Dr. Zakharia on the Role of Seleno-L-Methionine in Previously Treated Advanced RCC

Yousef Zakharia, MD, clinical associate professor, Internal Medicine-Hematology, Oncology, and Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Carver College of Medicine, Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Iowa Healthcare, discusses the role of seleno-L-methionine in previously treated advanced clear cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

Examining the potential role of seleno-L-methionine was part of a clinical trial examining patients with previously treated advanced RCC who had progressed on at least 1 prior line of treatment, Zakharia says. Irrespective of the number of prior lines of treatments they had received, patients received an initial dose escalation of selenium, Zakharia explains. It was given at 2500 µg, 3000 µg, or 4000 µg. Seleno-L-methionine was given twice daily for 14 days; on day 15, it was dropped to once daily and axitinib (Inlyta) was added, Zakharia says.

The reason for the sequential combination is based on previous preclinical data that suggested starting patients on selenium first could stabilize the tumor microenvironment. Then, the preclinical model showed that adding the targeted therapy could improveefficacy, Zakharia concludes.