The world of targeted therapies in kidney cancers: pitfalls, tips and tricks

Targeted and immune therapies among patients with metastatic renal carcinoma undergoing hemodialysis: A systemic review

BACKGROUND

Patients with severe renal impairment or undergoing hemodialysis are usually excluded from clinical trials. Available data regarding safety and activity of systemic therapies (ST) in hemodialyzed patients are scarce.

METHODS

Clinical data were searched through PubMed database until April 2020 according to PRISMA criteria. Efficacy, safety and pharmacokinetic (PK) assessment of ST were reported.

RESULTS

Among 270 references, 56 reports were evaluated in full text: 41 were included for efficacy and 42 for safety analysis (sunitinib n = 68, bevacizumab n = 6, everolimus n = 28, temsirolimus n = 17, sorafenib n = 55, axitinib n = 13, pazopanib n = 13, nivolumab n = 18, cabozantinib n = 0, lenvatinib n = 0, and ipilimumab n = 0). Twelve of the reports included PK assessment among dialyzed patients. Hemodialysis did not seem to modify the expected efficacy and safety of each compound among patients undergoing hemodialysis. PK assessments were not modified in comparison with a population not undergoing dialysis.

CONCLUSION

Targeted and Immune therapies seem to be effective and can be used among patients undergoing hemodialysis. Due to frailty and comorbidities associated to chronic hemodialysis enhanced vigilance for these therapies within this specific population is recommended. Dedicated prospective clinical trials would definitely help to obtain data with a higher level of evidence.

Patient characteristics and treatments one year after diagnosis of renal cancer in 2015 according to the presence or absence of metastasis and a history of another tumour: A national observational study

INTRODUCTION

This study describes the characteristics, management and outcome of patients one year after a diagnosis of renal cancer, according to the presence of a history of another tumour and metastases at diagnosis or during the first year.

METHODS

Based on information from the national health data system (SNDS), 10,989 general scheme beneficiaries (>15 years) with a first hospital stay in 2015 for renal cancer were divided into groups according to the presence of a history of another tumour or metastases.

RESULTS

In this cohort of 10,989 people (75 years and older: 30%, men: 65%), 12% had a history of another tumour diagnosed during the two years before and 22% presented one or more metastases at the time of the index hospitalisation or during the following year. Overall, nephrectomy was performed in 56% of cases (partial nephrectomy in 29% of cases), in 63% and 36% of cases without metastases and in 68% and 40% of cases without metastases and with no history of another tumour. Overall, 2% of patients received at least one monoclonal antibody and 15% received a protein kinase inhibitor. These drugs were used in 6% and 53% of cases, respectively, in the presence of metastases and in 7% and 31% of cases, respectively, in the presence of metastases and a history of another tumour.

CONCLUSION

This study highlights the high rate of a history of another tumour and adaptation of treatment according to a history of cancer and the presence of metastases.