Dr Garmezy on the Impact of Combination Regimens on Outcomes and Quality of Life in Patients With RCC

Benjamin Garmezy, MD, medical oncologist, assistant director, Genitourinary Research, Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Tennessee Oncology, discusses the impact of currently available frontline combination regimens on patient outcomes and quality of life in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

Ongoing discussions regarding the optimal use of immuno-oncology (IO)/TKI combinations in RCC centers on the possibility of patients discontinuing therapy, Garmezy begins. Recent data have shown median progression-free survival rates approaching the 2-year mark, indicating the potential for treatment cessation around this timeframe, he explains. Although some patients may experience recurrence [after stopping treatment], many individuals remain alive on an IO/TKI regimen after 3 years of treatment, Garmezy emphasizes. Accordingly, there is growing confidence in the ability to achieve curative outcomes for a specific subset of patients, and efforts to enhance that cure rate are ongoing, he adds.

RCC is generally considered to be a treatable and manageable disease, Garmezy continues. Studies comparing outcomes with IO/TKI combinations vs a control arm of sunitinib (Sutent)show a marked improvement in survival rates and overall quality of life for patients receiving IO/TKI regimens, he adds. These regimens exhibit robust efficacy, with a low incidence of primary progressive disease, Garmezy adds.

Administering IO/TKI regimens to patients with RCC not only ensures effective disease management but also increases the likelihood that patients will show a response in initial scans, which are often a source of anxiety for both providers and patients. They also enhance the likelihood of delivering positive news during follow-up visits, thereby alleviating anxiety, Garmezy continues. This can help to establish a more constructive patient-provider relationship, he says. Furthermore, initial positivity following the first scan can shape how patients perceive and psychologically approach their disease, ultimately setting them up for success in adapting to a new sense of normalcy, he concludes.