cabozantinib
Cabozantinib is an oral multi-kinase inhibitor that blocks MET, VEGF receptors and RET, pathways tumours use to grow and build blood supply. As Cabometyx it is used in advanced kidney and liver cancer and thyroid cancer; as Cometriq, in medullary thyroid carcinoma.
This page is based on FDA prescribing information and the EMA medicine record for cabozantinib, cross-checked with the National Cancer Institute dictionary; the mechanism is explained in plain language, and analogies are used only where they stay accurate.
How it works
Explains what the medicine does in the body, not dosing, side effects, or safety.
An analogy
A tumour is a fortress that receives orders through several telephone lines - MET for growth, VEGF receptors for supply roads, RET for certain cancers' survival signals. Cabozantinib cuts all of those lines at once, so the fortress can neither coordinate its expansion nor keep the supply routes open.
In simple terms
Cancer cells rely on signalling proteins called receptor tyrosine kinases to grow and to recruit blood vessels. Cabozantinib blocks several of these receptors at the same time, including MET, the VEGF receptors and RET. Shutting down these signals slows tumour growth, reduces blood vessel formation around the cancer and can shrink tumours in the kidney, liver and thyroid.
In depth
Cabozantinib is an orally available small-molecule inhibitor of receptor tyrosine kinases including MET, VEGFR-1, VEGFR-2, VEGFR-3, RET, KIT, FLT3, TIE-2 and AXL. Inhibition of MET counteracts resistance mechanisms to VEGF-pathway blockade, while VEGFR inhibition suppresses tumour angiogenesis. Dual pathway coverage underlies activity in renal cell carcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma after sorafenib, and RET-driven or RAI-refractory thyroid cancers.
See it in motion
A schematic animation of the mechanism — simplified for clarity, not drawn to scale.
Cabozantinib cuts all of those lines at once
- Cancer cells rely on signalling proteins called receptor tyrosine kinases to grow and to recruit blood vessels.
- A tumour is a fortress that receives orders through several telephone lines - MET for growth, VEGF receptors for supply roads, RET for certain cancers' survival signals.
- Cabozantinib blocks several of these receptors at the same time, including MET, the VEGF receptors and RET.
- Shutting down these signals slows tumour growth, reduces blood vessel formation around the cancer and can shrink tumours in the kidney, liver and thyroid.
Target: MET, VEGFR and RET receptor tyrosine kinases
Signalling receptors that drive tumour cell growth, invasion and new blood vessel formation; several cancers depend on one or more of these pathways at once.
Approved uses
Approved uses differ by country and change over time. Always follow your local prescribing information.
Approved uses in United States
FDA- Treatment of patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma, including as first-line treatment in combination with nivolumab
- Treatment of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who have been previously treated with sorafenib
- Treatment of adults and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older with locally advanced or metastatic differentiated thyroid cancer that has progressed following prior systemic therapy
Approved uses in European Union
EMA- Treatment of adults with progressive, unresectable locally advanced or metastatic medullary thyroid carcinoma
Official sources
The statements on this page trace back to these records.
- Cometriq (cabozantinib) — Summary of product characteristics and package leaflet, English version
European Medicines Agency
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration: cabozantinib prescribing information
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
- National Cancer Institute: cabozantinib
National Cancer Institute
This page explains how the medicine works — it isn’t the patient leaflet. For anything that applies to you, read the leaflet that came with your medicine or ask your pharmacist.
MedUnfold provides educational content and is not medical advice. Always follow your local prescribing information and healthcare professional.