There have been several trials looking into cediranib for bowel cancer, but only early results are available as yet.  Researchers have shown that cediranib is safe and had some effect on bowel cancer for some people. Phase 3 trials have looked at combining cediranib with chemotherapy. The results aren't available yet. The DREAM trial is looking into combining cediranib with chemotherapy and radiotherapy for rectal cancer. This trial is recruiting until 2012.

Kidney cancer

The phase 2 COSAK trial is looking at giving cediranib with another biological therapy, saracatanib, for kidney cancer that has spread. An earlier phase 2 trial of cediranib for advanced kidney cancer finished recruiting patients in 2009 and the results won't be available for some time.

Cervical cancer

The CIRCCa trial is looking at combining cediranib with chemotherapy for cancer of the cervix that has come back since it was first treated, or has spread.  

Brain tumours

There have been a few trials using cediranib for a type of brain tumour called a glioblastoma, including the DORIC trial. These trials are now all closed to recruitment and we don't yet have the results. We aren't aware of any cediranib trials for brain tumours that are currently open in the UK.

Soft tissue sarcoma

The phase 2 CASPS trial is looking at cediranib for a rare type of soft tissue sarcoma called alveolar soft part sarcoma.

Gallbladder and bile duct cancer

The ABC03 trial is comparing a combination of chemotherapy and cediranib with chemotherapy alone for cancer of the gallbladder or bile duct. The trial is for people with cancer that cannot be removed, comes back after surgery, or has spread to another part of the body. The aim of the trial is to find out if having chemotherapy and cediranib together works better than chemotherapy alone for advanced cancers.

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Possible side effects

Researchers are still discovering the side effects of cediranib. So far, they know it may cause

  • Higher blood pressure than is normal for you (hypertension)
  • Diarrhoea
  • Feeling and being sick
  • Muscle pain and weakness
  • Heart problems including chest pain – you must contact your doctor as soon as possible if you have any pain
  • Increased risk of bleeding, including nosebleeds and bleeding from your gums – if you notice blood in your stool or vomit, contact your doctor straight away
  • Tiredness (fatigue) during and after treatment
  • Changes to your thyroid hormone levels
  • A sore mouth
  • A hoarse voice
  • Mild kidney changes that are unlikely to cause symptoms and will almost certainly go back to normal when treatment is finished – you will have regular blood tests to check how well your kidneys are working
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More information

You can find more information about what’s new in research for your type of cancer on CancerHelp UK. Use this link or click on the your cancer type tab at the top of your screen.

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