Dr. Beckermann on TKI/Immunotherapy Combinations in mRCC

Kathryn E. Beckermann, MD, PhD, instructor of medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, discusses treatment selection in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC).

Patients with favorable-risk mRCC should be considered for a VEGF-based combination therapy as their tumor is likely to respond to VEGF inhibition, says Beckermann. Notably, the combination of VEGF TKIs with checkpoint inhibitors has been shown to provide durable responses in patients.

Treatment can be more individualized to patients with poor- or intermediate-risk mRCC as they are eligible to receive the combination of nivolumab (Opdivo) and ipilimumab (Yervoy), or a VEGF/TKI combination. Factors that should be taken into account include whether the patient has an active autoimmune disease, undergone transplant, or has resistant hypertension, concludes Beckermann.