What Is Tivozanib and How Does It Work?

What Is Tivozanib?

Tivozanib is a prescription medicine used to treat advanced kidney cancer, which is also called renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Doctors usually prescribe Tivozanib when kidney cancer has returned or continued to grow even after several other treatments have already been tried.

Kidney cancer can be challenging to treat once it reaches advanced stages.

When earlier treatments stop working, doctors look for other options. Tivozanib is one such option. It belongs to anti-angiogenic cancer drugs, which work by stopping tumors from forming new blood vessels. The drug was approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration on March 10, 2021.

How Does Tivozanib Work?

Cancer tumors need a constant blood supply to grow. Blood provides cancer cells with oxygen and nutrients to live. To get more blood, tumors send signals that tell the body to grow new blood vessels. This is called angiogenesis. A VEGF tyrosine kinase inhibitor (like Tivozanib) works by blocking the tyrosine kinase part of those same VEGF receptors inside the cell.

Tivozanib stops this process by blocking VEGF receptors, which act like switches that turn blood vessel growth on and off. When Tivozanib blocks these receptors:

• Fewer new blood vessels form.

• Less blood reaches the tumor.

• The tumor receives less oxygen and nutrients.

• Cancer growth slows down.

A simple way to understand this is to think of cancer like a fire. Blood vessels are the fuel that keeps the fire burning. Tivozanib cuts off that fuel supply, making it harder for the fire to grow or spread.

Because Tivozanib primarily targets signals that promote blood vessel growth, it affects fewer healthy cells. This focused action is one reason many patients tolerate it better than older cancer treatments.

What Are the Approved Uses of Tivozanib?

Tivozanib use is approved for:

• Adults with advanced or spreading kidney cancer (advanced renal cell carcinoma treatment).

• Patients whose cancer has not responded to at least two previous treatments.

This means Tivozanib is usually not the first or second medicine given after a kidney cancer diagnosis. Instead, it is used when treatments such as immunotherapy or other targeted therapies no longer control the disease.

For patients who feel frustrated or discouraged after trying multiple treatments, Tivozanib can offer another opportunity to slow cancer progression. It may help patients feel better physically and maintain daily activities for longer.

What Is the Recommended Dosage of Tivozanib?

Most patients take Tivozanib in the following way:

• One capsule (1.34 mg) once daily.

• Taken for 21 days in a row.

• Followed by seven days without the medicine.

This 28-day schedule is called one treatment cycle. After completing one cycle, treatment continues with the next cycle as long as the medicine is working and side effects remain manageable.

Tivozanib dosage can be taken with or without food. Doctors often suggest taking it at the same time every day to make it easier to remember and avoid missing doses.

Everyone’s body is different, so medicine can affect people in different ways. Your doctor might change your dose if:

• Side effects feel too strong.

• Your blood pressure gets too high.

• Blood tests show your liver is not working well.

Sometimes the doctor may stop the medicine for a while or give a lower dose until you feel better. Never change or stop Tivozanib without talking to your doctor first.

Your doctor will adjust the Tivozanib dosage and side effects monitoring based on how your body responds to treatment.

What Are the Side Effects of Tivozanib?

Like all cancer medicines, Tivozanib can cause side effects. Some people may have mild side effects, while others may have stronger ones. Most can be managed with regular doctor check-ups and support from the healthcare team.

Common Side Effects

• High blood pressure.

• Feeling tired or weak.

• Diarrhea.

• Loss of appetite.

• Weight loss.

• Nausea or vomiting.

• Hoarse or weak voice.

• Mouth sores.

• Low thyroid hormone levels.

High blood pressure is one of the most common side effects. Doctors usually check blood pressure regularly, especially during the first few weeks of treatment. Fatigue is also common. Patients may feel more tired than usual and may need extra rest.

Serious Side Effects

Although less common, serious side effects may include:

• Very high or uncontrolled blood pressure.

• Heart problems such as heart failure.

• Easy bruising or bleeding.

• Blood clots in the veins or arteries.

• Kidney problems.

• Delayed wound healing.

• Severe headaches, confusion, or vision problems.

• Tears or holes in the stomach or intestines are called perforations.

If you or a loved one experiences chest pain, shortness of breath, sudden swelling, severe headache, confusion, or heavy bleeding during TKI (tyrosine kinase inhibitor) therapy for renal cell carcinoma (RCC), seek medical help immediately.

Who Should Avoid or Use Tivozanib?

Tivozanib may not be suitable for everyone. Doctors carefully review a patient’s medical history before prescribing it.

Use With Caution If You Have:

• Uncontrolled high blood pressure

• Heart disease

• A history of blood clots or stroke

• Liver disease

• Kidney disease

• Planned or upcoming surgery

Because Tivozanib can slow wound healing, doctors may temporarily stop the medicine before and after surgery.

Avoid Tivozanib If You Are:

• Pregnant or planning to become pregnant.

• Allergic to Tivozanib or its ingredients.

Women who can become pregnant and men with partners who can become pregnant should use birth control during Tivozanib treatment and for some time after stopping it.

What Are the Benefits of Tivozanib in RCC?

Studies of Tivozanib involved patients with advanced kidney cancer who had already tried several treatments. Many of these patients had limited options remaining.

Benefits observed in these studies include:

• Slower cancer growth.

• A longer time before the cancer worsened.

• Better disease control compared to some older medicines.

Although Tivozanib for renal cell carcinoma may not cure cancer, it helps many patients live longer without their disease progressing. This can mean fewer symptoms, such as pain or fatigue, and a better overall quality of life.

If other medicines haven’t worked, Tivozanib can help and give hope. Knowing Tivozanib's effectiveness in advanced RCC allows patients to make informed decisions with their healthcare team.

What Is It Like Living With Tivozanib Treatment?

Taking Tivozanib is usually part of a long-term treatment plan, so regular doctor visits are important to monitor blood pressure, thyroid levels, kidney function, and overall health. Patients should take Tivozanib exactly as prescribed, attend all follow-up appointments, report any new or worsening symptoms, eat a healthy diet, stay hydrated, and rest when needed, while avoiding overexertion.

Conclusion

Tivozanib is a medicine for adults with kidney cancer. It helps slow the cancer by stopping the blood vessels that feed the tumor. Some people may have side effects, but many patients do well on Tivozanib with regular doctor visits and help from their healthcare team.

For people with advanced kidney cancer, Tivozanib can slow the cancer and give hope when other treatments don’t work. It’s important to talk to a cancer specialist about how it can help, possible side effects, and what to expect to see if it’s the right choice.

Key Takeaways

• Tivozanib is a medicine that helps treat advanced kidney cancer.

• It works by cutting off the tumor’s blood supply.

• It is taken once daily for 21 days, followed by a seven-day break.

• High blood pressure is a common side effect.

• Regular medical monitoring is essential.

• It provides another treatment option for patients who have already tried several other therapies.