Dr. Sznol Discusses Immunotherapy Combinations in RCC

Mario Sznol, MD, professor of medicine, co-director, Yale SPORE in Skin Cancer, Yale Cancer Center, discusses immunotherapy combinations in renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

Aside from the impressive results with ipilimumab (Yervoy) and nivolumab (Opdivo), which showed a survival benefit over sunitinib (Sutent), there are many combinations coming down the pike to treat patients with metastatic RCC. Sznol says that anti—PD-1/anti–PD-L1 inhibitors can be combined with any of the VEGF receptor inhibitors, including bevacizumab (Avastin), sunitinib, cabozantinib (Cabometyx), and lenvatinib (Lenvima). Phase III trial results for some of these combinations are expected soon.

Additionally, anti—PD-1/anti–PD-L1 inhibitors are being combined with a number of other agents, including cytokines, NKTR-214, and interleukin 15, Snzol says. Combinations of anti–PD-1/anti–PD-L1 and IDO inhibitors are also demonstrating response rates that are better than anticipated. Sznol says that phase II and phase III trials are due to read out in the near future, making the landscape of RCC very interesting.