Antiangiogenic therapy

Antiangiogenic therapy is a treatment for kidney cancer that works by blocking the growth of blood vessels that feed the tumour. Tumours need blood vessels to grow and spread, so by stopping these blood vessels from forming, the therapy helps slow down or stop the cancer.

Antiangiogenic therapy is also known as targeted therapy because it focuses on specific parts of cancer cells or the blood vessels that feed them. Unlike regular chemotherapy, which affects both healthy and cancer cells, targeted therapy only attacks the cancer cells.

How it works

• Blood vessels give tumours the nutrients and oxygen they need to grow. Antiangiogenic drugs block the signals that tell the body to create these blood vessels.
• Without these new blood vessels, the tumour has a harder time growing or spreading.

Most antiangiogenic treatments are pills that you can take at home. Some are given through an IV, so you would need to go to the hospital for those.

An IV (intravenous) is a way of giving medicine or fluids directly into your body through a small tube that's placed in a vein, usually in your arm. It allows the medicine to be delivered quickly and directly into your bloodstream.

Common antiangiogenic drugs are:

• Sunitinib
• Pazopanib
• Axitinib
• Sorafenib
• Cabozantinib
• Lenvatinib
• Tivozanib
• Bevacizumab (combined with immunotherapy)

If the drug you are taking doesn’t work well or doesn’t help with your symptoms, you can talk to your doctor about trying a different one.

What are the side effects?

• Since these medicines affect blood vessels, they can cause side effects like high blood pressure, tiredness, or slow healing of cuts or wounds. It’s important to talk to your doctor about any possible side effects before starting treatment.
• Some of these medicines may make you feel much more tired than usual and have low energy that doesn’t improve after sleeping. You might also feel pain in your joints, muscles, or chest. This tiredness can be caused by the treatment, but it could also be because of the tumour or its spread to other parts of the body.
• Some of these medicines may make you sick or nauseous, and you might also have diarrhoea or constipation (when you have difficulty passing stool). If this happens, let your medical team know. Your doctor can give you medicine to help with these symptoms.
• Another possible symptom is a sore mouth. A mouthwash can help to relieve the symptoms, but avoid mouthwashes which contain alcohol, peroxide, iodine, or thyme because these can make the soreness worse. Ask your medical team for suggestions of brands you can use.

Ask your doctor to explain the side effects of each drug, so you can make an informed decision together about which would be right for you.

The information provided here is general and may vary based on where you live. You may want to ask your doctor for advice that's specific to your situation. 

Here are some questions you can ask your doctor:

• What is antiangiogenic therapy, and how will it help with my kidney cancer?
• What side effects might I have from this treatment?
• How will we know if the treatment is working?
• How long will I need to take this medication?
• What can I do to manage or reduce side effects?
• Are there things I should avoid while on this treatment, like certain foods or medications?
• How often will I need to come in for check-ups or tests?
• Can I keep taking my other medicines or supplements during this treatment?
• What should I do if I feel unwell or have serious side effects?
• Are there other treatment options if this one doesn’t work for me?

These questions can help you understand your treatment and feel more prepared.

This chapter contains general information about antiangiogenic therapy for kidney cancer. If you have any specific questions about your own medical situation you should consult your doctor or other professional healthcare provider. No website or leaflet can replace a personal conversation with your doctor.

Last updated: February 2025