Kidney Cancer: An Overview of Current Therapeutic Approaches

Urol Clin North Am. 2020 Nov;47(4):419-431. doi: 10.1016/j.ucl.2020.07.009.

Abstract

The management of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) has evolved rapidly in recent years with several immunotherapy-based combinations of strategies approved as first-line therapies. Targeted strategies, including systemic antiangiogenesis agents and immune checkpoint blockade, form the basis of a therapeutic approach. With rising rates of recurrence after first-line treatment, it is increasingly important to not only adopt a personalized treatment plan with minimal adverse events but also develop predictive biomarkers for response. This review discusses currently available first-line and second-line therapies in RCC and their pivotal data, with specific focus on ongoing clinical trials in the adjuvant setting, including those involving novel agents.

Keywords: Atezolizumab; Bevacizumab; Clear cell carcinoma; First-line immunotherapy; Kidney cancer; Pembrolizumab; Tyrosine kinase inhibitors.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Biological Products / therapeutic use*
  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell / drug therapy*
  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell / mortality
  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell / surgery
  • Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy / methods*
  • Kidney Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Kidney Neoplasms / mortality
  • Kidney Neoplasms / pathology
  • Male
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness / pathology
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Nephrectomy / methods
  • Prognosis
  • Survival Analysis
  • Treatment Outcome
  • United States

Substances

  • Biological Products