Dr. Choueiri on Safety Profile of MK-6482 in Advanced Clear Cell RCC

Toni K. Choueiri, MD, director, Lank Center for Genitourinary Oncology, director, Kidney Cancer Center, senior physician, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and Jerome and Nancy Kohlberg Chair and professor of medicine, Harvard Medical School, discusses the safety profile of the oral HIF-2α inhibitor MK-6482 in patients with advanced clear cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

Data from a phase I/II study presented at the 2020 Genitourinary Cancers Symposium showed that MK-6482 induced a partial response rate of 24% and a disease control rate of 80% in patients with advanced clear cell RCC.

In addition to this efficacy, the agent is also showing less toxicity compared with VEGF inhibitors, says Choueiri. Hypertension, cardiovascular toxicity, significant fatigue, diarrhea, or hand-foot skin reaction have not been reported with this treatment. Although anemia has been reported, this event is believed to be on target, and it is easily treated with erythropoietin. Hypoxia appears to be another on-target toxicity that can be managed with supplemental oxygen, concludes Choueiri.