Dr. Motzer on First-Line Treatment of Metastatic RCC

Robert J. Motzer, MD, medical oncologist, head, Kidney Cancer Section, Genitourinary Oncology Service, Jack and Dorothy Byrne Chair in Clinical Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and 2016 Giant of Cancer Care^® in Genitourinary Cancer, discusses the first-line treatment landscape of metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

Historically, first-line treatment for this patient population has consisted of TKI monotherapy with either sunitinib (Sutent) or pazopanib (Votrient), explains Motzer.

Recently, 3 randomized phase III trials demonstrated improved outcomes with combined checkpoint inhibition versus sunitinib. Specifically, the KEYNOTE-426, JAVELIN Renal 101, and CheckMate-214 trial in which the combinations of axitinib (Inlyta)/pembrolizumab (Keytruda), axitinib/avelumab (Bavencio), and ipilimumab (Yervoy)/nivolumab (Opdivo) were evaluated, respectively. Data from these trials led to the regulatory approval of these combinations.

Among these regimens, axitinib/pembrolizumab and ipilimumab/nivolumab have become the frontline standards having demonstrated the most robust improvement in overall survival, says Motzer.

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