Dr. Hammers Discusses Immunotherapy in RCC

Hans J. Hammers, MD, PhD, associate professor, Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, discusses immunotherapy in renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

In November 2015, nivolumab (Opdivo) was approved by the FDA for the second-line treatment of patients with RCC. Response rates are around 20% with moderate activity, says Hammers, but this can be improved with combinations.

Nivolumab in combination with targeted agents such as VEGF inhibitors, or selective agents such as axitinib (Inlyta), could be promising, says Hammers. Durability and quality of response should be evaluated closely, though, to determine the synergy of the given agents.

PD-1 inhibitors and CTLA-4 inhibitors are also being looked at in combination in the phase III CheckMate-214 trial.