Robert A. Figlin, MD

Robert A. Figlin, MD director, division of hematology/oncology, professor of biomedical sciences and medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, discusses the considerations behind selecting an immuno-oncology (I-O) agent for the treatment of patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

As physicians are becoming more comfortable using these agents both alone and in combination with targeted therapies, the key to selecting agents for these patients will vary, Figlin says. Some endpoints to consider may include objective response rate, overall survival, progression-free survival, adverse events, among many others.

The conversations between physicians and patients are different now than they were in the past, Figlin notes. These therapies can not only improve quality of life but also shrink tumors enough that there may be opportunities to go off treatment.

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Robert A. Figlin, MD director, division of hematology/oncology, professor of biomedical sciences and medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, discusses the considerations behind selecting an immune-oncology agent for the treatment of patients with renal cell carcinoma.

Selecting I-O Agents and Combinations for Patients With RCC

Robert A. Figlin, MD, director, Division of Hematology/Oncology, professor of biomedical sciences and medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, discusses the potential for immunotherapy/TKI combinations in the treatment of patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

Since the FDA approved the combination of nivolumab (Opdivo) and ipilimumab (Yervoy) for patients with advanced intermediate- and poor-risk RCC, other immunotherapy regimens are moving through the pipeline with encouraging activity. Oncologists in general are becoming more comfortable treating patients with immuno-oncology agents as monotherapy or in combination, Figlin says. When TKIs and checkpoint inhibitors are combined, there is not a unique toxicity profile that physicians are not sensitive to already. An important factor will be choosing an endpoint to determine the necessary treatment strategyis the goal objective response rate, progression-free survival, overall survival, or adverse event profile?

Robert A. Figlin, MD, director, Division of Hematology/Oncology, professor of biomedical sciences and medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, discusses the potential for immunotherapy/TKI combinations in the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma.

Robert A. Figlin, MD | Authors

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Selecting I-O Agents and Combinations for Patients With RCC

Immunotherapy/TKI Combinations in Advanced RCC