Dr. Rini on the Efficacy of Axitinib and Pembrolizumab in RCC

Brian I. Rini, MD, professor of medicine, Cleveland Clinic, discusses the efficacy of pembrolizumab (Keytruda) and axitinib (Inlyta) combined in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

There was a trial of 52 previously untreated patients with RCC who received axitinib and prembrolizumab. The response rate with this combination was 71%, whereas single-agent axitinib typically sees response rates in the 30% to 40% range, making these results the best that has been seen in RCC, states Rini.