Microscopic view of liposarcoma cells transforming into a hopeful sunrise, symbolizing the potential of pazopanib therapy.

Hope for Liposarcoma: Pazopanib's Promising Results

Avery Sinclair in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"A New Study Highlights Pazopanib's Effectiveness in Treating Advanced Liposarcoma, Offering a Potential Second-Line Therapy"

Liposarcoma, a rare cancer arising from fat cells, poses significant challenges due to its often advanced stage at diagnosis. When the disease becomes unresectable (impossible to surgically remove) or metastatic (spread to other body parts), treatment options are limited, and the prognosis is generally poor. Traditional chemotherapy regimens offer some benefit, but the need for more effective and targeted therapies is urgent.

In the realm of targeted therapies, pazopanib has emerged as a promising agent. Initially approved as a second-line treatment for other types of soft tissue sarcomas, researchers have been investigating its potential in managing advanced liposarcoma. Pazopanib functions as a multi-targeting tyrosine kinase inhibitor, disrupting the signaling pathways that fuel cancer cell growth and spread.

A recent prospective, single-arm, multicentre, phase 2 trial has shed new light on pazopanib's effectiveness in treating advanced liposarcoma. Led by Brian Samuels and colleagues, the study aimed to evaluate the drug's activity in patients with unresectable or metastatic liposarcoma. The findings of this trial offer hope and a potential new approach to managing this challenging disease.

Pazopanib for Advanced Liposarcoma: Understanding the Clinical Trial

Microscopic view of liposarcoma cells transforming into a hopeful sunrise, symbolizing the potential of pazopanib therapy.

In the clinical trial conducted by Brian Samuels and colleagues, 41 patients diagnosed with unresectable or metastatic liposarcoma were administered oral pazopanib at a dosage of 800 mg once daily, following a 28-day cycle. The primary endpoint of the study focused on evaluating the progression-free rate at 12 weeks, providing a key measure of the drug's effectiveness in controlling tumor growth.

The results of the clinical trial revealed promising outcomes for patients treated with pazopanib. At 12 weeks, the progression-free rate was 68.3% (95% CI 51.9-81.9), indicating a substantial proportion of patients experienced disease control. Furthermore, at 24 weeks, 39% (95% CI 24.2-55.5) of patients remained progression-free, suggesting a sustained benefit from the treatment.

Median progression-free survival was 4.44 months (95% CI 3.2-6.5).
Median overall survival was 12.6 months (8.5-16.2).
The most frequent drug-related adverse events were nausea, hypertension, diarrhea, and fatigue (all ≤grade 3).

These findings suggest that pazopanib may offer a valuable therapeutic option for patients with advanced liposarcoma, providing disease control and potentially prolonging survival. However, it's important to consider the adverse events associated with pazopanib treatment, including nausea, hypertension, diarrhea, and fatigue. These side effects, although generally manageable, may impact a patient's quality of life and require careful monitoring.

Expert Commentary and Future Directions

George Demetri of Dana Farber Cancer Institute, commented that while sarcomas are rare, they continue to generate important research and clinical insights. He noted the study's findings conflict with some prior trials, possibly due to the heterogeneity of rare disease subsets with small patient numbers. Demetri also mentioned that several new therapies have been approved worldwide for liposarcomas in recent years, highlighting the increasing options for patients.Judith A Gilbert emphasizes the importance of future trials including liposarcoma patients in pazopanib research, noting the interest in combining pazopanib with other drugs to improve outcomes.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1016/s1470-2045(17)30663-0, Alternate LINK

Title: Pazopanib For Advanced Liposarcoma

Subject: Oncology

Journal: The Lancet Oncology

Publisher: Elsevier BV

Authors: Judith A Gilbert

Published: 2017-10-01

Everything You Need To Know

What is liposarcoma and why is it so difficult to treat?

Liposarcoma is a rare type of cancer that originates in fat cells. It presents a significant challenge when it reaches an advanced stage, becoming either unresectable, meaning it cannot be surgically removed, or metastatic, indicating it has spread to other parts of the body. In such cases, treatment options become limited, often resulting in a poor prognosis. Although traditional chemotherapy provides some relief, there's a pressing need for more effective and targeted therapies to combat this disease.

How does pazopanib work to target liposarcoma?

Pazopanib is a targeted therapy known as a multi-targeting tyrosine kinase inhibitor. It works by disrupting the signaling pathways that cancer cells use to grow and spread. While it was initially approved as a second-line treatment for other types of soft tissue sarcomas, researchers have been exploring its potential in treating advanced liposarcoma, offering a new avenue for managing this challenging condition.

What was the main objective of the clinical trial involving pazopanib for advanced liposarcoma?

The study focused on evaluating the effectiveness of pazopanib in patients with unresectable or metastatic liposarcoma. Patients were given pazopanib orally at a dosage of 800 mg once daily in 28-day cycles. The primary goal was to measure the progression-free rate at 12 weeks, which indicates how well the drug controls tumor growth. The results showed that pazopanib could offer disease control and potentially extend survival, making it a valuable option for managing advanced liposarcoma.

What were the key findings of the clinical trial, and what side effects are associated with pazopanib treatment?

The clinical trial revealed that at 12 weeks, the progression-free rate was 68.3%, suggesting that a large proportion of patients experienced disease control. By 24 weeks, 39% of patients remained progression-free, indicating a sustained benefit from the treatment. The median progression-free survival was 4.44 months, and the median overall survival was 12.6 months. However, it's important to consider the potential adverse events associated with pazopanib, such as nausea, hypertension, diarrhea, and fatigue, which may impact a patient's quality of life.

What are the expert opinions on the use of pazopanib for liposarcoma, and what future research directions are being considered?

Experts like George Demetri and Judith A Gilbert emphasize the importance of ongoing research and clinical insights in sarcomas. There are conflicting findings in prior trials due to the heterogeneity of rare disease subsets with small patient numbers. Combining pazopanib with other drugs may improve outcomes and there are increasing options for patients.