💊 What is Cabozantinib?
Cabozantinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI)—a type of drug that blocks specific proteins that help cancer cells grow and spread.
It’s marketed under the brand name:
Other available alternatives are:
🎯 What cancers it treats?
Cabozantinib is commonly used for:
- Advanced renal cell carcinoma (kidney cancer)
- Hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer)
- Medullary thyroid cancer
In some cases, it’s also used off-label for other solid tumors depending on oncologist guidance.
⚙️ How it works ?
Cancer cells need blood supply and growth signals to survive. Cabozantinib blocks receptors like:
VEGFR (blood vessel growth)
MET (tumor growth and spread)
AXL (metastasis pathway)
👉 Result: It helps slow tumor growth and cut off blood supply to cancer cells.
⚠️ Common side effects of Cabozantinib
Like most TKIs, it can be strong on the body:
- Fatigue
- Diarrhea
- High blood pressure
- Loss of appetite
- Hand-foot syndrome (redness, pain on palms/soles)
- Weight loss
- Mouth sores
More serious (needs medical attention):
- Bleeding
- Blood clots
- Liver problems
- Severe hypertension
🧠 Important notes
- It is a prescription-only oncology drug
- Dose is carefully adjusted by oncologists
- Often used when other treatments stop working
- Regular blood pressure + lab monitoring is required
