Evolving Treatment Paradigm in Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma

Am Soc Clin Oncol Educ Book. 2017:37:319-329. doi: 10.1200/EDBK_174469.

Abstract

The treatment paradigm for advanced and metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) has evolved rapidly since the arrival of targeted therapies and novel immunotherapies. mRCC was previously treated only with cytokines. However, discoveries of mutations affecting the von Hippel-Lindau tumor suppressor gene (leading to increased expression of VEGF and hypoxia inducible factor/HIF-1) and of deregulations in the phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase/AKT/mTOR pathway (resulting in tumor angiogenesis, cell proliferation, and tumor growth) have led to the development of numerous targeted therapies. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has thus approved a total of nine targeted therapies since 2005, including VEGF tyrosine kinase inhibitors (sunitinib, pazopanib, axitinib, sorafenib, and lenvatinib), a monoclonal antibody targeting VEGF (bevacizumab), mTOR inhibitors (temsirolimus and everolimus), and a multityrosine kinase inhibitor (cabozantinib). Furthermore, the development of immune checkpoint inhibitors has again shifted the mRCC therapeutic landscape with the FDA's approval of nivolumab. Herein, we discuss the unprecedented changes in the field of clear cell histology mRCC in both the first-line and salvage settings, and we also discuss future therapies and recommend a treatment paradigm on sequencing of these agents.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell / epidemiology
  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell / genetics
  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell / therapy*
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Indoles / therapeutic use
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Neoplasm Proteins / genetics
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / epidemiology
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / genetics
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / pathology
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / therapy*
  • Niacinamide / analogs & derivatives
  • Niacinamide / therapeutic use
  • Phenylurea Compounds / therapeutic use
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Pyrroles / therapeutic use
  • Quinolines / therapeutic use
  • Sorafenib
  • Sunitinib
  • Von Hippel-Lindau Tumor Suppressor Protein / genetics

Substances

  • Indoles
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Phenylurea Compounds
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Pyrroles
  • Quinolines
  • Niacinamide
  • Sorafenib
  • Von Hippel-Lindau Tumor Suppressor Protein
  • lenvatinib
  • Sunitinib