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First-Line Systemic Therapy for Metastatic Clear-Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma: Critical Appraisal of Emerging Options

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Abstract

Until recently, a dichotomy existed in the front-line approach of metastatic clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). Specifically, patients received either targeted therapy or immunotherapy. Targeted therapy entailed use of agents blocking signaling through the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor, such as cabozantinib, sunitinib, or pazopanib. Immunotherapy entailed dual therapy with nivolumab and ipilimumab, both checkpoint inhibitors for intermediate/poor International Metastatic RCC Database Consortium (IMDC)-risk disease patients. Within the past year, two datasets have emerged that led to recent approvals of combined therapy with VEGF and checkpoint inhibitors. These regimens (axitinib with either avelumab or pembolizumab) are among several that have been or will be evaluated for patients with newly diagnosed mRCC. We aim to facilitate treatment decisions through this comprehensive and contextualized overview of recent datasets in this therapeutic space.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Protocol Content Administration, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, CA, USA

    Vivian Loo

  2. Department of Medical Oncology and Experimental Therapeutics, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, 1500 East Duarte Road, Duarte, CA, 91010, USA

    Meghan Salgia, Paulo Bergerot & Sumanta K. Pal

  3. UCSF School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA, USA

    Errol J. Philip

Authors
  1. Vivian Loo
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  2. Meghan Salgia
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  3. Paulo Bergerot
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  4. Errol J. Philip
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  5. Sumanta K. Pal
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sumanta K. Pal.

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Funding

No external funding was used in the preparation of this article.

Conflict of interest

Vivian Loo, PharmD, Meghan Salgia, Paulo Bergerot, MD, and Errol J. Philip, PhD declare that they have no conflicts of interest that might be relevant to the contents of this article. Sumanta K. Pal, MD: Honoraria: Novartis, Medivation, Astellas Pharma; Consulting or Advisory Role: Pfizer, Novartis, Aveo, Myriad; Pharmaceuticals, Genentech, Exelixis, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Astellas Pharma; Research Funding: Medivation.

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Loo, V., Salgia, M., Bergerot, P. et al. First-Line Systemic Therapy for Metastatic Clear-Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma: Critical Appraisal of Emerging Options. Targ Oncol 14, 639–645 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11523-019-00676-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11523-019-00676-y

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