Stereotactic radiotherapy combined with immunotherapy or targeted therapy for metastatic renal cell carcinoma

Immunotherapy and stereotactic body radiotherapy for older patients with non-metastatic renal cancer unfit for surgery or decline nephrectomy: practical proposal by the International Geriatric Radiotherapy Group

The standard of care for non-metastatic renal cancer is surgical resection followed by adjuvant therapy for those at high risk for recurrences. However, for older patients, surgery may not be an option due to the high risk of complications which may result in death. In the past renal cancer was considered to be radio-resistant, and required a higher dose of radiation leading to excessive complications secondary to damage of the normal organs surrounding the cancer. Advances in radiotherapy technique such as stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) has led to the delivery of a tumoricidal dose of radiation with minimal damage to the normal tissue. Excellent local control and survival have been reported for selective patients with small tumors following SBRT. However, for patients with poor prognostic factors such as large tumor size and aggressive histology, there was a higher rate of loco-regional recurrences and distant metastases. Those tumors frequently carry program death ligand 1 (PD-L1) which makes them an ideal target for immunotherapy with check point inhibitors (CPI). Given the synergy between radiotherapy and immunotherapy, we propose an algorithm combining CPI and SBRT for older patients with non-metastatic renal cancer who are not candidates for surgical resection or decline nephrectomy.

The efficacy and safety of stereotactic body radiotherapy combined with systematic therapy for metastatic renal cell carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis

There is considerable interest in the potential of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) combined with systemic therapy such as tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) or immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). However, its efficacy and safety remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of conducting SBRT during ICI or TKI treatment in different disease settings for patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). A total of 16 studies were ultimately included. Under the random effects model, the pooled 1-year local control rate (1-yr LCR) and objective response rate (ORR) were 90% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 80%-95%, I 2 = 67%) and 52% (95% CI: 37%-67%, I 2 = 90%), respectively. SBRT concomitant with different systemic therapy yield significant different 1-yr LCR (p < 0.01) and ORR (p = 0.02). Regarding survival benefits, the pooled 1-year progression-free survival (1-yr PFS) and 1-year overall survival (1-yr OS) rates were 45% (95% CI: 29%-62%, I 2 = 91%) and 85% (95% CI: 76%-91%, I 2 = 66%), respectively. 1-yr PFS and 1-yr OS in different disease settings demonstrated significant difference (p < 0.01). As for toxicity, the pooled incidence of grade 3-4 adverse events was 14% (95% CI: 5%-26%, I 2 = 90%). This study highlights the feasibility of utilizing these strategies in mRCC patients, especially those with a low metastatic tumor burden.

Incorporating Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy into the Multidisciplinary Management of Renal Cell Carcinoma

Stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) has challenged the conventional wisdom surrounding the radioresistance of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). In the past decade, there has been a significant accumulation of clinical data to support the safety and efficacy of SABR in RCC. Herein, we review the use of SABR across the spectrum of RCC. We performed an online search of the Pubmed database from January 1990 through April 2023. Studies of SABR/stereotactic radiosurgery targeting primary, extracranial, and intracranial metastatic RCC were included. For SABR in non-metastatic RCC, this includes its use in small renal masses, larger renal masses, and inferior vena cava tumor thrombi. In the metastatic setting, SABR can be used at diagnosis, for oligometastatic and oligoprogressive disease, and for symptomatic reasons. Notably, SABR can be used for both the primary renal tumor and metastasis-directed therapy. Management of RCC is evolving rapidly, and the role that SABR will have in this landscape is being assessed in a number of ongoing prospective clinical trials. The objective of this narrative review is to summarize the evidence corroborating the use of SABR in RCC.

Beyond the Knife in Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Systematic Review-To Ablate or Not to Ablate?

Intensified systemic therapy in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) has led to improved patient outcomes. Patients commonly require local control of one or a few metastases. The aim was to evaluate metastasis-directed ablative therapies in extracranial mRCC. Two databases and one registry were searched, using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) approach, for all prospective and matched-pair case-control mRCC studies of radiofrequency ablation (RFA), cryotherapy, microwave ablation (MWA), and stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT). Eighteen studies were identified. Fourteen investigated SBRT in 424 patients. Four thermal ablation studies were identified: two cryotherapy (56 patients) and two RFA studies (90 patients). The median participant number was 30 (range 12-69). The combined median follow-up was 17.3 months (range 8-52). Four SBRT studies reported local control (LC) at 12 months, median 84.4% (range 82.5-93). Seven studies (six SBRT and one cryotherapy) reported an LC rate of median 87% (79-100%). Median overall survival (OS) was reported in eight studies (five SBRT, two cryotherapy, and one RFA) with a median of 22.7 months (range 6.7-not reached). Median progression-free survival was reported in seven studies (five SBRT, one cryotherapy, and one RFA); the median was 9.3 months (range 3.0-22.7 months). Grade ≥ 3 toxicity ranged from 1.7% to 10%. SBRT has excellent local control outcomes and acceptable toxicity. Only four eligible thermal ablative studies were identified and could not be compared with SBRT. Translationally rich definitive studies are warranted.

Intramedullary brachytherapy for the treatment of long bone metastatic disease: A case report

Case

A 56-year-old woman with metastatic melanoma and femoral lesions with impending pathologic fracture was indicated for intramedullary brachytherapy (IMBT) and intramedullary nail.

Conclusions

IMBT + intramedullary nail is a new technique for the treatment of long bone metastases. IMBT maximizes radiation to the tumor and minimizes radiation to surrounding tissues. It allows the patient to resume systemic treatment expediently. Our cadaver model and patient were both treated for femoral metastases; however, this technique allows for the treatment of any long bone. This is a safe technique that minimizes treatment time compared with other standard radiation regimens.

Metastases-directed stereotactic body radiotherapy in combination with targeted therapy or immunotherapy: systematic review and consensus recommendations by the EORTC-ESTRO OligoCare consortium

Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for patients with metastatic cancer, especially when characterised by a low tumour burden (ie, oligometastatic disease), receiving targeted therapy or immunotherapy has become a frequently practised and guideline-supported treatment strategy. Despite the increasing use in routine clinical practice, there is little information on the safety of combining SBRT with modern targeted therapy or immunotherapy and a paucity of high-level evidence to guide clinical management. A systematic literature review was performed to identify the toxicity profiles of combined metastases-directed SBRT and targeted therapy or immunotherapy. These results served as the basis for an international Delphi consensus process among 28 interdisciplinary experts who are members of the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO) and European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) OligoCare consortium. Consensus was sought about risk mitigation strategies of metastases-directed SBRT combined with targeted therapy or immunotherapy; a potential need for and length of interruption to targeted therapy or immunotherapy around SBRT delivery; and potential adaptations of radiation dose and fractionation. Results of this systematic review and consensus process compile the best available evidence for safe combination of metastases-directed SBRT and targeted therapy or immunotherapy for patients with metastatic or oligometastatic cancer and aim to guide today's clinical practice and the design of future clinical trials.

Approaches to Oligometastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This study aims to gather the current state of the literature about therapeutic approaches and management of oligometastatic renal cell carcinoma.

RECENT FINDINGS

Two recent stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) studies gained attention and offered a promising outcome alone or in association with antineoplastic drugs especially in oligometastatic renal cell carcinoma. If one can consider evidence-based medicine as the sole therapeutic option, many unresolved questions are still pending. Thus, therapeutic approaches in oligometastatic renal cell carcinoma are still working. Further phase III clinical trials are urgently needed to validate the last 2 phase II involving SBRT and improve knowledge for defining the right care to the right patient at the right time. In addition, a discussion in a disciplinary consultation meeting remains essential to validate the arrangement between systemic treatments and focal treatments that will best benefit the patient.

Combination of radiation and immunotherapy in the treatment of genitourinary malignancies: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Due to possible synergistic effects, the combination of radiation therapy (RT) and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) represents an interesting therapeutic option. An increasing number of clinical trials are ongoing to investigate this combination in genitourinary malignancies and the first results are available.

OBJECTIVES

To review and summarize available data on the combination of RT and ICI in genitourinary malignancies and update the evidence for this potential therapeutic approach.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

A study protocol was registered in the PROSPERO-Database. Terms of search were prostate cancer, bladder cancer, renal cell carcinoma, penile cancer, testicular cancer, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy in multiple literature databases and study registers. Clinical studies reporting on the combination treatment of RT and ICI were included. A systematic review of ongoing trials according to the PRISMA statement and a meta-analysis of available trials were performed.

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

Overall, 43 studies met the inclusion criteria examining the therapeutic effect of combined RT and ICI. For bladder cancer, renal cell carcinoma, prostate cancer, and penile cancer 28, 9, 5, and 1 trial could be identified, respectively. No study was found for testicular cancer. Three phases III trials were identified, all other trials were phase I or II. Twelve studies have been completed so far. The meta-analysis of available data indicates comparable toxicity of RT plus ICI vs. ICI alone for grade 3/4 AEs. Mature efficacy data is limited with interesting early results.

CONCLUSION

This article reviews the clinical trial landscape investigating RT and ICI in genitourinary malignancies. It provides an overview of ongoing trials and discusses available results. Actual data regarding efficacy is limited, while toxicities seem comparable to ICI alone. Especially in bladder and kidney cancer, further trial results might impact on the clinical use of the combination therapy.

The Role of Stereotactic Ablative Body Radiotherapy in Renal Cell Carcinoma

CONTEXT

Stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR) is an emerging treatment modality for primary and metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

OBJECTIVE

To review and summarise the evidence on the use of SABR in RCC in a narrative review.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

We performed an online search of the PubMed database from January 2000 through December 2021. Studies of SABR/stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) targeting primary, extracranial, or intracranial metastatic RCC were included.

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

Two meta-analyses (including 54 studies), and 13 prospective and 20 retrospective studies were included in this review. In aggregate, SABR for 589 primary RCCs in 575 patients resulted in a local control rate of above 90% with grade 3-4 toxicity of 0-9%. Similarly, the local control rate ranged between 90% and 97% with SRS in 1225 patients with intracranial metastatic RCC. SABR was able to delay systemic therapy for at least 1 yr in 70-90% of oligometastatic RCC patients with grade 3-4 toxicity of <10%. As per the early data, the combination of SABR with systemic therapy for metastatic RCC, such as targeted therapy or immunotherapy, appears safe, feasible, and tolerable.

CONCLUSIONS

We outlined data supporting SABR in the key clinical scenarios of primary and metastatic, including oligometastatic, RCC in lieu of systemic therapy, in combination with systemic therapy, and palliation of brain and spinal metastases.

PATIENT SUMMARY

Stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR) is a relatively new treatment option in kidney cancer. Here, we review the published literature on the experience of using SABR in kidney cancer. The accumulated evidence demonstrates that SABR can be used safely and effectively to treat selected cases of primary or secondary kidney cancer.

Metastatic Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma to Pancreas and Distant Organs 24 Years After Radical Nephrectomy: A Case Report and Literature Review

Background

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (CCRCC) is a common urological neoplasm, and even though surgical resection is effective for localized CCRCC, the prognosis of metastatic CCRCC is poor. Currently, there is a paucity of recognized effective therapeutic protocols for metastatic CCRCC.

Case presentation

A 76-year-old Asian man underwent radical left nephrectomy for CCRCC 26 years ago; this patient visited our hospital with abdominal pain due to multiple abdominal metastases 24 years after the nephrectomy. After metastasectomy, he underwent targeted therapy combined with a programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) inhibitor, and the current imaging results indicate remarkable tumor remission.

Conclusions

Metachronous pancreatic metastasis from CCRCC after nephrectomy is rare, but clinicians and patients should not ignore this possibility. The combination of targeted therapy and immunotherapy can result in satisfactory outcomes in cases where metastatic CCRCC continues to progress despite metastasectomy and targeted therapy. The combination of local and systemic therapy can be an effective therapeutic protocol for metastatic CCRCC, but there is no consensus on suitable therapeutics.

Risk-group Classification by Recursive Partitioning Analysis of Patients Affected by Oligometastatic Renal Cancer Treated with Stereotactic Radiotherapy

AIMS

Due to the absence of consensus on metastases-directed treatment in kidney cancer, we conducted an analysis of patients treated with stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) on cranial or extracranial metastases to classify them in survival class risk according to pre-treatment characteristics.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We included oligometastatic kidney cancer patients treated with SRT on up to five metastases. Concomitant systemic treatment was allowed. End points included overall survival and the binary classification tree approach with recursive partitioning analysis was applied to stratify patients into overall survival risk groups.

RESULTS

In total, 129 patients were treated on 242 metastases. The brain was the most common site (34.71%), followed by lung (25.62%). With a median follow-up of 19.4 months, 1- and 3-year overall survival were 82.62 and 55.11%. The recursive partitioning analysis identified four prognostic classes. Class 1 included patients aged ≤ 65 years treated on extracranial metastases, with 3-year overall survival of 82.66%. Class 2 included patients aged > 65 years, without history of metastatic bone disease, treated on extracranial metastases, with a 3-year overall survival of 67.91%. Patients aged > 65 years and a history of bone disease, treated on extracranial metastases, were classified as class 3, with a 3-year overall survival of 37.50%. Class 4 included patients treated on brain metastases, with a 3-year overall survival of 9.70%.

CONCLUSION

We produced a stratification model that can predict survival of oligometastatic kidney cancer patients treated with metastases-directed SRT. Site of disease, patient's age and presence of bone disease can help clinicians in the decision-making process.

The role of stereotactic body radiation therapy and its integration with systemic therapies in metastatic kidney cancer: a multicenter study on behalf of the AIRO (Italian Association of Radiotherapy and Clinical Oncology) genitourinary study group

Although systemic therapy represents the standard of care for polymetastatic kidney cancer, stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) may play a relevant role in the oligometastatic setting. We conducted a multicenter study including oligometastatic kidney cancer treated with SBRT. We retrospectively analyzed 207 patients who underwent 245 SBRT treatments on 385 lesions, including 165 (42.9%) oligorecurrent (OR) and 220 (57.1%) oligoprogressive (OP) lesions. Most common sites were lung (30.9%) for OR group, and bone (32.7%) for OP group. Among 78 (31.8%) patients receiving concomitant systemic therapy, sunitinib (61.5%) and pazopanib (15.4%) were the most common for OR patients, while sunitinib (49.2%) and nivolumab (20.0%) for OP patients. End points were local control (LC), progression free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), time to next systemic therapy (TTNS) and toxicity. Median follow-up was 18.6 months. 1, 2 and 3-year LC rates were 89.4%, 80.1% and 76.6% in OR patients, and 82.7%, 76.9% and 64.3% in those with OP, respectively. LC for OP group was influenced by clear cell histology (p = 0.000), total number of lesions (p = 0.004), systemic therapy during SBRT (p = 0.012), and SBRT dose (p = 0.012). Median PFS was 37.9 months. 1, 2- and 3-year OS was 92.7%, 86.4% and 81.8%, respectively. Median TTNS was 15.8 months for OR patients, and 13.9 months for OP patients. No grade 3 or higher toxicities were reported for both groups. SBRT may be considered an effective safe option in the multidisciplinary management of both OR and OP metastases from kidney cancer.

Melatonin enhances radiofrequency-induced NK antitumor immunity, causing cancer metabolism reprogramming and inhibition of multiple pulmonary tumor development

Surgery is the common treatment for early lung cancer with multiple pulmonary nodules, but it is often accompanied by the problem of significant malignancy of other nodules in non-therapeutic areas. In this study, we found that a combined treatment of local radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and melatonin (MLT) greatly improved clinical outcomes for early lung cancer patients with multiple pulmonary nodules by minimizing lung function injury and reducing the probability of malignant transformation or enlargement of nodules in non-ablated areas. Mechanically, as demonstrated in an associated mouse lung tumor model, RFA not only effectively remove treated tumors but also stimulate antitumor immunity, which could inhibit tumor growth in non-ablated areas. MLT enhanced RFA-stimulated NK activity and exerted synergistic antitumor effects with RFA. Transcriptomics and proteomics analyses of residual tumor tissues revealed enhanced oxidative phosphorylation and reduced acidification as well as hypoxia in the tumor microenvironment, which suggests reprogrammed tumor metabolism after combined treatment with RFA and MLT. Analysis of residual tumor further revealed the depressed activity of MAPK, NF-kappa B, Wnt, and Hedgehog pathways and upregulated P53 pathway in tumors, which was in line with the inhibited tumor growth. Combined RFA and MLT treatment also reversed the Warburg effect and decreased tumor malignancy. These findings thus demonstrated that combined treatment of RFA and MLT effectively inhibited the malignancy of non-ablated nodules and provided an innovative non-invasive strategy for treating early lung tumors with multiple pulmonary nodules. Trial registration: www.chictr.org.cn, identifier ChiCTR2100042695, http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=120931.

Multidiscipline Immunotherapy-Based Rational Combinations for Robust and Durable Efficacy in Brain Metastases from Renal Cell Carcinoma

Advanced imaging techniques for diagnosis have increased awareness on the benefits of brain screening, facilitated effective control of extracranial disease, and prolonged life expectancy of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) patients. Brain metastasis (BM) in patients with mRCC (RCC-BM) is associated with grave prognoses, a high degree of morbidity, dedicated assessment, and unresponsiveness to conventional systemic therapeutics. The therapeutic landscape of RCC-BM is rapidly changing; however, survival outcomes remain poor despite standard surgery and radiation, highlighting the unmet medical needs and the requisite for advancement in systemic therapies. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are one of the most promising strategies to treat RCC-BM. Understanding the role of brain-specific tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) is important for developing rationale-driven ICI-based combination strategies that circumvent tumor intrinsic and extrinsic factors and complex positive feedback loops associated with resistance to ICIs in RCC-BM via combination with ICIs involving other immunological pathways, anti-antiangiogenic multiple tyrosine kinase inhibitors, and radiotherapy; therefore, novel combination approaches are being developed for synergistic potential against RCC-BM; however, further prospective investigations with longer follow-up periods are required to improve the efficacy and safety of combination treatments and to elucidate dynamic predictive biomarkers depending on the interactions in the brain TIME.

Oligometastatic Cancer: Key Concepts and Research Opportunities for 2021 and Beyond

Traditionally, clinicians distinguished three forms of cancer outgrowth [...].

Oligo metastatic renal cell carcinoma: stereotactic body radiation therapy, if, when and how?

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) has traditionally been considered radioresistant with a limited role for conventional fractionation as a local approach. Nevertheless, since the appearance of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), radiotherapy (RT) has been increasingly employed in the management of metastatic RCC (mRCC). The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of SBRT for synchronous and metachronous oligo metastatic RCC patients in terms of local control, delay of systemic treatment, overall survival and toxicity.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A Monocentric single institution retrospective data collection was performed. Inclusion criteria were: (1) oligo-recurrent or oligo-progressive disease (less than 5 metastases) in mRCC patients after radical/partial nephrectomy or during systemic therapy, (2) metastasectomy or other metastasis-directed, rather than SBRT not feasible, (3) any contraindication to receive systemic therapy (such as comorbidities), (4) all the histologies were included, (5) available signed informed consent form for treatment. Tumor response and toxicity were evaluated using the response evaluation criteria in solid tumors and the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4.03, respectively. Progression-free survival in-field and out-field (in-field and out-field PFS) and overall survival (OS) were calculated via the Kaplan-Meier method. The drug treatment-free interval was calculated from the start of SBRT to the beginning of any systemic therapy.

RESULTS

From 2010 to December 2018, 61 patients with extracranial and intracranial metastatic RCC underwent SBRT on 83 lesions. Intracranial and extracranial lesions were included. Forty-five (74%) patients were treated for a solitary metastatic lesion. Median RT dose was 25 Gy (range 10-52) in 5-10 fractions. With a median follow-up of 2.3 years (range 0-7.15), 1-year in-field PFS was 70%, 2-year in-field PFS was 55%. One year out-field PFS was 39% and 1-year OS was 78%. Concomitant systemic therapy was employed for only 11 (18%) patients, for the others 50 (82%) the drug treatment-free rate was 70% and 50% at 1 and 2 years, respectively. No > G1 acute and late toxicities were reported.

CONCLUSION

The pattern of failure was pre-dominantly out-of-field, even if the population was negatively selected and the used RT dose could be considered palliative. Therefore, SBRT appears to be a well-tolerated, feasible and safe approach in oligo metastatic RCC patients with an excellent in-field PFS. SBRT might play a role in the management of selected RCC patients allowing for a delay systemic therapy begin (one out of two patients were free from new systemic therapy at 2 years after SBRT). Further research on SBRT dose escalation is warranted.

Intratumoral Treatment with Chemotherapy and Immunotherapy for NSCLC with EBUS-TBNA 19G

Introduction: Immunotherapy is being used for the past five years either as first line or second line treatment with great results. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy have been also used as combination to immunotherapy to further enhance this type of treatment. Intratumoral treatment has been previously proposed as a treatment option for certain non-small cell lung cancer patients.

Patients and Methods: We recruited in total seventy four patients with non-small cell lung cancer in their second line treatment who received only chemotherapy in their first line treatment with programmed death-ligand-1 ≤ 50. Only adenocarcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma, and all negative for epidermal growth factor receptor, anaplastic lymphoma kinase, proto-oncogene tyrosine-protein kinase-1 and proto-oncogene B-Raf. Data were first examined with descriptive statistics choosing frequencies for categorical variables and histograms for the continuous ones. Twenty five received only intravenous immunotherapy and forty-nine intravenous cisplatin with immunotherapy. Data were first examined with descriptive statistics choosing frequencies for categorical variables and histograms for the continuous ones.

Results: The relationships between changes of performance status and disease progression were examined via a single correspondence analysis. The two-dimensional scores (coordinates) derived from the correspondence analysis were then regressed against the predictors to form distinct splits and nodes obtaining quantitative results. The best fit is usually achieved by lowering exhaustively the AICc criterion and looking in parallel the change of R² expecting improvements more than 5%. both types of therapy are capable of producing best ameliorative effects, when either the programmed death-ligand-1 expression or parenchymal site in joint with low pack years are present in the sampling data.

Conclusions: Intratumoral treatment combination with cisplatin plus immunotherapy indifferent of nivolumab or pembrolizumab combination is an effective choice. In specific for those with endobronchial lesions. Moreover; patients with programmed death-ligand-1 ≥ 50 had their performance status and disease progression improved over the eight month observation.