GU Cancers 2018 | Success of novel immunotherapies for renal cell carcinoma

At the Genitourinary Cancers Symposium 2018 in San Francisco, CA, recent therapeutic developments for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) were discussed by Jeanny Aragon-Ching, MD, FACP, of Inova Schar Cancer Institute, Falls Church, VA. She spoke about the changes in practice and therapy, highlighting the rise of systemic therapies such as VEGF inhibitors. Dr Aragon-Ching explains how immunotherapy has always been a second-line treatment; however, with the results of recent trials, these therapies are seen as being increasingly effective. For example, the IMmotion151 randomized Phase III study of bevacizumab and atezolizumab vs. sunitinib for metastatic RCC (NCT02420821). Dr Aragon-Ching also mentions other combined immuno-oncology therapies, such as nivolumab and iplimumab (CheckMate 214; NCT02231749), and their successes.