Dr Tannir on Unmet Needs in the Treatment of Rare Kidney Tumors

Nizar M. Tannir, MD, FACP, professor; Ransom Horne, Jr. Professor for Cancer Research, Department of Genitourinary Medical Oncology, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses unmet needs for patients with rare kidney tumors and how these needs may be addressed in the future.

It is important to revitalize the study of rare kidney tumors because these diseases have historically been studied less often than more common kidney tumors, and thus treatments for this patient population have not advanced in recent years, Tannir says. Furthermore, the kidney cancer field has a limited understanding of the biology of these rare tumors, Tannir notes. To this day, patients with rare kidney disease are often treated using therapies that have been studied in and FDA approved for patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), which is the most common subtype of RCC, Tannir explains. However, these therapies are less effective in patients with rare kidney cancers than they are in patients with ccRCC, for which they are indicated by the FDA, Tannir emphasizes.

The kidney cancer field must continue to support research endeavors that are specifically tailored toward patients with rare tumors, such as renal medullary carcinoma (RMC) and translocation carcinoma, according to Tannir. Moreover, investigators must remember that many rare tumors affect young patient populations, Tannir says. Additionally, some of these rare tumors, such as RMC, are some of the most malignant and aggressive types of RCC, and thus need specialized treatments, Tannir implores.

In the future, more effective and disease-specific resources need to be developed for patients with rare kidney tumors, Tannir notes. In addition, researchers from upcoming generations of kidney cancer oncologists should be educated about these unmet needs for patients with rare kidney tumors so they can gain interest in these diseases and advance the treatment paradigm for patients, Tannir concludes.

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Nizar M. Tannir, MD, FACP, discusses unmet needs for patients with rare kidney tumors and how these needs may be addressed in the future.

Nivolumab Plus Ipilimumab Versus Sunitinib For First-Line Treatment of Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma

Nivolumab Plus Ipilimumab Versus Sunitinib For First-Line Treatment of Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma: Long-Term Follow-Up Data From the Phase 3 CheckMate 214 Trial							

Nizar Tannir, MD, FACP, presents extended follow-up data assessing the combination of nivolumab and ipilimumab compared with sunitinib in the frontline setting of patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

Nivolumab Plus Ipilimumab Versus Sunitinib For First-Line Treatment of Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma: Long-Term Follow-Up Data From the Phase 3 CheckMate 214 Trial

Nazir Tannir, MD, FACP, a professor in the Department of Genitourinary Medical Oncology, Division of Cancer Medicine, and Ransom Horne, Jr. Professorship for Cancer Research, Department of Genitourinary Medical Oncology, Division of Cancer Medicine, at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses the efficacy of the combination of telaglenastat (CB-839)and cabozantinib (Cabometyx) in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC), as demonstrated in the phase 2 CANTATA trial (NCT03428217).

The results of the trial, which examined the combination vs placebo plus cabozantinib in patients with mRCC, demonstrated that the addition of telaglenastat did not show an improvement in progression-free survival (PFS) over placebo plus cabozantinib, according to Tannir. The median PFS in both arms was very similar, at 9.2 months in the combination arm vs 9.3 months in the placebo arm. Additionally, the hazard ratio was 0.94, meaning there was no advantage or benefit seen with the addition of telaglenastat, Tannir says. PFS was assessed by independent review and results were consistent with investigator review, Tannir notes.

Moreover, the overall response rate in the combination arm was 31%, compared with 28% in the placebo arm, Tannir adds. Again, these results show there was little difference in responses between the 2 study arms, Tannir concludes. 

Nazir Tannir, MD, FACP, discusses the efficacy of the combination of telaglenastat and cabozantinib in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma, as demonstrated in the phase 2 CANTATA trial. 


Dr. Tannir on Results With Telaglenastat/Cabozantinib in mRCC

Nizar M. Tannir, MD, FACP, associate professor, deputy department chair, Department of Genitourinary Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses a phase I trial of sunitinib and temsirolimus in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

This combination was previously studied, though was found to be “not viable,” Tannir says. The question remained as to whether these drugs should be tested in combination again.

This phase I trial took a long time to accrue 20 patients, Tannir says, though it was found that these drugs could be combined. Researchers found that temsirolimus must be reduced to 8 or 10 mg weekly in order to maintain the 37.5-mg dosing of sunitinib.

Nizar M. Tannir, MD, FACP, from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses a phase I trial of sunitinib and temsirolimus in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

Nizar M. Tannir, MD, FACP

Articles

Dr Tannir on Unmet Needs in the Treatment of Rare Kidney Tumors

Nivolumab Plus Ipilimumab Versus Sunitinib For First-Line Treatment of Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma: Long-Term Follow-Up Data From the Phase 3 CheckMate 214 Trial

Dr. Tannir on Results With Telaglenastat/Cabozantinib in mRCC

Dr. Tannir on Sunitinib Plus Temsirolimus for mRCC