“It’s a great day for kidney cancer patients,” he said of the two trials.
Dr. Sternberg commented, “This is a new treatment option for second or later-line therapy.”
Both Dr. Sharma and Dr. Choueiri noted that combination therapy is the next logical step, with studies already underway that combine immuotherapies with standard agents.
As for how best to sequence the two therapies in RCC, Dr. Sharma sided with nivolumab because overall survival is the “gold standard.” Dr. Choueiri said the overall survival with nivolumab was “striking,” but that more time is needed to determine the true overall survival benefit with cabozantinib since only about 49% of events have been reported. Factors such as patient preference, oral vs. intravenous administration, and cost will also play a role in the decision, he said, adding, “It’s an embarrassment of riches for patients.”
Press briefing moderator, Dr. Martine Piccart, president of the European CanCer Organization, said she shared the excitement over the phase III results, but stressed that many countries will be unable to afford the medications.
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