Acute aortic dissection caused by fruquintinib for metastatic colorectal cancer—a case report and literature review

BACKGROUND: Fruquintinib is a highly selective tyrosine kinase inhibitor targeting vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR). At present, it has been approved for third-line therapy for advanced metastatic colorectal cancer in China. Like other small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors, adverse reactions such as hand-foot syndrome, hypertension and cardiotoxicity may be seen. However, acute aortic dissection caused by fruquintinib has not been reported so far. CASE DESCRIPTION: Here, we report a case of aortic dissection. The patient, a 61-year-old man with advanced metastatic colorectal cancer, without history of hypertension or other risk factors for aortic dissection, received fruquintinib as the third line of treatment. Six weeks after oral fruquintinib treatment, the patient developed acute aortic dissection, and the occurrence of the adverse effect was determined to be probably related to the use of fruquintinib. This article focuses on the potential pathogenesis of fruquintinib-induced active dissection. CONCLUSIONS: We reported the first case of fruquintinib-associated aortic dissection, and discussed the possible mechanism of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-VEGFR signal pathway (VSP) inhibitors leading to aortic dissection. As a new drug, fruquintinib brings not only clinical benefits, but also brings some adverse reactions. Clinicians must be vigilant to the cardiovascular toxicity caused by small molecular tyrosine kinase inhibitors, especially the severe cardiovascular toxicity, and strengthen monitoring and management.