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Updated: May 30, 2026
12:22
The Use of Reverse Phase Protein Arrays (RPPA) to Explore Protein Expression Variation within Individual Renal Cell Cancers
Published on: January 22, 2013
Targeted therapy in renal cancer
Tanya B Dorff1, Amir Goldkorn, David I Quinn
1Assistant Professors of Medicine, Kenneth J. Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Section of Genitourinary Medical Oncology, Division of Cancer Medicine and Blood Diseases, University of Southern California, Los Angeles CA, USA.
Therapeutic Advances in Medical Oncology
|July 27, 2011
Summary
New targeted therapies have doubled progression-free survival for advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patients. These treatments, including sorafenib and sunitinib, offer significant clinical benefit with manageable side effects.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) incidence is rising globally, with historically limited treatment options.
- Advances in understanding RCC molecular underpinnings, such as VHL gene mutations, have improved prognostic factor identification.
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) criteria stratify patients into risk categories, predicting survival outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the background, clinical development, and practical application of novel targeted drugs for renal cell carcinoma.
- To highlight the impact of new therapies on progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in advanced RCC.
- To discuss the tolerability and side-effect profiles of these agents in the context of long-term management.
Main Methods:
- Review of well-designed phase III clinical trials for six targeted drugs: sorafenib, sunitinib, temsirolimus, everolimus, bevacizumab, and pazopanib.
- Analysis of data stratified by MSKCC risk criteria to assess efficacy and safety.
- Evaluation of drug mechanisms targeting pathways including VEGF, PDGF, raf kinase, and mTOR.
Main Results:
- All six targeted drugs demonstrated positive results in phase III trials, doubling progression-free survival (PFS) compared to standard care.
- Sorafenib, sunitinib, and temsirolimus showed significant overall survival (OS) benefits; further data is pending for everolimus and pazopanib.
- These therapies are generally well-tolerated, providing clinical benefit to over 70% of patients, often through disease stability rather than radiographic response.
Conclusions:
- Novel targeted therapies represent a significant advancement in managing advanced renal cell carcinoma.
- These drugs offer improved PFS and OS, with a manageable side-effect profile supporting quality of life.
- Careful monitoring is essential to maximize therapeutic exposure while minimizing toxicity in chronic RCC treatment.
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