8. Cabozantinib: The Multi-Targeted Approach
Another medication making strides in the management of medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) is Cabozantinib. Like its peers in the targeted therapy category, it operates as a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, blocking several pathways implicated in cancer cell growth and angiogenesis.
What sets Cabozantinib apart is its ability to target multiple tyrosine kinases simultaneously. This multi-targeted approach provides a broader scope in disrupting the cancer cells’ growth and spread. It has demonstrated significant efficacy in improving progression-free survival in patients with advanced MTC, offering a lifeline to those with few treatment options.
As with other targeted therapies, Cabozantinib can have side effects such as diarrhea, fatigue, and hand-foot syndrome. However, these are usually manageable with supportive care and dose modifications. The medication’s efficacy in managing MTC cements its place among the top thyroid cancer medications, highlighting the potential of targeted therapy in managing this challenging disease. (8)
