Votrient (Pazopanib) for Desmoid Tumor

Overview
Votrient is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and advanced soft tissue sarcoma (STS) in people who have received prior chemotherapy. While it is not specifically approved for desmoid tumors, it’s sometimes prescribed off-label for the condition. Votrient is also known by its drug name, pazopanib.

Pazopanib operates as a multi-tyrosine kinase inhibitor, targeting several growth factor receptors, including vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR)-1, VEGFR-2, and VEGFR-3, among others. This helps to inhibit angiogenesis, which is the formation of new blood vessels, and is thought to slow the growth of tumors by reducing their blood supply​​​​.

How do I take it?
Votrient is taken orally in tablet form. The medication should be taken exactly as prescribed by a health care provider.

Side effects
The prescribing information lists common side effects of Votrient for people with RCC, including diarrhea, hypertension (high blood pressure), hair color changes, nausea, and loss of appetite. For those with STS, it also lists fatigue, vomiting, tumor pain, musculoskeletal pain, headache, dysgeusia (changes in taste), dyspnea (shortness of breath), and  skin hypopigmentation (lightening in skin color).

Rare but serious side effects of Votrient include severe hepatotoxicity, QT prolongation and Torsades de Pointes; cardiac dysfunction; hemorrhagic events (bleeding in the brain); blood clots; gastrointestinal perforation (tearing) and fistula (tunnels); interstitial lung disease or pneumonitis; posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome; severe hypertension; impaired wound healing; hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid); proteinuria (high protein levels in urine); tumor lysis syndrome; serious infections; and embryo-fetal toxicity.

For more information about Votrient, visit:

Votrient — Pazopanib Hydrochloride Tablet, Film Coated — Dailymed

Desmoid Tumors: Systemic Therapy — Wolters Kluwer UpToDate