This recent study looked at the effects of cabozantinib on weight and muscle loss in 120 patients with metastatic kidney cancer.

The average age of the patients was just over 59 years. Patients were followed up for an average of nearly 2 years.

At the start of the study, about 71 patients (70%) had muscle loss. This was associated with lower response rates to treatment with cabozantinib and more serious or life threatening side effects. 16 out of 30 patients (53.3%) who didn’t have muscle loss at the start of the study, developed muscle loss during treatment.

This study suggests that the use of cabozantinib may be linked with greater weight loss and muscle loss. Advice on adequate nutrition and monitoring of patients with metastatic kidney cancer being treated with cabozantinib is needed.

Read more in Practice Update here