Introduction
Lenvatinib (trade name: Lenvima) has been approved in Germany since May 2015 for the treatment of differentiated thyroid cancer that has spread to other parts of the body (metastasis) or is locally advanced in adults. This medication is an option if the cancer progresses despite radioiodine therapy.
If a malignant tumor is found in the thyroid gland, the tumor or the entire thyroid gland is surgically removed. But sometimes surgery is no longer possible because the tumor is already too large or has spread to other parts of the body (metastasis). This is known as advanced cancer.
In differentiated thyroid cancer, the cancer cells are still similar to the original thyroid tissue. This means that the cancer cells absorb iodine, so radioiodine therapy is an option. Most types of thyroid cancer are differentiated cancer.
The drug lenvatinib inhibits certain proteins (enzymes) in order to prevent further tumor growth.