Dr. Randall on Using Pexidartinib to Treat Tenosynovial Giant Cell Tumor

R. Lor Randall, MD, FACS, professor and The David Linn Endowed Chair for Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California Davis Health, discusses the use of pexidartinib (Turalio), which was recently approved by the FDA in August 2019, in the treatment of patients with tenosynovial giant cell tumor (TGCT).

In TGCT, there are 2 subclasses: pigmented villonodular synovitis and giant cell tumor of the tendon sheath, says Randall. For the most part, these are benign conditions that grow very aggressively around the knee and other areas, which can be very debilitating for patients, he explains.

Until recently, the standard of care for patients with TGCT has been surgical removal, but over a period of time the tumor grows back, adds Randall. The phase III ENLIVEN trial showed that pexidartinib, a CSF1R inhibitor, can target this disease and shrink the tumor. Pexidartinib does not entirely eliminate the tumor, but it can help reduce its size and assist with symptom reduction, concludes Randall.