Dr. Sweis on Immunotherapy in Genitourinary Cancer

Randy F. Sweis, MD, instructor of medicine, University of Chicago Medicine, discusses the use of immunotherapy in genitourinary cancer.

In both bladder and kidney cancers, immunotherapy has become standard of care in practice, states Sweis. Currently-approved therapies include frontline nivolumab (Opdivo) and ipilimumab (Yervoy). Most patients who are diagnosed with these malignancies will be treated with an immunotherapy agent unless they have contraindications, explains Sweis.

Immunotherapy has adopted a greater role in the treatment paradigm over the past several years, which makes monitoring for immune-related adverse events very important. It is important for both patients and physicians to be aware of the potential side effects that can occur with immunotherapy use, notes Sweis. These side effects are more often than not different than what a patient might anticipate based on their understanding of historical treatments like chemotherapy. This understanding also extends to the various targeted therapies in kidney cancer, adds Sweis.