Data Updates in Advanced RCC from 2023 IKCS: North America

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

Rini and Hammers discuss several key topics from the 2023 International Kidney Cancer Symposium (IKCS). They review data on belzutifan, a HIF-2α inhibitor, examining response rates and progression-free survival with standard (120 mg) vs escalated (200 mg) dosing. Results were comparable between arms, confirming 120 mg as an appropriate dose with encouraging efficacy. Both feel there is strong rationale to further study biomarkers and earlier use of belzutifan in kidney cancer.

They also discuss early data presented on zanzalintinib, a novel multikinase VEGF inhibitor. In a refractory kidney cancer cohort, it demonstrated a 38% response rate and was well tolerated. Hammers believes there remains a role for tolerable, broad-spectrum tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) like zanzalintinib. While the data is early, he suggests it may compare favorably or even replace existing TKIs like cabozantinib. Rini concurs there is clear activity signal, but cautions that larger datasets are still needed given the small sample size.

In summary, belzutifan and zanzalintinib showed encouraging efficacy results at IKCS in kidney cancer, warranting additional research to refine their use and positioning among existing therapies. But both agents may address remaining unmet needs.

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