Dr. Clark Discusses Need for Biomarkers in RCC

Peter Clark, MD, professor of medicine and chair of urology, Levine Cancer Institute, Atrium Health, discusses the need for biomarkers in renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

Cytoreductive nephrectomy is a traditional surgical approach used for patients with RCC, but with the rise of systemic therapy using TKIs, the role of this procedure has become unclear. Researchers hoped the phase III CARMENA trial, which tested surgery combined with sunitinib (Sutent) versus sunitinib alone, would refine this paradigm, but unfortunately, it did not.

Clark adds that having an effective biomarker would be extremely helpful in this paradigm, as it can be used to better identify which systemic therapy should be used for these patients. Currently, clinicians use clinical factors to determine which patients have rapidly progressive disease and would not benefit from surgery, and which patients have indolent disease and could have their cancer resected. Oftentimes, oncologists are creating a treatment strategy right at the time of diagnosis, but they don’t have a natural disease history in which to base their plan.