Dr. Ornstein on the Benefit of Neoadjuvant Therapy in RCC

Moshe Ornstein, MD, MA, Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Cleveland Clinic, discusses the benefit of neoadjuvant therapy in renal cell carcinoma.

Although adjuvant therapy is currently utilized for patients who are at high risk of recurrence, there is important rationale behind giving therapy to patients prior to surgery, Ornstein explains. Neoadjuvant therapy can decrease tumor size, enabling easier resection and allowing additional nephron sparing to preserve as much healthy kidney tissue as possible, Ornstein says.

Additionally, it is theorized that neoadjuvant immunotherapy could produce better results for patients, Ornstein continues. Data from other tumor types suggest that immunotherapy before surgery can improve disease-free survival, compared with the adjuvant setting, Ornstein concludes.