Cabozantinib

Say it: kab-oh-ZAN-tih-nib · Brand names: Cabometyx, Cometriq

Cabozantinib is a targeted pill that blocks several growth signals and cuts off the blood supply tumors need.

What it is

Tumors need new blood vessels to grow. Cabozantinib blocks signals that make new blood vessels, such as VEGF. It also blocks other signals, like MET and RET, that help cancer cells grow and spread.

Often used for

• kidney cancer, alone or with nivolumab
• liver cancer
• thyroid cancer, including medullary thyroid cancer
• some neuroendocrine tumors

How you get it

It is taken by mouth once a day on an empty stomach. Do not eat for 2 hours before and 1 hour after. The pill and capsule forms are not the same, so do not switch between them. Your schedule may be different.

Common side effects and what helps

• Diarrhea. Drink plenty of fluids and ask your team which diarrhea medicine to keep at home.
• Feeling tired. Rest when you need to and take short walks when you can.
• Red, sore, or peeling skin on the palms and soles. Use thick moisturizer, wear soft shoes, and avoid hot water.
• Less appetite and weight loss. Try small, frequent meals.
• High blood pressure. Your team will check it often.
• Nausea. Eat small, bland meals.
• Mouth sores or changes in taste. Use a soft toothbrush and a mild salt water rinse.
• Hoarse voice. This usually is not harmful.

Call your care team right away if you have

• Bad headache, or blood pressure higher than your team told you to expect
• Bleeding that will not stop, black or bloody stools, or coughing up blood
• Chest pain, or numbness or weakness on one side, or trouble speaking
• Bad belly pain
• Confusion, seizures, or sudden vision changes
• Pain, swelling, or redness in one leg or arm

Before you start, tell your team

• If you have high blood pressure, or have had bleeding, a blood clot, or a stroke
• If you have liver problems
• If you have surgery or dental work planned
• If you are pregnant, may become pregnant, or are breastfeeding
• All the medicines, vitamins, and herbal products you take, since some can change how this medicine works

Good to know

• It often raises blood pressure. Check it at home if your team asks and bring your numbers to visits.
• Serious bleeding, and rarely holes or abnormal openings in the bowel, can happen.
• It can slow wound healing. Your team will stop it for a while before and after surgery or dental work.
• You will have urine tests for protein and blood tests for liver, thyroid, and calcium.
• Rarely, it causes jawbone damage. Get a dental checkup before starting if you can.

At home

• Take it on an empty stomach. Do not eat for 2 hours before and 1 hour after.
• Swallow the pills whole with water. Do not crush, chew, or split them unless your team says it is OK.
• If you miss a dose or throw up after a dose, ask your team what to do. Do not take an extra dose on your own.
• Store the pills at room temperature in their original container, away from children and pets.
• Wash your hands after touching the pills. Ask your team if others in your home should take special care.
• Do not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice, since it can raise the amount of medicine in your blood.

Questions to ask

• How long will I take this medicine?
• Should I check my blood pressure at home?
• Are any of my other medicines, foods, or supplements a problem with this medicine?
• What should I do if I miss a dose?
• Which side effects should I call you about right away, and which can wait?

Side effect guides

• Fatigue (tiredness)
• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Mouth sores
• Appetite loss and weight loss
• Taste changes
• Hand-foot syndrome

Last updated: 2026-10-27. Medically reviewed by Veli Bakalov, MD, medical oncologist (October 2026). General education from Step by Step, the patient portal of HemeOncBuddy.