Mechanisms Underlying Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor Inhibition-Induced Hypertension: The HYPAZ Trial

Kaisa M. Mäki-Petäjä, Adam McGeoch, Lucy L. Yang, Annette Hubsch, Carmel M. McEniery, Paul A.R. Meyer, Fraz Mir, Parag Gajendragadkar, Nicola Ramenatte, Gayathri Anandappa, Sara Santos Franco, Simon J. Bond, Carola Bibiane Schönlieb, Yoeri Boink, Christoph Brune, Ian B. Wilkinson, Duncan I. Jodrell, Joseph Cheriyan*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

24 Citations (Scopus)
120 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Drugs targeting the VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) signaling pathway are approved for several malignancies. Unfortunately, VEGF inhibitors lead to hypertension in 30% to 80% patients. Reduced nitric oxide synthase activity, microvascular rarefaction, and increased vascular resistance have been proposed as potential mechanisms. We aimed to assess these mechanisms in patients receiving the VEGF inhibitor, pazopanib, for cancer. Twenty-seven normotensive patients with advanced solid malignancies received pazopanib 800 mg od. Endothelial function was assessed using forearm plethysmography with intraarterial infusions of acetylcholine. Detailed hemodynamic measurements were taken. Density and diameter of the conjunctival and episcleral microvasculature were evaluated using hemoglobin video imaging. Measurements were taken at baseline, 2, and 12 weeks after initiation of pazopanib or earlier if patients became hypertensive. By the end of the trial, systolic blood pressure increased by 12 mm Hg (95% CI, 4-19 mm Hg; P=0.003), diastolic by 10 mm Hg (95% CI, 5-15 mm Hg; P<0.001), and peripheral vascular resistance by 888 dynes×s/cm5(95% CI, 616-1168 dynes×s/cm5; P<0.001). Forearm blood flow improved: Ratio of acetylcholine response at end of trial/baseline was 2.8 (95% CI, 1.84-4.25; P<0.001). Microvascular density in the sclera was reduced by -15.5% (95% CI, -25.7% to -5.3%; P=0.003) and diameter by -2.09 µm (95% CI, -3.95 to -0.19 µm; P=0.03). A post hoc colorimetric assay revealed that pazopanib inhibited acetylcholinesterase activity by -56% (95% CI, -62% to -52%; P<0.001). Unexpectedly, pazopanib led to an increase in acetylcholine-mediated forearm blood flow response, likely due to the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase activity. Pazopanib increased peripheral vascular resistance and reduced microvascular density and diameter, suggesting that microvascular rarefaction could be one of the key mechanisms behind VEGF inhibition-induced hypertension. Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT01392352.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1591-1599
Number of pages9
JournalHypertension
Volume77
Issue number5
Early online date29 Mar 2021
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 2021

Keywords

  • acetylcholine
  • cardiovascular disease
  • hypertension
  • microvascular rarefaction
  • pazopanib

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Mechanisms Underlying Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor Inhibition-Induced Hypertension: The HYPAZ Trial'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this