Cabozantinib with nivolumab is the first-line treatment for patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

Cabozantinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor. It works by blocking the action of an abnormal protein that signals cancer cells to multiply. It helps slow or stop the spread of cancer cells. Nivolumab is a programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) blocking antibody. It is a type of immunotherapy.

How to use cabozantinib and nivolumab?

The commonly-used doses of nivolumab are 240 mg every 2 weeks (30-minute intravenous infusion) or 480 mg every 4 weeks (30-minute intravenous infusion). It is given in combination with cabozantinib 40 mg orally once daily without food.

The doctor may suggest to continue nivolumab until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity, or up to two years.

The doctor may suggest to continue cabozantinib until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

What are the side effects?

• Diarrhea (loose stools)
• Fatigue (Tiredness)
• Hepatotoxicity
• Hand-Foot Syndrome
• Stomatitis
• Rash
• Hypertension
• Hypothyroidism
• Musculoskeletal pain
• Appetite loss (Anorexia)
• Nausea
• Abnormal taste (Dysgeusia)
• Abdominal Pain (Bellyache)
• Cough
• Upper respiratory tract infection