Top 10 kidney cancer stories in 2024

There have been a wealth of advancements in the management of kidney cancer over the past year. To celebrate these breakthroughs, the editorial staff at Urology Times® is showcasing our best content on kidney cancer from 2024.

Lenvatinib/pembrolizumab compares favorably with frontline standards in renal cell carcinoma

Results of a network meta-analysis shared during the 2024 ASCO Genitourinary Symposium showed that frontline treatment with lenvatinib (Lenvima) plus pembrolizumab (Keytruda) compared favorably with global standard-of-care treatments for first-line advanced renal cell carcinoma, demonstrating similar overall survival and improved progression-free survival and response rates. Read more on the findings here.

Nivolumab plus cabozantinib extends treatment-free survival vs sunitinib in aRCC

Findings from an analysis of the phase 3 CheckMate 9ER trial (NCT03141177) presented during the 2024 ASCO Annual Meeting showed that patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma who received frontline nivolumab (Opdivo) plus cabozantinib (Cabometyx) achieved a 1.5-times longer mean time surviving treatment-free before the initiation of second-line therapy vs those who received sunitinib (Sutent). Learn more here.

Personalized therapeutic approaches in ccRCC remain challenging

Recent data published in the journal Cancer Cell indicate that a machine learning approach can accurately classify clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) tumors into distinct molecular subtypes, although the subgroups were not applicable as predictive biomarkers for treatment response. Read more here.

Personalizing surgical care: Algorithm helps determine optimal approach for robotic surgery

In this interview, Ketan K. Badani, MD, highlights an algorithm that can help determine the optimal approach between single-port and multiport robotic surgery, introducing a new era of personalized care in the surgical treatment of kidney cancer.Read the full interview here.

Serum glycoproteins may predict response to nivolumab/cabozantinib in aRCC

Serum glycoproteins involved in complement cascade and lipid metabolism may serve as potential biomarkers that are predictive of response to nivolumab (Opdivo) plus cabozantinib (Cabometyx) vs sunitinib (Sutent) in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma, according to a post-hoc exploratory analysis of the CheckMate 9ER trial (NCT03141177). The data were presented at the 2024 European Society for Medical Oncology Congress in Barcelona, Spain. Read more on the findings here.

Live bacterial supplementation may improve TKI-based treatment efficacy in kidney cancer

Live bacterial supplementation with CBM588 while receiving treatment with cabozantinib and nivolumab may improve health outcomes for patients with locally advanced or metastatic renal cell carcinoma, according to data from a phase 1 trial (NCT05122546) published in Nature Medicine. Learn more here.

Expert discusses study of histotripsy in small renal masses

In this interview, Arun Rai, MD, MBA, MSc, discusses the histotripsy procedure for the management of small renal masses, which is being assessed in the #HOPE4KIDNEY trial (NCT05820087). Read the full interview here.

Long-term data highlight sustained efficacy of tivozanib in advanced kidney cancer

Long-term results showed continued efficacy and safety of tivozanib (Fotivda) in patients with relapsed or refractory advanced renal cell carcinoma, according to a post-hoc analysis from the phase 3 TIVO-3 trial.The landmark 3-year progression-free survival rates were 12.3% with tivozanib compared with 2.4% with sorafenib. Read more on the findings here.

First patient dosed with TLX250-CDx in Italy for ccRCC

The first patient in Italy was dosed with TLX250-CDx through the global expanded access (“accesso allargato”) program for patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma. The program allows access to TLX250-CDx for patients outside of a clinical trial for whom there is no comparable or satisfactory alternative options. Read more here.

Benmelstobart plus anlotinib improves PFS, ORR vs sunitinib in aRCC

The combination of benmelstobart (TQB2450) and anlotinib (AL3818) yielded a superior progression-free survival and overall response rate vs sunitinib (Sutent) in the first-line treatment of patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma, according to interim data from the phase 3 ETER100 trial (NCT04523272). The findings were shared during the 2024 European Society for Medical Oncology Congress in Barcelona, Spain. Learn more here.