Is Votrient immunotherapy?

Votrient is not an immunotherapy medicine. It is known as a targeted drug therapy and is used to treat cancer. Targeted drug therapies affect the areas of cancer cells that are different from normal, healthy cells.

Votrient is a prescription oral therapy approved for adults to treat advanced renal cell carcinoma (kidney cancer) and soft tissue sarcoma (a tumor that develops around muscles, tendons, joints, organs, or blood vessels).

Targeted drug therapy like Votrient (pazopanib) works by blocking specific pathways that allow the cancer to grow uncontrolled.

• Targeted treatments find and attack specific types of cancer cells and may cause less damage to healthy cells.
• Even though Votrient targets specific proteins, it can still harm normal cells and cause serious side effects.

Specifically, Votrient is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor inhibitor (VEGF/VEGFR inhibitor). VEGF helps to boost growth of blood vessels which supply nutrients to the tumor cells. By blocking these areas, Votrient helps to slow down blood vessel growth that fuels the cancer.

Immunotherapy works by boosting your natural immune system to fight off diseases such as cancer.

• Immunotherapy stimulates your own immune system so it works better to find and attack cancer cells.
• Immunotherapy can also affect normal cells in your body which may lead to side effects.
• Examples of immunotherapy include drugs like Keytruda, Opdivo and Tecentriq.

Related Questions

• Does Votrient cure cancer or shrink tumors?
• How long does Votrient stay in your system?
• Is Votrient a chemotherapy treatment?

What are the common side effects that occur with Votrient?

Common side effects with Votrient that occurred in at least 20% of patients in studies include diarrhea, high blood pressure, nausea, vomiting, anorexia (loss of appetite) and hair color changes, among many other side effects.

Before you start treatment, be sure to discuss common and serious side effects due to Votrient with your healthcare provider.

Learn More:

Votrient Side Effects (in more detail)

This is not all the information you need to know about Votrient (pazopanib) for safe and effective use and does not take the place of talking to your doctor about your treatment. Review the full Votrient information here, and discuss this information and any questions you have with your doctor or other health care provider.