Dr. Rini on Molecular Characteristics of the IMmotion151 Study in RCC

Brian I. Rini, MD, professor of medicine, Cleveland Clinic, discusses the molecular characteristics of patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) enrolled on the IMmotion151 study.

In data from the phase III IMmotion151 study reported at the 2018 ESMO Congress, investigators focused on the molecular characteristics of clinical response to the combination of atezolizumab (Tecentriq) and bevacizumab (Avastin) compared with sunitinib (Sutent). Specifically, molecular gene expression signatures as they relate to clinical outcomes, prognostic risk groups, and tumor histology were evaluated.

Findings showed that high T effector gene expression signatures were associated with PD-L1 expression. This was evaluated in patients on the trial by immunohistochemistry. Additionally, high T effector gene expression signatures were associated with longer progression-free survival for the combination compared with sunitinib.

These findings provide a greater understanding of the biology of kidney cancer, and may inform strategies moving forward, investigators noted.