Perioperative immunotherapy for renal cell carcinoma: looking beyond the data

The first phase III trial to test perioperative immune-checkpoint inhibitor therapy for high-risk renal cell carcinoma yielded highly promising results, leading to regulatory approvals of adjuvant pembrolizumab. However, subsequent phase III trials, including the IMmotion010 trial of adjuvant atezolizumab, did not demonstrate similar benefits. Although molecular biomarkers are urgently needed to better delineate responder subgroups, the unique design of each trial might partially explain some of the patterns identified.

Automated summary

The first phase III trial of perioperative immune-checkpoint inhibitor therapy for high-risk renal cell carcinoma showed promising results, leading to regulatory approvals. However, subsequent trials did not demonstrate similar benefits, and the unique design of each trial might explain some of the patterns identified.