Tivozanib: a new treatment option for renal cell carcinoma.

Tivozanib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor that targets all vascular endothelial growth factor receptors (VEGFRs), causing inhibition of angiogenesis. It has recently been approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for first-line treatment of adult patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and for adult patients who are VEGFR and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway inhibitor-naive, following disease progression after one prior treatment with cytokine therapy for advanced RCC. This review will focus on mechanisms of action, early drug development and results of published and ongoing clinical trials of tivozanib.