title: Recent advances in immunotherapy for kidney cancer.
abstract: Immunotherapy has been a mainstay of treatment for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) since the introduction of high-dose interleukin-2. Recently, improved knowledge of immune regulation and tumor-host immune interactions has led to the development of several novel immunotherapies. Immune checkpoint blockade showed promise in early clinical trials -- eventually leading to FDA approval of nivolumab (anti-PD-1) as a second-line treatment for mRCC. Despite encouraging results, PD-1 blockade alone does not achieve durable responses in the majority of patients treated. Improved biomarkers for patient selection, tumor vaccines and combination therapy may augment the efficacy of existing immunotherapies. This review summarizes recent progress in immunotherapy for RCC, focusing on a discussion of emerging agents.
authors.affiliation: The James Buchanan Brady Urological Institute and Department of Urology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
authors.forename: Mark W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Ball
authors.affiliation: The James Buchanan Brady Urological Institute and Department of Urology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
authors.forename: Mohamad E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Allaf
authors.affiliation: The James Buchanan Brady Urological Institute and Department of Urology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.|Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA.
authors.forename: Charles G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Drake
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D019496:Cancer Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D061025:Costimulatory and Inhibitory T-Cell Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D000077594:Nivolumab; D018579:Patient Selection; D061026:Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019496:Cancer Vaccines; D061025:Costimulatory and Inhibitory T-Cell Receptors; C508594:IL2 protein, human; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D007376:Interleukin-2; C105992:PDCD1 protein, human; D061026:Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D000077594:Nivolumab