Introduction
Cabozantinib (trade name: Cabometyx) has been approved in Germany since November 2018 for the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma in adults who have already had treatment with the drug sorafenib.
Hepatocellular carcinoma is caused by malignant changes in the cells of the liver. It is usually not very noticeable at first. Symptoms such as nausea or loss of appetite don’t occur until it reaches an advanced stage. Large tumors cause tenderness on the right side of the upper abdomen. The tummy may swell as a result of fluids building up there (ascites). This type of cancer is usually caused by liver cirrhosis (liver damage due to scarring), which leads to a decline in the function of the liver. Hepatocellular carcinoma is difficult to treat. By the time it is detected, it may have already grown so much that surgery is no longer a treatment option.
The goal of treatment with cabozantinib is to block various proteins (enzymes) in order to reduce tumor growth.