Dr. Van Veldhuizen Discusses Combination Therapy in RCC

Peter J. Van Veldhuizen, MD, hematologist/oncologist, Sarah Cannon Research Institute, discusses combination therapy for the treatment of patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

As there are not many active chemotherapeutic drugs in the RCC landscape, Van Veldhuizen says that combinations lie with targeted agents. Older studies with immunotherapy and the VEGF inhibitor pazopanib (Votrient) caused concern over toxicity and has consequently not moved forward.

Another potential combination may be with axitinib (Inlyta) and pembrolizumab (Keytruda), suggests Van Veldhuizen. Findings from a phase Ib study have shown antitumor activity with the combination, activity which is superior to that expected from axitinib or PD-L1 pathway inhibitor monotherapy in treatment-naïve patients. Additionally, fewer liver function test abnormalities and less fatigue were reported compared with other combinations of VEGF inhibitors and PD-1 checkpoint inhibitors. Axitinib is currently used as a second-line treatment for RCC.