Dr. Tykodi on the Efficacy of Dual Checkpoint Blockade in RCC

Scott S. Tykodi, MD, PhD, physician, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, associate professor, Division of Medical Oncology, Clinical Research Division, University of Washington, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, discusses the efficacy of dual checkpoint blockade in renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

Most large studies evaluating dual checkpoint inhibitor blockade are fairly immature, explains Tykodi.

Currently, the phase 3 CheckMate-214 trial of nivolumab (Opdivo) in combination with ipilimumab (Yervoy) has the longest follow-up, says Tykodi. At 42 months, median overall survival was 47 months with the combination versus 26.6 months with sunitinib (Sutent) in patients with intermediate- and poor-risk advanced RCC.

Compared to other available treatments in this setting including TKIs and cytokine therapies, checkpoint inhibitors appear to show promising clinical activity in this patient population, concludes Tykodi.