title: Immunological heterogeneity of the RCC microenvironment: do targeted therapies influence immune response?
abstract: The introduction of targeted agents has substantially improved treatment of metastatic clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC). However, complete responses are rare and therapy is not curative. Moreover, information on the latest generation of potent and selective vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) suggests that a plateau has been reached in terms of efficacy. Recent data reveal that targeted agents are involved in modulating immune responses in RCC. In addition, current research adds to our understanding of how RCC escapes an effective anti-tumor response with the potential to modulate these processes by drug development. This review provides specific insight into targeted therapy induced changes in the immunological microenvironment of RCC, summarizes the available evidence, and discusses potential therapeutic implications.
authors.affiliation: Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Urology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. a.bex@nki.nl
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bex
authors.forename: Tamara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Etto
authors.forename: Florry
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vyth-Dreese
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Blank
authors.forename: Arjan W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Griffioen
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D007155:Immunologic Factors