Developments in personalized therapy for metastatic renal cell carcinoma

Abstract

Introduction: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have made an appearance in clinical practice, and the treatment outcome of metastatic renal cell cancer (mRCC) has dramatically improved as a result. Currently, most patients are treated with a combination of ICIs or a combination of ICI and tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). These new therapeutic tools need to be organized and summarized in order to realize and advance personalized therapy for mRCC.

Area covered: In this review, the characteristics of five regimens (nivolumab plus ipilimumab, pembrolizumab plus axitinib, avelumab plus axitinib, and nivolumab plus cabozantinib and pembrolizumab plus lenvatinib) are briefly elucidated and their efficacies and safety profiles are compared. For ICI-unfit patients, the current choices are examined. In addition, the potential second-line regimens after these combination therapies are introduced as sequential treatment. Finally, in the future direction section, ongoing clinical trials are also introduced.

Expert opinion: ICIs are rapidly being introduced for the treatment of mRCC. Currently, most patients are treated with a combination of ICIs or a combination of ICI and TKIs. In order to develop optimal personalized treatment for our patients, it is necessary for the physicians who treat mRCC patients to possess in-depth knowledge of these new therapeutic tools.

Keywords: Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI); avelumab plus axitinib; combination therapy; nivolumab plus cabozantinib; nivolumab plus ipilimumab; pembrolizumab plus axitinib; pembrolizumab plus lenvatinib; tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI).