Metastatic Clear-Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma in the Era of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: Therapies and Ongoing Trials

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Tony Zibo Zhuang, Emory University; Katherine Case, Emory University; Timothy Anders Olsen, Emory University; Jacqueline Brown, Emory University; Bradley Carthon, Emory University; Omer Kucuk, Emory University; Jamie Goldman, Emory University; Wayne Harris, Emory University; Mehmet Bilen, Emory University; Bassel Nazha, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2022-06-01
• Publisher: MDPI
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2022 by the authors.
• License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/cancers14122867
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: CANCERS
• Volume: 14
• Issue: 12
• Grant/Funding Information: This research received no external funding.
• Keywords: immunotherapy; tyrosine kinase inhibitor; NIVOLUMAB; PLUS PEMBROLIZUMAB; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; MULTICENTER; nivolumab; immune checkpoint inhibitor; cabozantinib; OPEN-LABEL; Science & Technology; TREATMENT-NAIVE; Oncology; pembrolizumab; REAL-WORLD; SUNITINIB; ipilimumab; FOLLOW-UP; PHASE-II; clear-cell renal cell carcinoma; CABOZANTINIB
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Medicine and Surgery; Health Sciences, Oncology

Abstract

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) are now the bedrock for the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Clear cell RCC (ccRCC) represents the most common subtype of this malignancy. Herein, we explore the therapeutic landscape of ccRCC by discussing the standard of care whose backbone consists of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) and vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors (VEGF). For ccRCC, pembrolizumab-axitinib, pembrolizumab-lenvatinib, and avelumab-axitinib or nivolumab-cabozantinib are now FDA-approved frontline options for all risk groups while nivolumab-ipilimumab is reserved for intermediate-and poor-risk groups. Monotherapy with pembrolizumab or nivolumab is a potential option for patients who are unable to take VEGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors. While outcomes have improved with the adoption of ICI therapies, many patients develop therapy-resistant disease, creating an unmet need for further investigation. The efficacy of novel therapies as well as novel combinations in the post-ICI era is unclear. This review summarizes the most significant clinical trials involving dual ICI/ICI and ICI/VEGFR therapies, in addition to other selected combination therapies that are likely to inform management in the near future.