Dr. Mohammed Haseebuddin on Expanding Role for Immunotherapy in RCC

Mohammed Haseebuddin, MD, a fellow in Urologic Oncology at Fox Chase Cancer Center, discuses why continued research into immunotherapy in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is important, particularly in the adjuvant and neoadjuvant settings.

There is a significant need for checkpoint inhibitors right now in terms of adjuvant trials in localized kidney cancer, he said. None of the targeted agents have really shown any decreases in recurrence-free survival.

Previous data showed that PD-1 levels are highest before surgery and then decrease after surgery. If that really is true, those who may benefit from this therapy who have high levels of PD-1 could potentially be identified and treated neoadjuvantly with immunotherapy, even before the tumor is taken out.

This could decrease recurrences and improve recurrence-free survival. There are currently several clinical trials out of Johns Hopkins Medicine and Dana-Farber Cancer Center investigating this.