Prognostic outcome in patients treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors as first-line molecular-targeted therapy for metastatic renal cell carcinoma: Experience in real-world clinical practice in Japan

Association between a novel nutrition-inflammation prognostic grading system and overall survival in hospitalized adults with cancer: A retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Malnutrition and increased systemic inflammatory responses are highly prevalent in patients with cancer and they have a negative effect on prognosis. We aimed to develop a nutrition-inflammation prognostic grading system (NIPGS) for patients with cancer, which incorporates the Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 (NRS 2002) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels.

METHODS

This multicenter retrospective cohort study totally included 6891 patients diagnosed with cancer. A 4 × 4 matrix incorporating the four NRS 2002 categories within each of the four CRP categories was constructed. Groups with approximate hazard ratios (HRs) were clustered into one grade. The NIPGS consists of four grades, with the survival rate gradually decreasing from Grades 1 to 4. The primary outcome was overall survival (OS) and comprehensive survival analyses were performed.

RESULTS

During a median follow-up of 18.70 months, 2818 death cases occurred. Kaplan-Meier curve showed the survival rate decreased from Grades 1 to 4 of NIPGS (P < 0.001). The NIPGS was an independent risk factor associated with OS adjusting for confounders, with HRs increasing from 1.22 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.09-1.36; P < 0.001) in Grade 2, 1.58 (95% CI, 1.39-1.80; P < 0.001) in Grade 3 to 1.92 (95% CI, 1.73-2.13; P < 0.001) in Grade 4. A high NIPGS grade was also associated with an increased risk of short-term mortality, poor quality of life, and longer hospital stay and expenses. Two internal validation cohorts confirmed the results of our study.

CONCLUSION

The NIPGS could be an effective prognostic tool for patients with cancer.

Comprehensive investigation of clinicopathological and immunological features to determine prognostic impact in metastatic renal cell carcinoma: The JEWEL study

OBJECTIVES

Current prognostic models for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) are likely inaccurate due to recent treatment advances and improved survival outcomes. The JEWEL study used a data set from patients who received tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) to explore the prognostic impact of the tumor immune environment in the absence of immune checkpoint inhibitor intervention.

METHODS

The primary analysis population comprised 569 of the 770 Japanese patients enrolled in the ARCHERY study who received first-line TKIs. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard models were used to identify factors associated with the primary (overall survival [OS]) and secondary outcomes (treatment duration) using 34 candidate explanatory variables.

RESULTS

Median OS was 34.1 months (95% CI, 30.4-37.6) in the primary analysis population. A considerable negative prognostic impact (descriptive p ≤ 0.0005) on OS was seen with lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) >1.5 × upper limit of normal (adjusted HR [aHR], 3.30; 95% CI, 2.19-4.98), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS) ≥2 (aHR, 2.14; 95% CI, 1.56-2.94), World Health Organization (WHO)/International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP) Grade 4 (aHR, 1.89; 95% CI, 1.43-2.51), C-reactive protein (CRP) level ≥0.3 (aHR, 1.78; 95% CI, 1.40-2.26), and age ≥75 years (aHR, 1.65; 95% CI, 1.24-2.18) in the multivariable analysis. PD-L1 and immunophenotype affected OS in univariable analyses but were not selected in the multivariable model as explanatory variables.

CONCLUSIONS

JEWEL identified sex, age, ECOG PS, liver and bone metastases, CRP levels, WHO/ISUP grade, LDH, and albumin levels as key prognostic factors for OS after first-line TKI therapy for mRCC.

Outcomes According to MSKCC Risk Score with Focus on the Intermediate-Risk Group in Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Patients Treated with First-Line Sunitinib: A Retrospective Analysis of 2390 Patients

Background: The Memorial Sloan–Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) prognostic model has been widely used for the prediction of the outcome of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) patients treated with systemic therapies, however, data from large studies are limited. This study aimed at the evaluation of the impact of the MSKCC score on the outcomes in mRCC patients treated with first-line sunitinib, with a focus on the intermediate-risk group. Methods: Clinical data from 2390 mRCC patients were analysed retrospectively. Progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and objective response rate (ORR) were analysed according to the MSKCC risk score. Results: ORR, median PFS, and OS for patients with one risk factor were 26.7%, 10.1, and 28.2 months versus 18.7%, 6.2, and 16.2 months, respectively, for those with two risk factors (ORR: p = 0.001, PFS: p < 0.001, OS: p < 0.001). ORR, median PFS, and OS were 33.0%, 17.0, and 44.7 months versus 24.1%, 9.0, and 24.1 months versus 13.4%, 4.5, and 9.5 months in the favourable-, intermediate-, and poor-risk groups, respectively (ORR: p < 0.001, PFS: p < 0.001, OS: p < 0.001). Conclusions: The results of the present retrospective study demonstrate the suitability of the MSKCC model in mRCC patients treated with first-line sunitinib and suggest different outcomes between patients with one or two risk factors.

A new scenario in metastatic renal cell carcinoma: a SOG-GU consensus

BACKGROUND

This article describes and compares approved targeted therapies and the newer immunotherapy agents.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This article especially performs an in-depth review of currently available data for tivozanib, explaining its mechanism of action, its safety profile and its role as an efficacy drug in the management of renal cancer.

RESULTS

Despite the fact that the treatment of advanced RCC has been dramatically modified in recent years, durable remissions are scarce and it remains a lethal disease. For first- and second-line therapy, there is now growing evidence to guide the selection of the appropriate treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Several TKIs are standard of care at different settings. Among those approved TKIs, tivozanib has similar efficacy than others with a better safety profile. The use of prognostic factors is critical to the selection of optimal therapy.

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte Ratio, Platelet-to-lymphocyte Ratio, and C-reactive Protein as New and Simple Prognostic Factors in Patients With Metastatic Renal Cell Cancer Treated With Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors: A Systemic Review and Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Inflammation plays a crucial role in cancer development. In this study, we evaluate the prognostic values of systemic inflammation markers such as neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and C-reactive protein (CRP) for the progression-free survival and overall survival in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

PubMed and the Cochrane Library databases were searched for published studies on the effect of NLR, PLR, and CRP in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors.

RESULTS

In the meta-analysis, NLR (hazard ratio [HR], 2.01; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.27-3.18; P = .003) and PLR (HR, 6.96; 95% CI, 5.04-9.62; P < .001) had a significant influence on progression-free survival, whereas all considered proinflammatory markers had a significant impact on overall survival: NLR (HR, 2.14; 95% CI, 1.67-2.73; P < .001), PLR (HR, 14.67; 95% CI, 11.10-19.57; P < .001), and CRP (HR, 1.96; 95% CI, 1.26-3.05; P = .003).

CONCLUSIONS

Inflammation markers such as NLR, PLR, and CRP are predictors of clinical outcome and could provide additional information to individualize treatment.

C-reactive protein is a predictor of prognosis in renal cell carcinoma patients receiving tyrosine kinase inhibitors: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The prognostic value of C-reactive protein (CRP) in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patients receiving tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) has been investigated in previous studies; however, the results remain inconclusive. This study investigated the prognostic value of pretreatment CRP in patients with metastatic RCC treated with TKIs.

METHODS

PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases were searched for studies investigating the relationships between pretreatment CRP and prognosis in patients with metastatic RCC. Hazard ratios (HRs) for overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were extracted from eligible studies. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I² value. The fixed-effects model was used if there was no evidence of heterogeneity; otherwise, the random-effects model was used. Publication bias was evaluated using Begg's funnel plots and Egger's regression test.

RESULTS

A total of 1199 patients from nine studies were included in the analysis. The results showed that an elevated CRP level was an effective prognostic marker of both OS (pooled HR=2.87, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.34-3.54, p<0.001) and PFS (pooled HR=2.39, 95% CI: 1.75-3.26, p<0.001). Subgroup analysis revealed that an elevated CRP level significantly predicted poor OS and PFS in studies conducted in Japan (OS, pooled HR=3.03, 95% CI: 2.29-4.01, p<0.001; PFS, pooled HR=3.6, 95% CI: 1.62-8.0, p=0.002), and in cut-off value of CRP <0.8 (OS, pooled HR=2.93, 95% CI: 2.21-3.88, p<0.001; PFS, pooled HR=2.57, 95% CI: 1.82-3.65, p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that an elevated CRP level is correlated with poor prognosis in patients with metastatic RCC receiving TKIs treatment.

Effect of ABO blood type on the outcomes of patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma treated with first-line tyrosine kinase inhibitors

OBJECTIVES

To assess the effect of blood type on survival outcomes and adverse events (AEs) in patients treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients who received TKIs as first-line therapy for mRCC between 2008 and 2015 at our hospital were included in the study (n = 136). Patients were divided into 2 groups based on their blood type as O and non-O. Survival outcomes and AEs were compared according to blood type. Cox regression models were used for univariate and multivariate survival analyses.

RESULTS

Of the 136 patients, 34 (25%) and 102 (75%) had O and non-O blood types, respectively. Blood type O was associated with an increased number of disease sites. There were no differences between the 2 groups with respect to other baseline characteristics. The progression-free survival in patients with O and non-O blood types was 12.1 and 11.6 months, respectively; the overall survival was 34.4 and 24.8 months, respectively. On univariate and multivariate analyses, the ABO blood type was not a significant prognostic factor for progression-free survival or overall survival. Furthermore, the incidences of serious AEs were similar in the 2 blood groups.

CONCLUSIONS

ABO blood type was not associated with survival outcomes or incidences of serious AEs in mRCC patients treated with TKIs. However, blood type O may be associated with an increased number of disease sites.

Overall survival of first-line axitinib in metastatic renal cell carcinoma: Japanese subgroup analysis from phase II study

Subgroup analyses of a randomized global phase II study of axitinib showed objective response rate of 66% and median progression-free survival of 27.6 months in treatment-naïve Japanese patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC). This analysis evaluated overall survival (OS) and safety in 44 Japanese patients and compared the results with 169 non-Japanese patients. In addition, baseline characteristics for predictive factors that may influence OS in first-line metastatic RCC were explored in all patients using a Cox proportional hazard model. With median follow-up of 33 months, fewer than half (16 of 44) of the Japanese patients had died and median OS was not reached (95% confidence interval [CI], 38.8 months-not estimable), whereas 107 of 169 (63%) non-Japanese patients had died and median OS was 33.9 months (95% CI, 28.9-42.7). Estimated 1-year, 2-year and 3-year survival probability (95% CI) was 86.4% (76.2-96.5), 75.0% (62.2-87.8) and 68.2% (54.4-81.9), respectively, in Japanese patients, and was higher than that in non-Japanese patients (75.1% [68.4-81.8], 62.1% [54.5-69.7] and 47.2% [39.3-55.1], respectively). The updated safety analysis did not reveal any new adverse events of concern among Japanese or non-Japanese patients. The multivariate analysis identified that lower baseline Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status, lower baseline tumor burden, and longer time from histopathological diagnosis to treatment were significant positive predictors of OS. The current analysis confirmed the clinical activity of axitinib in treatment-naïve Japanese patients with metastatic RCC, with an acceptable toxicity profile.

Pharmacotherapies for renal cell carcinoma in Japan

The standard treatment for advanced renal cell carcinoma has changed dramatically in the past decade, from cytokine therapy to targeted therapy. Since sorafenib was approved in April 2008, four tyrosine kinase inhibitors and two mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors have become available in Japan. Most Japanese renal cell carcinoma patients are treated by urologists who are involved in not only kidney surgeries, but also targeted therapy using tyrosine kinase inhibitors, as well as mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors. Optimal treatment methods are selected from theoretically-based global recommendations, such as the National Comprehensive Cancer Network and European Society for Medical Oncology guidelines; however, real-world clinical practice might be different from that in non-Asian countries. This might be because of different practical conditions; for example, different adverse events and efficacy profiles, different healthcare system, and so on. In the present review, we examine current pharmacotherapy for renal cell carcinoma from evidence-based global data, and compare the reality of Japanese clinical practice to explore the importance of individualized patient therapy.