Dr. Campbell on the Expanding Role of Cabozantinib in RCC

Matthew T. Campbell, MD, MS, assistant professor in the Department of Genitourinary Medical Oncology of the Division of Cancer Medicine at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses the expanding role of cabozantinib (Cabometyx) in renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

In clear cell RCC, cabozantinib is an active agent, says Campbell.

Additionally, the drug has demonstrated benefit for patients with subtypes of non–clear cell RCC, such as papillary RCC, Campbell adds. The ongoing CABOSUN Ii trial (NCT03541902) is evaluating cabozantinib vs sunitinib (Sutent) in patients with metastatic variant histology RCC.

Findings from the phase 3 METEOR trial demonstrated an improved objective response rate (ORR), median progression-free survival (PFS), and median overall survival (OS) with cabozantinib compared with everolimus (Afinitor) in patients with advanced RCC, Campbell explains.

Furthermore, the phase 3 CheckMate-9ER trial demonstrated improved ORR, PFS, and OS with cabozantinib plus nivolumab (Opdivo) compared with sunitinib as frontline therapy for patients with advanced or metastatic RCC.

In light of these positive findings, questions regarding sequencing with cabozantinib/nivolumab and long-term therapeutic strategies will need to be addressed, concludes Campbell.