Dr. McDermott Discusses the Future of Immune Checkpoints in RCC

David F. McDermott, MD, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, discusses the future of immunotherapies in the treatment of patients with kidney cancer.

Atezolizumab (Tecentriq) may have an impact in the frontline setting with previously untreated patients, says McDermott. If successful, patients might not have to go on to receive further treatment.

In the adjuvant setting, checkpoint inhibitors also look extremely promising as trials in melanoma improved survival. Currently, these trials are ongoing in kidney cancer for patients who have recently undergone surgery. McDermott urges oncologists to look for these trials, as they have potential to improve survival for these patients.