Dynamic molecular changes with VEGF targeted therapy in metastatic clear cell renal cancer.

437 Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate for specific molecular changes associated with VEGF targeted in metastatic clear cell renal cancer (mRCC). This was achieved by taking tissue before and after VEGF TKI therapy. Methods: The study combined the data from 3 similar phase II prospective studies, investigating the role of VEGF therapy (pazopanib or sunitinib) prior to planned nephrectomy in untreated mRCC. A structured treatment break occurred during the planned nephrectomy (4 weeks). Paired tumour samples before and after 12-16 weeks of pazopanib or sunitinib were collected from these studies. Histopathology assessment (Furman grade, Ki-67, vascular density [CD31]), growth factor expression [FGF-2, c-MET, S-6-protein kinase] and immune parameters (CD3, 4, 8, PDL-1, FOXP3) before and after therapy were compared. Sequential functional imaging [FDG-PET] was performed to address the relationship between the primary tumour and metastatic sites. Results: Overall 62 patients had sequential tissue taken from these 3 prospective trials. Adequate quantities of sequential tissue were available from 48 patients. Pathological examination of the matched pairs before and after VEGF TKI showed a significant increase in tumour grade, Ki-67, lymphocyte infiltrate, and necrosis (p>0.05), there was also a significant decrease in CD31 (p<0.05). Significant changes to FGF-2, c-MET and FOXP3 expression was seen in the treated samples (p<0.05). FDG-PET results from 23 patients showed a significant correlation in the response seen in the primary renal tumour and metastatic sites with sunitinib (r=0.46 p<0.001). During the structured treatment break for nephrectomy (4 weeks) 37% of patients had disease progression (RECIST v1.1) underlining the aggressive nature of the disease after VEGF TKI therapy. This was associated with an increased risk of death on multivariate analysis (HR: 3.17; 95% CI, 1.46-6.86, p<0.03). Conclusions: These results suggest VEGF targeted therapy is associated with a more aggressive tumor phenotype. Changes to immune parameters and up regulation of growth factors potentially implicated in resistance to VEGF targeted therapy occurred.