Dr. Hutson Discusses the Phase III ATLAS Study in RCC

Thomas E. Hutson, DO, PharmD, medical oncologist, Texas Oncology—Baylor Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center, discusses the rationale behind the ATLAS Study, a randomized double-blind phase III study of adjuvant axitinib versus placebo in subjects at high risk of recurrent renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

The trial is currently in progress with over 100 patients enrolled. Hutson says this is an important trial given that axitinib is the newest inhibitor of the VEGF receptor and is one of the last agents to be studied in the adjuvant setting.

Researchers have seen very promising results with this class of agents in the metastatic setting, allowing patients with metastatic RCC to live years longer, Hutson says. However, researchers are now shifting their focus to find a cure. Hutson says the hope is to treat patients who are at high risk of recurrence in the adjuvant setting with agents such as axitinib. Axitinib is the most potent VEGF inhibitor available, but it is the most narrow in terms of off-target effects. This may lead to greater tolerability in patients in the adjuvant setting.