FormalPara Key Points

Cabozantinib represents a treatment option for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma who progress after sorafenib.

Adverse events associated with cabozantinib may be effectively managed with supportive care and dose modifications, thereby allowing patients to continue treatment at the appropriate dose, with minimum interruption.

Studies of cabozantinib in the first-line setting are ongoing; by understanding the safety profile of this drug, clinicians will be able to balance efficacy with tolerability for each patient.

1 Introduction

There has been a marked increase in liver cancer deaths in recent years. In 2018, there were ~ 841,000 new cases of liver cancer worldwide, and liver cancer accounted for almost 800,000 deaths, making it the sixth most prevalent cancer worldwide [1]. The most common primary malignancy of the liver is hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) [2]. The frequency, burden, and etiology of HCC vary across geographic regions and populations but are linked to prevalence of predisposing chronic hepatic conditions such as viral hepatitis and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) or nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which generally develop in the setting of cirrhosis [3, 4]. In recent years, the incidence of nonviral HCC has increased while the proportion of HCC cases related to viral hepatitis has declined [3, 4]. Additional risk factors for HCC include alcohol consumption, smoking, obesity, and diabetes [2]. As the epidemiology of these conditions has evolved, so too has the etiology of HCC [2].

For patients with advanced HCC, the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR)–targeting tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) sorafenib has been a standard of care [5]; however, the treatment landscape has been transformed in recent years with the introduction of newer TKIs, immunotherapies, and monoclonal antibody therapies [6]. This provides clinicians and patients with a variety of treatment options based on mechanism of action and safety profile.

Cabozantinib is a multikinase inhibitor that targets VEGFR 1–3, MET, the TAM family of kinases (TYRO-3, AXL, MER), RET, ROS1, KIT, TRKB, FLT-3, and TIE-2 [7, 8], several of which are implicated in tumor growth, angiogenesis, and immune regulation [8]. VEGFR, MET, and AXL have been implicated in the pathogenesis of HCC [9,10,11]. A capsule formulation of cabozantinib was first approved in 2012 for treatment of progressive, metastatic medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) [12]. The tablet formulation (not bioequivalent or interchangeable with the capsule [13]) was subsequently approved for patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) [14, 15] and more recently for patients with advanced HCC who have received prior sorafenib [7, 16]. The approval in HCC was based on outcomes from the pivotal phase III CELESTIAL trial, which showed significantly improved overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) with cabozantinib relative to placebo in patients who received prior sorafenib [17]. The safety profile of cabozantinib was manageable; nearly all patients receiving cabozantinib experienced an adverse event (AE), but these were effectively managed with dose modification and supportive care measures.

Clinicians treating patients with advanced HCC can face significant challenges, as many patients present with cirrhosis and co-morbidities that can impact treatment tolerability. Adequate assessment of liver function and management of co-morbidities are therefore essential before and during HCC treatment [18]. Here, we provide guidance on the management of AEs associated with cabozantinib in patients with advanced HCC. We briefly review outcomes from CELESTIAL and focus on managing some of the more common AEs experienced by patients, based on current evidence from the literature as well as our own clinical experience.

2 Cabozantinib in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: CELESTIAL

In the phase III CELESTIAL study, patients with advanced HCC were randomized 2:1 to treatment with cabozantinib 60 mg daily or placebo [17]. Patients were required to have had prior treatment with sorafenib and could have received up to two prior systemic regimens for HCC. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) of 0 or 1 and Child-Pugh class A liver function (see Electronic Supplementary Table 1 for definition) were also required. At the second planned interim analysis, 707 patients had been randomized. The study met its primary endpoint with significantly improved OS with cabozantinib relative to placebo; median OS was 10.2 versus 8.0 months (hazard ratio 0.76; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.63–0.92; p = 0.005). Cabozantinib also improved PFS, with a median of 5.2 versus 1.9 months (hazard ratio 0.44; 95% CI 0.36–0.52; p < 0.001), as well the objective response rate per Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors (RECIST) v1.1 (4% vs. < 1%; p = 0.009).

2.1 Safety and Tolerability

All-cause AE rates were generally higher in the cabozantinib arm than in the placebo arm; some of the more common AEs experienced by patients in the cabozantinib (> 20%) versus placebo arms included diarrhea (54% vs. 19%), decreased appetite (48% vs. 18%), palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia (PPE; 46% vs. 5%), fatigue (45% vs. 30%), nausea (31% vs. 18%), hypertension (29% vs. 6%), vomiting (26% vs. 12%), asthenia (22% vs. 8%), and increased aspartate aminotransferase (AST; 22% vs. 11%) (Fig. 1). The most common grade 3/4 AEs in the cabozantinib versus placebo arms were PPE (17% vs. 0%), hypertension (16% vs. 2%), increased AST (12% vs. 7%), fatigue (10% vs. 4%), and diarrhea (10% vs. 2%). Overall, the safety profile of cabozantinib was consistent with those from the phase III studies in RCC and MTC, with gastrointestinal (GI) events, PPE, fatigue, and hypertension being the most common AEs experienced by patients across studies [14, 17, 19].

Fig. 1
figure 1

Incidence rates for select AEs experienced by patients with HCC receiving cabozantinib during the CELESTIAL trial [17]. AEs are color coded by system: blue: gastrointestinal; purple: skin and subcutaneous tissue; green: constitutional; orange: hepatic disorders; red: cardiovascular/hematological disorders. AE adverse event, ALT alanine aminotransferase, AST aspartate aminotransferase, HCC hepatocellular carcinoma, PPE palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia

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In addition to supportive care measures, protocol-specified dose modification, including dose interruption and reduction, was utilized to manage AEs [17]. Eighty-four percent of patients in the cabozantinib arm had an AE that led to dose interruption, and 66% had a dose interruption due to a grade 3/4 AE [20]. Sixty-two percent of patients had at least one dose reduction due to an AE [17], and 38% dose reduced due to a grade 3/4 AE [20]. Thirty-three percent of patients had a second dose reduction [20]. Median time to first and second dose reduction in the cabozantinib arm was 38 days and 83 days, respectively. PPE was the event that most commonly led to dose interruption (25%) and dose reduction (22%), followed by diarrhea (15% and 10%) and fatigue (13% and 7.5%) [20]. Although most patients receiving cabozantinib required a dose interruption, the rate of discontinuation due to treatment-related AEs was relatively low (16% in the cabozantinib arm vs. 3% in the placebo arm), indicating that the majority of AEs were adequately managed with dose modification and supportive care. In the cabozantinib group, AEs that led to treatment discontinuation in ≥ 1% of patients were PPE, fatigue, decreased appetite, diarrhea, and nausea. In a subgroup analysis of patients who received sorafenib as the only prior treatment for HCC, duration of prior sorafenib did not appear to impact the types or rates of grade 3/4 AEs [21].

Generally, the more common AEs emerged in the first 6 weeks of treatment (Fig. 2). However, clinicians should be aware of infrequent or serious events that can occur in the later phases of treatment. Hemorrhagic events of grade 3 or higher were reported in 7.3% of patients in the cabozantinib arm, including five patients (1%) with a grade 5 event. Bleeding complications are associated with antiangiogenic therapies and may arise as a result of reduced vascular integrity [22]. Median time to onset of hemorrhagic events was 9.1 weeks in CELESTIAL. Other grade 3 or higher rare but serious AEs in patients receiving cabozantinib included fistulas (0.6% of patients), GI perforations (0.9%), and arterial (1.9%) and venous or mixed thrombotic events (3.9%) [20]. Median time to first occurrence was approximately 6 weeks for GI perforations, 9 weeks for venous and arterial thromboembolisms, and 14 weeks for fistulas [20]. Two patients in the cabozantinib arm (0.8%) had developed Child-Pugh C (i.e., decompensated) cirrhosis by the week 8 assessment [20].

Fig. 2
figure 2

Rates (%) and timing of select AEs in patients with HCC receiving cabozantinib during the CELESTIAL trial. The size of the circle is proportional to the AE rate. AEs are color coded by system: blue: gastrointestinal; purple: skin and subcutaneous tissue; green: constitutional; orange: hepatic disorders; red: cardiovascular/hematological disorders; black: general/other. AE adverse event, ATE arterial thrombotic event, GI gastrointestinal, GR grade, HCC hepatocellular carcinoma, PPE palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia, VTE venous thrombotic event

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Reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome (RPLS), a syndrome of subcortical vasogenic edema diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging, has been reported with cabozantinib and other TKIs [7, 23]. Although there were no RPLS events during CELESTIAL [20], clinicians should be aware of the symptoms, which include headaches, seizures, confusion, changes to vision, or altered mental function [7, 23]. Osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ), whereby necrotic jaw bone becomes exposed, is another rare but serious AE associated with TKIs including cabozantinib [24,25,26], although, again, there were no ONJ events reported during this study [20]. The use of antiresorptive drugs in patients with bone metastases is also associated with development of ONJ [27].

A post hoc analysis estimated the incremental quality-adjusted life-years accrued with cabozantinib compared with placebo, using the five-dimension five-level EuroQol questionnaire [28]. Cabozantinib treatment was associated with an initial decline in mean total quality-adjusted life-years during the first 2–3 months relative to placebo, followed by long-term improvement that was significantly greater than that observed with placebo (p < 0.001).

3 Factors Affecting Tolerability of Cabozantinib

3.1 Co-morbidities

HCC emerges primarily in older adults [29]. In addition to the underlying HCC etiology, older adults with HCC are likely to have additional co-morbidities such as cardiovascular or pulmonary disease [30], and it is not uncommon for patients with HCC to have multiple co-morbidities [31]. Liver cirrhosis, with compromised liver function and decreased hepatic reserve, is a major risk factor for HCC development. Other HCC-related co-morbidities include hepatitis B virus/hepatitis C virus infection, alcoholic liver disease, NASH, and diabetes [32]. In addition, metabolic syndrome, characterized by hyperlipidemia and hypertension, is linked to development of NAFLD, which may progress to NASH, cirrhosis, and finally HCC [33]. For patients with HCC, assessment of liver function is a key step in treatment decision-making [5]. Patients with moderate or severe hepatic impairment are predominantly excluded from clinical trials in HCC; therefore, treatment of these patients is complicated by a lack of prospective clinical data as well as competing co-morbidities [6].

Although the number of patients with HCC and prior organ transplant is limited, these patients are generally excluded from clinical trials, and treatment is complicated by the need for immunosuppression. TKIs may be used to treat post-transplant HCC recurrence, although supporting data are limited. The use of TKIs in these patients is complex, so treatment decisions should involve collaboration between the oncology and transplant medicine care teams. The use of sorafenib in patients receiving mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitor-based immunosuppression has been associated with an increased risk of fatal bleeding [34, 35]. Immunotherapies are associated with an increased risk of organ rejection in post-transplant patients [36].

3.2 Cabozantinib Clearance and Exposure

TKIs are associated with high interpatient variability in clearance and exposure, which may affect both efficacy and tolerability. This variability may be due to a variety of factors including genetic background, drug–drug interactions, drug-food interactions, and renal or hepatic impairment [37]. As evidenced by exposure-response modeling, patients with low clearance of cabozantinib may have higher exposure and an increased risk of developing certain AEs [38, 39]. Awareness of these nuances may help clinicians to mitigate their effects, thereby balancing efficacy with tolerability.

3.3 Hepatic and Renal Impairment

According to pharmacokinetic analyses of patients with HCC and other tumor types, mild hepatic impairment is predicted to have a minimal effect on cabozantinib exposure [40]; therefore, adjustment of the recommended 60-mg starting dose is not necessary for patients with Child–Pugh A liver function [7, 16]. Data on the pharmacokinetics of cabozantinib in patients with moderate (Child-Pugh B) or severe (Child–Pugh C) hepatic impairment are limited [40]. As per the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) prescribing information, the starting dose of cabozantinib should be reduced to 40 mg in patients with moderate hepatic impairment, while cabozantinib is not recommended for patients with severe hepatic impairment [7]. Note that the European Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) does not recommend dose adjustments for moderate hepatic impairment owing to limited data [16]. For patients with HCC, increased exposure due to hepatic impairment should be considered if intolerable AEs develop, and dose modification undertaken as recommended (Fig. 3 [7, 16]). Cabozantinib should be used with caution in patients with mild or moderate renal impairment owing to the potential for increased exposure, although no dose adjustments are necessary. Cabozantinib is not recommended for use in patients with severe renal impairment owing to lack of data on safety and efficacy in this population [7, 16, 41].

Fig. 3
figure 3

Cabozantinib dosing algorithm [7, 16]. AE adverse event, CYP3A4 cytochrome P450 3A4, GI gastrointestinal, ONJ osteonecrosis of the jaw

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3.4 Drug–Drug and Drug–Food Interactions

Given the range of co-morbidities that may exist in patients with advanced HCC, it is important to review all concomitant medications for potential interactions prior to initiation of treatment with cabozantinib. Certain medications and foods have been shown to modulate the pharmacokinetics of cabozantinib, which may in turn impact exposure levels, efficacy, and risk of AEs. Cabozantinib is metabolized in the liver primarily by the enzyme cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) [7]; therefore, CYP3A4 inhibitors or inducers may impact exposure (examples of CYP3A4 inducers/inhibitors are shown in Electronic Supplementary Table 2). Strong CYP3A4 inhibitors/inducers should be avoided in patients receiving cabozantinib. If concomitant administration of a strong CYP3A4 inhibitor is necessary, then the cabozantinib dose should be reduced by 20 mg; for example, from 60 to 40 mg [7]. Conversely, the cabozantinib dose should be increased by 20 mg if strong CYP3A4 inducers need to be coadministered [7, 16].

Cabozantinib should not be taken with any food, as this may affect absorption [42]. The label recommends that cabozantinib be taken at least 1 h before or at least 2 h after eating [7]. Grapefruit and grapefruit juice are strong CYP3A4 inhibitors and should be avoided [7, 16].

Cabozantinib may be used with caution in patients who are receiving concurrent antiarrhythmics or other QT-prolonging agents [16]. This is based on a study of patients with MTC who received a daily 140-mg capsule dose of cabozantinib (recommended for this indication), in which the mean delta-delta QT interval was increased by approximately 10–15 ms with upper 95% CIs not exceeding 20 ms [43]. Such an increase is within the range considered to be acceptable for oncology drugs in this setting [44]. No patient in the aforementioned study or in CELESTIAL had a confirmed QTcF (QT corrected using Fridericia’s method) > 500 ms [7], which is considered clinically significant [45]. For patients receiving cabozantinib, monitoring with periodic electrocardiogram and electrolyte measurements may be advisable, particularly in patients with risk factors such as cardiac disease or a prior history of QT prolongation [16]. Concomitant use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), such as esomeprazole, does not affect cabozantinib exposure levels [42]. However, PPIs may cause hypomagnesemia, which is linked to an increased risk of QT prolongation [46]. Therefore, coadministration of PPIs and cabozantinib should be undertaken with caution following an individualized assessment of the patient’s baseline magnesium levels and concomitant medications that may also influence QT.

4 Pretreatment Assessments

Given the heterogeneity of the HCC patient population and the complexity associated with co-morbidities and concomitant medications, all patients should undergo a comprehensive assessment of medical history prior to initiation of treatment with cabozantinib. Ideally, the multidisciplinary care team should include an oncology pharmacist [47]. A “brown bag” medication review should be carried out prior to treatment initiation [48], whereby the patient brings in all current medications including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, herbal remedies, etc. Therapeutic duplications should be eliminated, for example, concomitant PPIs and histamine H2 antagonists (H2 blockers). Switching and deprescribing should be considered where possible to minimize the risk of drug-drug interactions.

5 Adverse Event Management

The AE profile of cabozantinib is generally similar to that of other VEGFR-targeting TKIs, with GI-related AEs, fatigue, PPE, and hypertension being the most common AEs [17]. Other AEs that occur less frequently can also have a significant impact on quality of life (QoL) and treatment adherence, such as mucosal inflammation [49]. Hepatobiliary AEs such as elevated AST, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and bilirubin are particularly relevant in the context of advanced HCC and need to be carefully monitored.

Prophylactic and supportive care measures for the more common cabozantinib-associated AEs (grade 1 or tolerable grade 2) are outlined in Tables 1, 2, 3, 4 and discussed in the upcoming sections. Symptom gradings are summarized in Electronic Supplementary Table 3. Dose interruption is recommended for management of intolerable grade 2 AEs not resolved with supportive care measures or for any grade 3/4 AEs (Fig. 3) [7, 16]. Cabozantinib may be reinitiated at a reduced dose once the event resolves to grade ≤ 1.

Table 1 Adverse event management strategies—palmar–plantar erythrodysesthesia (PPE)
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Table 2 Adverse event management strategies—fatigue
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Table 3 Adverse event management strategies—gastrointestinal
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Table 4 Adverse event management strategies—hypertension
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5.1 Palmar–Plantar Erythrodysesthesia

PPE is one of the more common events associated with anticancer therapies including VEGFR-targeting multikinase inhibitors [50,51,52]. PPE is characterized by pain, redness, tingling, and swelling of hands and feet [53]. Presentation may vary according to the etiologic agent; PPE induced by TKIs is typically localized to pressure-bearing areas, in contrast to that caused by chemotherapy, which has a more diffuse pattern. It has been hypothesized that inhibition of multiple angiogenic pathways by TKIs may compromise repair of capillary microtrauma in areas exposed to mechanical stress, such as the hands and feet [50, 54]. Although not life-threatening, PPE can rapidly progress to a debilitating condition, negatively impacting QoL [55, 56].

Prophylaxis and prompt management of emerging symptoms may help to minimize the impact of PPE on QoL and adherence (Table 1). Prophylactic measures predominantly involve skin care practices to remove hyperkeratotic areas and to minimize friction and damage prior to the start of treatment [57, 58]. Recommendations include use of thick cotton gloves and socks, padded insoles in shoes, and avoidance of heat or friction on the hands and feet [57, 58]. Patients with potentially predisposing co-morbidities such as peripheral neuropathy [59, 60], as well as patients with persistent symptoms, may benefit from involvement of a podiatrist and/or dermatologist within their multidisciplinary care team [51]. Treatment strategies involve moisturization, prevention of infection, and analgesia [57, 61, 62]. Monitoring is crucial so that emerging symptoms can be proactively managed. Patients should be assessed at baseline and monitored at least weekly for the first 2–4 months of treatment, and monthly thereafter [63, 64]. Close monitoring in the early stages of treatment need not involve weekly visits—phone calls from a clinician, nurse, or pharmacist may facilitate monitoring in between scheduled appointments [65]. Patients should be encouraged to report early signs of PPE to their healthcare provider [58]; it may also be reassuring for patients to know that early reporting and management of AEs could help to reduce the risk of events progressing to a level that requires treatment interruption, dose reduction, or even discontinuation.

5.2 Fatigue

TKIs including cabozantinib are associated with fatigue, which may be a direct effect of the treatment or a consequence of other AEs such as myelosuppression, decreased appetite, diarrhea-induced dehydration, hypothyroidism, and hypophosphatemia [63, 66]. Fatigue may also be a consequence of other treatments (e.g., radiation therapy) as well as sleep disturbance, anxiety, and depression [67]. Therefore, any strategy to manage treatment-related fatigue should first aim to assess and manage these predisposing factors.

There is mounting evidence that exercise may improve symptoms in patients suffering from cancer- or treatment-related fatigue [68, 69]. Interventions should be tailored to the individual patient and may include light aerobic exercise and resistance training, short walks, or yoga [67,68,69] (Table 2). Energy conservation strategies have been shown to reduce fatigue in patients with cancer when used as part of a daily routine [70, 71]. Complementary interventions such as massage therapy and acupuncture have also shown preliminary efficacy and may be recommended to patients [67]. Patients should be educated about the importance of maintaining adequate hydration and nutritional intake for prevention of fatigue, and should be referred for nutrition counseling if necessary [67, 72].

Pharmaceutical strategies for the management of fatigue may also be considered. Studies have demonstrated the efficacy of psychostimulant medications such as methylphenidate and corticosteroids in treating cancer-related fatigue [73,74,75]. Although studies have indicated limited efficacy with modafinil [76, 77], modafinil is a CYP3A4 inducer that may reduce exposure to cabozantinib [78] and therefore should be avoided [7].

5.3 Gastrointestinal Adverse Events

VEGF is expressed in the GI tract and saliva and is important for mucosal homeostasis and repair within the GI tract [22, 79, 80]. Disturbance of the oral and GI mucosa as a consequence of inhibition of VEGF signaling may contribute to treatment-induced GI AEs [22]. Common GI AEs associated with cabozantinib include diarrhea, decreased appetite, nausea and vomiting, and mucosal inflammation [17]; prophylactic and supportive measures for management of these AEs are outlined in Table 3.

Prior to initiation of cabozantinib treatment, patients should be educated about adequate hydration and eating habits that may help to improve symptoms of GI-related AEs, such as regular snacking and small meals [81, 82]. Avoidance of specific foods can help to minimize the risk of diarrhea and nausea (e.g., high-fat, high-fiber, sweet, greasy, fried, or spicy foods) [83, 84], and the BRAT (bananas, rice, applesauce, toast) diet is recommended for the management of mild diarrhea [84]. To help mitigate mucosal inflammation and stomatitis, tobacco products, alcohol (including alcohol-containing mouthwash), and very spicy foods should be avoided, and rigorous dental hygiene should be maintained [85]. Patients should be asked about any planned dental surgeries or invasive dental treatment. Although rare, the risk of developing ONJ may necessitate withholding of cabozantinib if invasive dental procedures cannot be avoided, with treatment resuming once soft tissue has healed [86].

Following onset, GI symptoms may be managed pharmacologically, including loperamide for diarrhea [57, 63]. Antiemetic agents, such as ondansetron, prochlorperazine, or D2 dopamine receptor antagonists such as metoclopramide, may be administered at first signs of nausea or vomiting [87, 88]. For mucosal inflammation or stomatitis, viscous lidocaine or doxepin 0.5% mouthwash can be used to treat pain [85], although the latter is available only at compounding pharmacies. Effects of decreased appetite and weight loss may be mitigated by management of underlying symptoms such as nausea, but appetite stimulants such as mirtazapine could be considered [89, 90].

5.4 Hypertension

In patients treated with VEGFR-targeting TKIs, hypertension may be a consequence of VEGFR blockade-induced modulation of nitric oxide signaling, which is crucial for blood pressure (BP) control [91]. Providers should ensure that patients have adequate BP control prior to starting cabozantinib (Table 4). Pretreatment BP levels should be reviewed in the context of current medications; for example, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can exacerbate hypertension [92]. During treatment, self-monitoring by patients may be helpful, particularly for those with an increased risk of cardiovascular events [93, 94]. If self-monitoring is prescribed, patients or caregivers should receive adequate training in the use of their BP device [94].

Portal hypertension is a major driver in the development of decompensated cirrhosis [95]. Nonselective beta-blockers are the mainstay of treatment for portal hypertension [95] and may reduce the risk of decompensation [96]. Patients with portal hypertension and HCC should continue to receive beta-blockers throughout HCC treatment unless they develop decompensated cirrhosis. Nonselective beta-blockers may be harmful in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis (Child–Pugh C), and cabozantinib is not recommended in these patients [7, 16, 97, 98].

If an increase in BP is confirmed during cabozantinib treatment, the choice of antihypertensive agent should be carefully considered owing to potential inhibition of CYP3A4 by calcium channel blockers such as diltiazem and verapamil [63, 99]. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers are not known CYP3A4 substrates and may be used to control hypertension [63, 92, 99, 100], although these drug classes should not be combined [100].

5.5 Hepatobiliary Adverse Events

Liver function abnormalities (increased levels of AST, ALT, and bilirubin) have been identified in patients treated with cabozantinib (Fig. 1) [17]. These AEs are particularly relevant in patients with HCC who may have compromised liver function. Laboratory tests for hepatic function should be performed prior to treatment and should be monitored closely during treatment; for example, every 2 weeks for the first 8 weeks, and every 4 weeks thereafter [17, 101, 102]. The CELESTIAL study protocol included guidelines for management of potential hepatobiliary disorders [17]. Elevations in AST or ALT may not require dose modifications if there are no progressive elevations (less than a doubling) in these enzymes or in serum total bilirubin or coagulation factors. Patients who have ALT, AST, and total bilirubin ≤ 3 times (×) the upper limit of normal (ULN) at baseline and who develop elevation of any of these at grade 3 or higher during cabozantinib treatment should have their treatment interrupted. If hepatic toxicity resolves during a temporary interruption, treatment may then be restarted at a reduced dose. Cabozantinib should be permanently discontinued when ALT or AST are elevated > 3 × ULN with concurrent elevation of total bilirubin > 2 × ULN or when hepatic dysfunction is not resolved after treatment interruption [17].

5.6 Resources for Healthcare Professionals and Patients


Patients should be directed to legitimate social media resources on the topics of HCC, AE management, and AE reporting. Examples of resources for patients and caregivers are listed in Electronic Supplementary Table 4. Several mobile apps for patient symptom monitoring have been developed, but data on their effectiveness are limited [103]. Social media and online resources may provide positive support and practical advice for patients. However, patients should be made aware that not all sites are moderated by experts and, as such, may contain unreliable information [104]. Clinicians should consider tech literacy and patient preferences when recommending digital resources; certain patients may engage with online resources, apps, and text-based messaging, while others may prefer phone calls. Where possible, translated written educational materials should be provided for patients in their native language. A list of resources for oncology healthcare professionals caring for patients with HCC can be found in Table 5.

Table 5 Supportive care resources for management of AEs relevant to patients with HCC receiving cabozantinib
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Case Study 1

Patient: A 67-year-old male patient with Child-Pugh A liver function and ECOG PS 1 with HCC who has progressed following 5 months on sorafenib as a first-line treatment. The patient has no underlying hepatitis but has NAFLD and type 2 diabetes. He also has hypertension with blood pressure (BP) of 145/92 mmHg, for which he is receiving a beta-blocker and calcium channel blocker (diltiazem). While receiving prior sorafenib treatment for HCC, the patient had his dose interrupted due to intolerable PPE.

→ Cabozantinib was initiated at a dose of 60 mg.

AE management strategies prior to and during cabozantinib treatment

 Manage hypertension by switching away from diltiazem, as it is a moderate inhibitor of CYP3A4

 If the patient is willing to undertake self-assessment of BP at home, provide information on when and how to use the monitoring device

 Discuss with the patient how to recognize common cabozantinib-associated AEs, strategies to help prevent these, and when to report them. Note that some of these AEs are similar to those experienced by patients receiving sorafenib

  Emphasize strategies to reduce the risk or mitigate symptoms of PPE

  Treat any existing diabetes-related cutaneous conditions such as fungal infections, hyperkeratosis, or xerosis prior to starting cabozantinib

  Refer the patient to a podiatrist or dermatologist if necessary

 Schedule follow-up visits and allocate a team member to carry out follow-up phone calls between visits

Case Study 2

Patient: A 45-year-old Cantonese-speaking male patient with Child-Pugh B9 liver function and ECOG PS 0 has progressed following 5 months on nivolumab as a second-line treatment for HCC. The patient has a history of hepatitis B infection, which is now well controlled on entecavir, and mild chronic thrombocytopenia (platelet count 110 x 109/L).

→ Cabozantinib was initiated at a dose of 40 mg owing to the moderate hepatic impairment.* While receiving cabozantinib treatment, the patient developed grade 2 PPE that was intolerable despite supportive care; cabozantinib dosing was interrupted until the PPE resolved to grade 1 or lower, and cabozantinib was restarted at a dose of 20 mg/day.

Patient management strategies prior to and during cabozantinib treatment:

 Low platelet count may indicate mild portal hypertension; carry out diagnostic tests such as endoscopy to screen for varices

  Collaborate with gastroenterology teams on periodic rescreening for varices

 If diagnosed, treat portal hypertension with nonselective beta-blockers unless the patient should develop decompensated liver cirrhosis (Child-Pugh C)

 Discuss with the patient how to recognize common cabozantinib-associated AEs, how to help prevent these, and when to report them

  Source written information in the patient’s native language

 Schedule follow-up visits and allocate a team member to carry out follow-up phone calls between visits

 Carry out regular DNA testing to monitor for hepatitis B virus reactivation

Following development of intolerable grade 2 PPE:

 Continue supportive care with topical treatment (see Table 1) and consider addition of oral analgesics

*Based on current US prescribing information for cabozantinib [7]; the EU SmPC for cabozantinib does not recommend dose adjustments for moderate hepatic impairment owing to limited data [16].

6 Conclusions

In the CELESTIAL study, cabozantinib demonstrated significant clinical benefit in patients with HCC who received prior sorafenib, showing improvements in disease control and survival relative to placebo. The study also highlighted the importance of strategic AE management and dose modification, as evidenced by the relatively low rate of discontinuation in the cabozantinib arm. Prior to initiating cabozantinib, patients and their caregivers should be educated on what adverse effects to expect, and when to notify their clinical team. Proactive preventative measures and prompt symptom management, as well as regular monitoring and follow-up should allow patients to continue treatment at the appropriate dose, with minimum interruption.

Preserving QoL is an important factor in treatment choice, particularly for patients with HCC whose well-being is further compromised by underlying liver disease. Data on the impact of TKIs on health-related QoL in patients with HCC are limited. Future randomized trials should aim to prospectively evaluate QoL in patients with HCC receiving systemic treatments, and to define optimal approaches that balance efficacy with tolerability.

Studies suggest that specific TKI-associated AEs may be correlated with treatment outcome [105, 106]; however, data on the prognostic significance of cabozantinib-related AEs are limited. An exploratory analysis of safety data in the CELESTIAL study showed that PPE of any grade and grade 3/4 hypertension were independently associated with OS and PFS [107], highlighting the need for further research on this topic. There are a number of additional considerations for cabozantinib as the treatment landscape in HCC continues to evolve. With new frontline treatments available, including lenvatinib and the combination of atezolizumab plus bevacizumab, real-world and controlled clinical studies are needed to characterize the efficacy and safety of second-line cabozantinib following these agents. Further, the phase III COSMIC-312 trial (NCT03755791) will assess cabozantinib in combination with atezolizumab as a first-line treatment for patients with advanced HCC.