title: Checkpoint inhibitors for renal cell carcinoma: current landscape and future directions.
abstract: Immunotherapy with checkpoint inhibitors has arrived and begun to change the landscape of clinical oncology, including for patients with renal cell carcinoma. Specifically, drugs targeting the programmed death 1 and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte associated antigen pathways have demonstrated remarkable responses for patients in clinical trials. In this article, we review the most recent available data for immune checkpoint inhibitors for patients with renal cell carcinoma. We discuss potential strategies for rational combination therapies in these patients, some of which are currently being studied, and address important future considerations for use of these novel agents in the years to come.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple Health, 333 Cottman Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zibelman
authors.affiliation: Temple/Fox Chase Hematology Oncology Fellowship Program, Temple University School of Medicine, 3401 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA.
authors.forename: Pooja
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ghatalia
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple Health, 333 Cottman Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA.
authors.forename: Daniel M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Geynisman
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple Health, 333 Cottman Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Plimack
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D060908:CTLA-4 Antigen / Q000276:immunology*; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D061026:Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D060908:CTLA-4 Antigen; C105992:PDCD1 protein, human; D061026:Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor
keywords: VEGF; cytokine; cytotoxic T-lymphocyte associated protein 4; immune checkpoint blockade; immunotherapy; programmed death 1; renal cell carcinoma