Fruquintinib and its use in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer

Abstract

Fruquintinib is a potent, highly selective and orally active inhibitor of VEGFR1, 2, 3 tyrosine kinases. It inhibits VEGF-induced VEGFR2 phosphorylation, endothelial cell proliferation and tubule formation. Currently, it has been approved for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer in patients who have failed at least two prior systemic antineoplastic therapies in China. However, it is not approved outside China, and there is another similar small molecular VEGFR multitarget drug approved in China, USA, Europe, etc. Here, we summarize the mechanism characteristics and clinical development of fruquintinib supporting its use in the treatment of metastastic colorectal cancer as well as explorations in other tumor types.