Dr. Yentz on Translating Data to Real-World Clinical Practice in RCC

Sarah Elizabeth Yentz, MD, clinical assistant professor, University of Michigan Health, medical oncologist, Brighton Center for Specialty Care, Rogel Cancer Center, Michigan Medicine, discusses translating data to real-world clinical practice in renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

Several novel options have been added to the treatment paradigm for patients with RCC, so treatment selection among the different TKI plus PD-L1 inhibitor combinations can be challenging, Yentz says. Although the combinations are more similar than they are different, the toxicities associated with the TKIs or the way in which adverse effects present differ, Yentz explains. As such, becoming familiar with all the TKIs and their different adverse effects can be difficult, so it is important to get comfortable with a specific TKI, Yentz adds.

Moreover, understanding these differences between TKIs is important for the patient to receive optimized treatment, Yentz continues. For example, cabozantinib (Cabometyx) has a long half-life, which can be difficult when a patient is not tolerating treatment because their symptoms may not improve for a prolonged period, Yentz says. In contrast, axitinib (Inlyta) has a shorter half-life. Overall, considerations such as these emerge during the real-world utilization of these regimens and change from what the data from clinical trials say, Yentz concludes.