Roche's bevacizumab [Avastin] has been approved as a first-line treatment for advanced renal cell cancer in the EU,

Therapeutic options for treating advanced renal cell cancer (RCC) are rapidly evolving. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-directed therapy, predominantly VEGF receptor (VEGFr) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) had been the most effective first line treatment since 2005 irrespective of International Metastatic RCC Database Consortium (IMDC) risk stratification. However, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) have recently changed the treatment paradigm for advanced RCC particularly as the first-line systemic treatment modality. The combination of Ipilimumab and Nivolumab provides better disease control and long-term outcomes compared with the anti-VEGFr TKI Sunitinib for IMDC intermediate- to poor-risk patients and we now have the option of using ICI with TKI upfront for all IMDC risk groups. This poses a challenge for physicians, both to select the most suitable first line regimen and the most suitable subsequent therapy given the lack of data about sequencing in this setting. This treatment landscape is expected to become more complex with the emerging treatment options. Moreover, these therapeutic options cannot be generalized as significant variability exists between individual’s disease biologies and their physiologies for handling treatment adverse effects. Notable efforts are being made to identify promising predictive biomarkers ranging from neo-antigen load to gene expression profiling. These biomarkers need prospective validation to justify their utility in clinical practice and in treatment decision making. This review article discusses various clinicopathological characteristics that should be carefully evaluated to help select appropriate treatment and discusses the current status of biomarker-based selection.

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Sunitinib scheduling in metastatic renal cell cancer: A single-center experience.

Journal of Clinical Oncology ◽

10.1200/jco.2016.34.2_suppl.554 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 34 (2_suppl) ◽

pp. 554-554

Author(s):

Sarah Louise Picardo ◽

Dearbhaile Collins ◽

Amnah Al Khamis ◽

Victoria Teresa Mallett ◽

Niamh M. Keegan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Side Effects ◽

Renal Cell ◽

Cell Cancer ◽

Dose Intensity ◽

Cancer Center ◽

Line Treatment ◽

First Line ◽

Prognostic Variables ◽

Dose Modifications ◽

First Line Treatment

554 Background: Sunitinib is a receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor that has proven activity as first line treatment for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). The recommended dose is 50mg once daily in a 4 week on 2 week off schedule. However this regimen has a significant side effect profile and alternative schedules have been used to minimize dose reductions and maintain dose intensity. We sought to identify the incidence of dose modifications and assess toxicity in patients treated with two sunitinib schedules in a National Cancer Center. Methods: Patients with mRCC who had sunitinib as first line treatment were identified retrospectively and patient data reviewed. Two patient groups were identified: those who received sunitinib 50mg day 1-28 in 6 week cycles (cohort 1) and those who received sunitinib 50mg day 1-14 in 3 week cycles (cohort 2). Primary end point was incidence of dose modification. Secondary end points included incidence of common sunitinib-related side effects. Known prognostic variables, including prior nephrectomy, body mass index (BMI) and use of angiotensin system inhibitors (ASI) were correlated with time to disease progression (TTP). Results: Between 2009 and 2014, 28 patients were identified. Of those, 23 (83%) patients were treated in cohort 1, and 5 (17%) patients in cohort 2. Dose modifications were required in 13 (56.5%) patients in cohort 1, but only 2 (40%) patients in cohort 2. Common sunitinib-related side effects in cohort 1 included hypertension in 19 (79%), weight loss in 10 (41.6%), fatigue in 9 (37.5%) and nausea in 8 (33.3%) patients respectively. Overall, the use of ASIs correlated significantly with longer median TTP (10.5 months) compared to non-users (4 months) (p = 0.04). BMI ≥ 25 (TTP 9 vs. 3 months, p = 0.008) demonstrated a similar correlation. However, no difference in median TTP was noted between patients who had prior nephrectomy compared to those who had not (5 vs. 4 months) (p = 0.18). Conclusions: In this small retrospective study, standard sunitinib scheduling was associated with a high incidence of dose modifications and side-effects. Consistent with previous studies, we identified known prognostic variables. The use of sunitinib 50mg day 1-14 in 3 week cycles may be more tolerable for patients.

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An Italian, multicenter, real-world, retrospective study of first-line pazopanib in unselected metastatic renal-cell carcinoma patients: the ‘Pamerit’ study

Japanese Journal of Clinical Oncology ◽

10.1093/jjco/hyaa193 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Alessandra Mosca ◽

Ugo De Giorgi ◽

Giuseppe Procopio ◽

Umberto Basso ◽

Giacomo Cartenì ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cancer Patients ◽

Renal Cell Cancer ◽

Real World ◽

Renal Cell ◽

Cell Cancer ◽

Progression Free Survival ◽

First Line ◽

Free Survival ◽

Metastatic Renal Cell Cancer ◽

Metastatic Rcc

Abstract Objective Despite the current immunotherapy era, VEGFR inhibitors maintain effectiveness in metastatic renal cell cancer. Real-world data concerning pazopanib are limited. The aim of this study is to add information about efficacy and safety of pazopanib as first-line treatment in metastatic renal cell cancer patients not enrolled into clinical trials. Methods Retrospective analysis (the PAMERIT study) of first-line pazopanib in real-world metastatic renal cell cancer patients among 39 Centers in Italy. Outcomes were progression-free survival, overall survival, objective response rate and treatment-related adverse events. Kaplan–Meier curves, log-rank test and multivariable Cox’s models were used and adjusted for age, histology, previous renal surgery, International Metastatic RCC Database Consortium score and pazopanib initial dose. Results Among 474 patients, 87.3% had clear cell metastatic renal cell cancer histology. Most of them (84.6%) had upfront renal surgery. Median progression-free survival and overall survival were 15.8 and 34.4 months, respectively, significantly correlating with International Metastatic RCC Database Consortium’s good prognosis (P < 0.001), ECOG PS 0 (P < 0.001), age (<75 years, P = 0.005), surgery (P < 0.001) and response to pazopanib (P < 0.001). After 3 months of pazopanib, overall disease control rate have been observed in 76.6% patients. Among International Metastatic RCC Database Consortium’s favorable group patients, 57/121 (47%) showed complete/partial response. No unexpected AEs emerged. Conclusions In this real-world study, metastatic renal cell cancer patients treated with first-line pazopanib reached greater progression-free survival and overall survival than in pivotal studies and had high response rates when belonging to International Metastatic RCC Database Consortium’s favorable group, without new toxicities. Pazopanib has been confirmed a valid first-line option for International Metastatic RCC Database Consortium’s good prognosis metastatic renal cell cancer patients who cannot be submitted to immunotherapy.

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