CLEAR Trial: Lenvatinib plus Pembrolizumab in Advanced RCC

This is a video synopsis/summary of a Post Conference Perspectives featuring Brian Rini, MD, and Hans Hammers, MD, PhD.

Rini and Hammers discuss recent data presented at the 2023 International Kidney Cancer Symposium (IKCS) that examined the efficacy of lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab versus ipilimumab plus nivolumab. The study used a statistical matching analysis to indirectly compare outcomes between the regimens. It suggested that while overall survival was comparable, lenvatinib/pembrolizumab may confer improved progression-free survival over ipilimumab/nivolumab.

However, Rini notes such cross-trial comparisons should be viewed skeptically, especially when industry-sponsored to favor 1 regimen. He believes the analysis shows what was already expected: lenvatinib/pembrolizumab has superior response rates and progression-free survival compared with ipilimumab/nivolumab. But the relevance for individual patients is debatable, considering the importance of other end points like long-term survival. Hence this type of analysis is unlikely to significantly impact treatment selection decisions. It does reinforce the known efficacy of lenvatinib/pembrolizumab for early tumor outcomes based on the CLEAR trial.

Video synopsis is AI-generated and reviewed by OncLive® editorial staff.