Dr Choueiri on the Benefit of Ongoing Investigations in Metastatic RCC

Toni K. Choueiri, MD, director, Lank Center for Genitourinary Oncology, director, Kidney Cancer Center, senior physician, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Jerome and Nancy Kohlberg Chair and Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, discusses the benefit of ongoing investigations in metastatic, advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

Reflecting on the landscape of RCC treatment, it's important to consider the period preceding the advent of combination therapies targeting PD-1 and VEGF, where CTLA-4 played a pivotal role, Choueiri begins. However, the realm of RCC treatment is in a state of continual flux, as novel targets, such as HIF2, are emerging that may reshape the treatment landscape in profound ways, Choueiri emphasizes. Notably, although the abundance of research surrounding belzutifan (Welireg) has propelled that agent to the forefront, it's essential to acknowledge the broader spectrum of therapies and treatment avenues under exploration, Choueiri says.

The effects of ongoing investigative approaches are clear, with therapies like CAR T-cell therapies, cellular therapies, and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes making their mark on the RCC treatment paradigm as research deepens, Choueiri expands. Additionally, the resurgence of antibody-drug conjugates in this arena presents a noteworthy dimension in the evolving RCCtreatment landscape, Choueiri says.

This era is characterized by the expanding knowledge surrounding the biology of clear cell RCC and its diverse histological variants, Choueiri continues. Several clinical trials in this area build upon an established foundation of research to propel innovative treatment strategies, Choueiri states. Notably, recent data shedding light on translocation in chromophobe RCC have been particularly compelling, opening doors to more tailored treatment interventions, Choueiri says.

Overall, this period of kidney cancer research holds significance and hope for both patients and clinicians alike, Choueiri emphasizes. Patients with metastatic RCC are now exhibiting a survival rate exceeding 5 years, Choueiri adds. Ongoing investigations and collaborative endeavors offer a step toward a deeper understanding of more effective treatments, Choueiri concludes.