Dr. Quinn on the Biology of RCC

David I. Quinn, MD, MBBS, PhD, FRACP, FACP, associate professor of medicine, section head, Genitourinary Oncology, Division of Cancer Medicine and Blood Diseases, Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, discusses the biology of renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

It's important to understand that the modern therapeutics that are available in RCC were developed based on the molecular makeup of the disease. RCC is primarily driven by pathways such as angiogenesis, mTOR, and an altered immune system that is targetable in most cases, says Quinn. These factors are critical when it comes to understanding the therapy of RCC, he adds. They are also important when it comes to understanding some underlying principles of treatment. A patient with newly diagnosed disease may have an underlying germline alteration that will distinguish the behavior of the cancer and inform some of the treatment. Certain clinical characteristics may also help with treatment planning.

Beyond genomic markers, there is a lot of interest in biomarkers, although they do not seem to have an impact on treatment decisions, says Quinn. Nonetheless, there are several proofs of principle related to different therapies that are starting to emerge, he adds.