Prognosis of Incidental Brain Metastases in Patients With Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma

European Association of Urology Guidelines on Renal Cell Carcinoma: The 2025 Update

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

The European Association of Urology (EAU) renal cell carcinoma (RCC) guideline panel has updated their evidence-based guidelines and recommendations for the management of RCC. Here we present a summary of the 2025 RCC guidelines updated with standardised methodology to provide reproducible evidence for the management of RCC.

METHODS

For the 2025 update, a literature search was performed covering the period from May 1, 2023 to May 1, 2024 using the Medline, EMBASE, and Cochrane Libraries. The data search focused on meta-analyses, systematic reviews, randomised controlled trials (RCTs), and retrospective or controlled comparator-arm studies. Evidence was synthesised as outlined for all EAU guidelines.

KEY FINDINGS AND LIMITATIONS

Clinical practise recommendations were updated in all chapters of the RCC guidelines on the basis of a structured literature search. The studies included were predominantly retrospective with matched or unmatched cohorts based on single- or multi-institutional data. Several prospective studies and RCTs provided data that resulted in recommendations based on higher levels of evidence. Specifically, updates include new recommendations on stereotactic body radiotherapy for localised RCC, adjuvant therapy, systemic therapy for clear-cell RCC in later lines, other subtypes, and a new chapter on hereditary RCC.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

The 2025 RCC guidelines have been updated by a multidisciplinary panel of experts using methodological standards to provide a contemporary evidence base for the management of RCC.

The development of brain metastases in patients with different therapeutic strategies for metastatic renal cell cancer

A diagnosis of brain metastasis (BM) significantly affects quality of life in patients with metastatic renal cell cancer (mRCC). Although systemic treatments have shown efficacy in mRCC, active surveillance (AS) is still commonly used in clinical practice. In this single-center cohort study, we assessed the impact of different initial treatment strategies for metastatic RCC (mRCC) on the development of BM. All consecutive patients diagnosed with mRCC between 2011 and 2022 were included at the Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, the Netherlands, and a subgroup of patients with BM was selected. In total, 381 patients with mRCC (ECM, BM, or both) were identified. Forty-six patients had BM of whom 39 had metachronous BM (diagnosed ≥1 month after ECM). Twenty-five (64.1%) of these 39 patients with metachronous BM had received prior systemic treatment for ECM and 14 (35.9%) patients were treatment naive at BM diagnosis. The median BM-free survival since ECM diagnosis was significantly longer (p = .02) in previously treated patients (29.0 [IQR 12.6-57.0] months) compared to treatment naive patients (6.8 [IQR 1.0-7.0] months). In conclusion, patients with mRCC who received systemic treatment for ECM prior to BM diagnosis had a longer BM-free survival as compared to treatment naïve patients. These results emphasize the need for careful evaluation of treatment strategies, and especially AS, for patients with mRCC.

Imaging Recommendations for Diagnosis, Staging, and Management of Central Nervous System Neoplasms in Adults: CNS Metastases

Brain metastases (BMs) are the most common central nervous system (CNS) neoplasms, with an increasing incidence that is due in part to an overall increase in primary cancers, improved neuroimaging modalities leading to increased detection, better systemic therapies, and longer patient survival.

OBJECTIVE

To identify cancer patients at a higher risk of developing CNS metastases and to evaluate associated prognostic factors.

METHODS

Review of imaging referral guidelines, response criteria, interval imaging assessment, modality of choice, as well as the association of clinical, serological, and imaging findings as per various cancer societies.

RESULTS

Quantitative response assessment of target and non-target brain metastases as well as an interval imaging protocol set up based on primary histological diagnosis and therapy status are discussed as per various cancer societies and imaging programs.

CONCLUSION

Predictive factors in the primary tumor as well as independent variables of brain metastases like size, number, and response to therapy are necessary in management. The location of CNS metastases, symptomatic disease, as well as follow up imaging findings form a skeletal plan to prognosticate the disease, keeping in mind all the available new advanced therapy options of surgery, radiation, and immunotherapy that improve patient outcome significantly.

Fatal tumoral hemorrhage from brain metastases of renal cell carcinoma after stereotactic radiotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibitor and vascular endothelial growth factor-targeted therapy combinations

Introduction

Brain metastasis in renal cell carcinoma, which is reported in 10% of cases, leads to significant morbidity and mortality. Establishment of appropriate and safe treatment for brain metastasis renal cell carcinoma remains a pressing need.

Case presentation

A 56-year-old female patient, presenting with anorexia, headache, and occipital swelling, was subsequently diagnosed with clear cell renal cell carcinoma with multiple metastases, including intracranial and epicranial tumors. The patient initially underwent stereotactic radiotherapy for metastatic brain tumors and then received combination therapy with pembrolizumab and lenvatinib. However, after 30 days of treatment, the patient experienced a sudden loss of consciousness due to massive multifocal intracranial hemorrhage, leading to her death the following day.

Conclusion

Although fatal tumoral hemorrhage during combined stereotactic radiotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibitor/VEGF-targeted therapy for patients with brain metastasis renal cell carcinoma is an extremely rare complication, it should always be considered a possibility.

Tumor-to-Tumor Metastasis of Lung Cancer to Kidney Cancer: A Review of the Literature and Our Experience

Tumor-to-tumor metastasis (TTM) is a rare phenomenon documented in patients with multiple primary cancers. This condition is defined as a metastasis between two true primary tumors. The most frequently reported recipient tumor is renal cell carcinoma (RCC), and the lung carcinomas are the most common metastatic tumor donors. Therefore, this paper attempts to address the current gap in knowledge about this rare phenomenon. The first part of this review outlines the recently proposed models and mechanisms involved in the TTM process. The second part then summarizes and analyzes previous case reports in the literature. We also present our experience with the case of lung cancer that metastasized into RCC. Given the sporadic incidence of TTM, no specific management guidelines exist. Therefore, considering TTM in patients with multiple primary tumors is important as it could potentially modify the oncological management offered.

The Diagnosis and Treatment Approach for Oligo-Recurrent and Oligo-Progressive Renal Cell Carcinoma

One-third of renal cell carcinomas (RCCs) without metastases develop metastatic disease after extirpative surgery for the primary tumors. The majority of metastatic RCC cases, along with treated primary lesions, involve limited lesions termed "oligo-recurrent" disease. The role of metastasis-directed therapy (MDT), including stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) and metastasectomy, in the treatment of oligo-recurrent RCC has evolved. Although the surgical resection of all lesions alone can have a curative intent, SBRT is a valuable treatment option, especially for patients concurrently receiving systemic therapy. Contemporary immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) combination therapies remain central to the management of metastatic RCC. However, one objective of MDT is to delay the initiation of systemic therapies, thereby sparing patients from potentially unnecessary burdens. Undertaking MDT for cases showing progression under systemic therapies, known as "oligo-progression", can be complex in considering the treatment approach. Its efficacy may be diminished compared to patients with stable disease. SBRT combined with ICI can be a promising treatment for these cases because radiation therapy has been shown to affect the tumor microenvironment and areas beyond the irradiated sites. This may enhance the efficacy of ICIs, although their efficacy has only been demonstrated in clinical trials.

Metastases to the pituitary gland: insights from the German pituitary tumor registry

Metastatic involvement of the pituitary gland is a rare but clinically significant phenomenon, that often poses diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. The aim of this study was to provide a comprehensive analysis of the origin of pituitary metastases using data from the German Pituitary Tumor Registry, one of the globally largest collections of pituitary pathology specimens. Here, we report data from a retrospective analysis of patients with metastases to the pituitary registered between 1990 and 2022. Out of 17,896 pituitary cases in the registry during this period, a total of 96 metastases to the pituitary gland were identified, accounting for 0.5% of all pituitary tumors in the registry. The mean age of the patients was 64 years. Breast cancer was identified as the primary tumor in 25% of total cases (n = 24/96) and in 50% of female patients. The second most prevalent primary tumor was lung cancer (18.75%, n = 18/96), followed by renal cell carcinoma (14.58%, n = 14/96). In comparison to current meta-analyses, this cohort shows a higher prevalence of metastases originating from the kidney. Furthermore, in contrast to the existing literature, no case of primary thyroid tumor was identified. Our study highlights the importance of pituitary metastases as a differential diagnosis in patients presenting with pituitary tumors.

A Neurosurgical Perspective on Brain Metastases from Renal Cell Carcinoma: Multi-Institutional, Retrospective Analysis

BACKGROUND

While acknowledging the generally poor prognostic features of brain metastases from renal cell carcinoma (BM RCC), it is important to be aware of the fact that neurosurgery still plays a vital role in managing this disease, even though we have entered an era of targeted therapies. Notwithstanding their initial high effectiveness, these agents often fail, as tumors develop resistance or relapse.

METHODS

The authors of this study aimed to evaluate patients presenting with BM RCC and their outcomes after being treated in the Neurosurgical Department of Clinical Emergency Hospital "Bagdasar-Arseni", and the Neurosurgical Department of the National Institute of Neurology and Neurovascular Diseases, Bucharest, Romania. The study is based on a thorough appraisal of the patient's demographic and clinicopathological data and is focused on the strategic role of neurosurgery in BM RCC.

RESULTS

A total of 24 patients were identified with BM RCC, of whom 91.6% had clear-cell RCC (ccRCC) and 37.5% had a prior nephrectomy. Only 29.1% of patients harbored extracranial metastases, while 83.3% had a single BM RCC. A total of 29.1% of patients were given systemic therapy. Neurosurgical resection of the BM was performed in 23 out of 24 patients. Survival rates were prolonged in patients who underwent nephrectomy, in patients who received systemic therapy, and in patients with a single BM RCC. Furthermore, higher levels of hemoglobin were associated in our study with a higher number of BMs.

CONCLUSION

Neurosurgery is still a cornerstone in the treatment of symptomatic BM RCC. Among the numerous advantages of neurosurgical intervention, the most important is represented by the quick reversal of neurological manifestations, which in most cases can be life-saving.

Effectiveness of immune checkpoint inhibitors in combination with stereotactic radiosurgery for patients with brain metastases from renal cell carcinoma: inverse probability of treatment weighting using propensity scores

OBJECTIVE

Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is the mainstay for treating brain metastases (BMs) from renal cell carcinoma (RCC). In recent years, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have been applied to metastatic RCC and have contributed to improved outcomes. The authors investigated whether SRS with concurrent ICIs for RCC BM prolongs overall survival (OS) and improves intracranial disease control and whether there are any safety concerns.

METHODS

Patients who underwent SRS for RCC BMs at the authors' institution between January 2010 and January 2021 were included. Concurrent use of ICIs was defined as no more than 3 months between SRS and ICI administration. The time-to-event analysis of OS and intracranial progression-free survival (IC-PFS) between the groups with and without ICIs (ICI+SRS and SRS, respectively) was performed using inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) based on propensity scores (PSs) to control for selection bias. Four baseline covariates (Karnofsky Performance Scale score, extracranial metastases, hemoglobin, and number of BMs) were selected to calculate PSs.

RESULTS

In total, 57 patients with 147 RCC BMs were eligible. The median OS for all patients was 9.1 months (95% CI 6.0-18.9 months), and the median IC-PFS was 4.4 months (95% CI 3.1-6.8 months). Twelve patients (21%) received concurrent ICIs. The IPTW-adjusted 1-year OS rates in the ICI+SRS and SRS groups were 66% and 38%, respectively (HR 0.30, 95% C 0.13-0.69; p = 0.005), and the IPTW-adjusted 1-year IC-PFS rates were 52% and 16%, respectively (HR 0.30, 95% CI 0.14-0.62; p = 0.001). Severe tumor hemorrhage (Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events [CTCAE] grade 4 or 5) occurred immediately after SRS in 2 patients in the SRS group. CTCAE grade 2 or 3 toxicity was observed in 2 patients in the ICI+SRS group and 5 patients in the SRS group.

CONCLUSIONS

Although the patient number was small and the analysis preliminary, the present study found that SRS with concurrent ICIs for RCC BM patients prolonged survival and provided durable intracranial disease control, with no apparent increase in treatment-related adverse events.

ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Staging of Renal Cell Carcinoma: 2022 Update

Renal cell carcinoma is a complex group of highly heterogenous renal tumors demonstrating variable biological behavior. Pretreatment imaging of renal cell carcinoma involves accurate assessment of the primary tumor, presence of nodal, and distant metastases. CT and MRI are the key imaging modalities used in the staging of renal cell carcinoma. Important imaging features that impact treatment include tumor extension into renal sinus and perinephric fat, involvement of pelvicalyceal system, infiltration into adrenal gland, involvement of renal vein and inferior vena cava, as well as the presence of metastatic adenopathy and distant metastases. The American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria are evidence-based guidelines for specific clinical conditions that are reviewed annually by a multidisciplinary expert panel. The guideline development and revision process support the systematic analysis of the medical literature from peer reviewed journals. Established methodology principles such as Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation or GRADE are adapted to evaluate the evidence. The RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method User Manual provides the methodology to determine the appropriateness of imaging and treatment procedures for specific clinical scenarios. In those instances where peer reviewed literature is lacking or equivocal, experts may be the primary evidentiary source available to formulate a recommendation.

Evaluating the impact of early identification of asymptomatic brain metastases in metastatic renal cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Brain metastases (BM) in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) have been reported to be present in up to 25% of patients diagnosed with mRCC. There is limited published literature evaluating the role of routine intra-cranial imaging for the screening of asymptomatic BM in mRCC.

AIMS

To evaluate the potential utility of routine intra-cranial imaging, a retrospective cohort study was conducted to characterize the outcomes of mRCC patients who presented with asymptomatic BM, as compared to symptomatic BM.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The Canadian Kidney Cancer Information System (CKCis) database was used to identify mRCC patients diagnosed with BM. This cohort was divided into two groups based on the presence or absence of BM symptoms. Details regarding patient demographics, disease characteristics, systemic treatments, BM characteristics and survival outcomes were extracted. Statistical analysis was through chi-square tests, analysis of variance, and Kaplan-Meier method to characterize survival outcomes. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant for all analyses. A total of 267 mRCC patients with BM were identified of which 106 (40%) presented with asymptomatic disease. The majority of patients presented with multiple (i.e., >1) BM (75%) with no significant differences noted in number of BM or BM-directed therapy received in symptomatic, as compared to asymptomatic BM patients. Median [95% confidence interval (CI)] overall survival (OS) from mRCC diagnosis was 42 months (95% CI: 32-62) for patients with asymptomatic BM, and 39 months (95% CI: 29-48) with symptomatic BM (p = 0.10). OS from time of BM diagnosis was 28 months (95% CI: 18-42) for the asymptomatic BM group, as compared to 13 months (95% CI: 10-21) in the symptomatic BM group (p = 0.04).

CONCLUSIONS

Given a substantial proportion of patients may present with asymptomatic BM, limiting intra-cranial imaging to patients with symptomatic BM, may be associated with a missed opportunity for timely diagnosis and treatment. The utility of routine intra-cranial imaging in patients with renal cell carcinoma, warrants further prospective evaluation.

Nanoparticles in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer metastases: Current and future perspectives

Metastasis accounts for greater than 90% of cancer-related deaths. Despite recent advancements in conventional chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and their rational combinations, metastatic cancers remain essentially untreatable. The distinct obstacles to treat metastases include their small size, high multiplicity, redundancy, therapeutic resistance, and dissemination to multiple organs. Recent advancements in nanotechnology provide the numerous applications in the diagnosis and prophylaxis of metastatic diseases, including the small particle size to penetrate cell membrane and blood vessels and their capacity to transport complex molecular 'cargo' particles to various metastatic regions such as bones, brain, liver, lungs, and lymph nodes. Indeed, nanoparticles (NPs) have demonstrated a significant ability to target specific cells within these organs. In this regard, the purpose of this review is to summarize the present state of nanotechnology in terms of its application in the diagnosis and treatment of metastatic cancer. We intensively reviewed applications of NPs in fluorescent imaging, PET scanning, MRI, and photoacoustic imaging to detect metastasis in various cancer models. The use of targeted NPs for cancer ablation in conjunction with chemotherapy, photothermal treatment, immuno therapy, and combination therapy is thoroughly discussed. The current review also highlights the research opportunities and challenges of leveraging engineering technologies with cancer cell biology and pharmacology to fabricate nanoscience-based tools for treating metastases.

Imaging Recommendations for Diagnosis, Staging, and Management of Renal Tumors

Renal cell carcinomas accounts for 2% of all the cancers globally. Most of the renal tumors are detected incidentally. Ultrasound remains the main screening modality to evaluate the renal masses. A multi -phase contrast enhanced computer tomography is must for characterizing the renal lesions. Imaging plays an important role in staging, treatment planning and follow up of renal cancers. In this review , we discuss the imaging guidelines for the management of renal tumors.

Supratentorial Collision Tumor of Hemangioblastoma and Metastatic Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma in a Patient with von Hippel-Lindau Disease

Collision tumors are rarely reported in patients with von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease, even though VHL patients often present with multi-organ tumor syndromes, like hemangioblastoma and renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Hemangioblastoma is rarely located in a supratentorial location, and intracranial lateral ventricular is also not a common site of metastasis for RCC. It is extremely rare for the two tumors to collide in the supratentorial area. We report a 64-year-old man with a history of clear cell RCC who presented with a sudden headache. The brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed that there was a cystic-solid mass in the intracranial lateral ventricular trigone. Histopathologically, the tumor consisted of two distinct components, most of which showed the typical morphology of hemangioblastoma. However, there were a few acinar structures composed of clear cells scattered in hemangioblastoma, and these acinar structures were subsequently confirmed as clear cell RCC. The genetic testing confirmed that the patient had VHL disease with de novo somatic mutation. Based on our case report, we systematically reviewed the characteristics of collision tumor composed of hemangioblastoma and metastatic RCC in VHL patients. The special growth site of our case is the first report of this kind of collision tumor, and can also help enrich our understanding of VHL disease and collision tumor.

Outcomes and prognostic factors in metastatic renal cell carcinoma patients with brain metastases

BACKGROUND

To evaluate the outcomes and prognostic factors in patients with brain metastatic renal cell carcinoma (bmRCC).

METHODS

The data of 322 patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma, taken between 2012 and 2020, were retrospectively reviewed. Overall survival (OS) and prognostic factors were evaluated with Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox regression analysis.

RESULTS

Forty (12.4%) of the patients had bmRCC. Seventeen (42.5%) of the patients were de novo metastatic, and nine (22.5%) of the patients had brain metastases at presentation. Twenty-four (60%) patients previously had received various therapies (tyrosine kinase inhibitor or checkpoint inhibitors). After brain metastases developed, 35 (87.5%) of the patients received brain radiotherapy (whole-brain radiotherapy or stereotactic radiosurgery), and twenty-five (62.5%) patients received different systemic therapies. Nine patients received sunitinib, nine received pazopanib, five received nivolumab, and two received axitinib. The median OS was 8.8 months (range: 2.9-14.6) for all patients with bmRCC. In univariate analysis, the number of brain metastasis (P = 0.35), the site of brain metastasis (left, right or bilateral) (P = 0.79), the largest size of brain metastasis (P = 0.45), the number of extracranial metastatic sites (P = 0.81), de novo metastatic disease (P = 0.17), primary tumor site (left or right) (P = 0.90), and tumor grade (P = 0.09) were not statistically significant factors on OS. However, age (P = 0.02), a history of nephrectomy (P < 0.001), receiving brain radiotherapy (P = 0.005), and type of systemic treatment (P = 0.04) were statistically significant. Only, the effect of brain radiotherapy on OS (P = 0.01) was confirmed in multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, we observed that the prognosis of patients with bmRCC was poor. Despite a small number of patients, we detected that the effect of tyrosine kinase inhibitors and nivolumab was comparable, and receiving brain radiotherapy was a prognostic factor for OS.

A Retrospective Study of Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Patients With Brain Metastases

Metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) involving the central nervous system is currently an excluded subgroup of patients in the systemic treatment; for this reason, there is no solid data to support the efficacy of therapies in this subgroup. That is why it is important to describe real-life experiences in order to know if there is a special change in clinical behavior or treatment response in these kinds of patients. Patients and methods A retrospective review was performed to characterize mRCC patients diagnosed with brain metastases (BrM) during treatment at the National Institute of Cancerology of Bogota, Colombia. Descriptive statistics and time-to-event methods are used to evaluate the cohort. For the descriptive measures of quantitative variables, the mean with standard deviation was taken, and the minimum and maximum values were reported. In the case of qualitative variables, absolute and relative frequencies were used. The software used was R - Project v4.1.2 (R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria). Results A total of 16 patients were included with mRCC between January 2017 to August 2022 with a median 35.1-month follow-up, 4/16 (25%) were diagnosed with BrM at the time of screening and 12/16 (75%) during treatment. The International Metastatic RCC Database Consortium risk (IMDC) was favorable for 12.5%, intermediate for 43.7%, and poor for 25%, and not classified for 18.8%, BrM involvement was multifocal in 50% of the population and localized, brain-directed therapy was done in 43.7% of patients, predominantly palliative radiotherapy. Median overall survival (OS) for all the patients regardless of the time of metastatic presentation of the disease in the central nervous system was 53.5 months (0-70.3), and OS for cases with central nervous system involvement was 10.9 months. IMDC risk did not correlate with survival (log-rank, p=0.67). The OS for the subgroup of patients who debut with metastatic disease in the central nervous system is different from the group that developed metastasis in the progression of their disease (OS of 42 vs 3.6 months, respectively). Conclusions This is the largest descriptive study in Latin America and the second in the world from one institution that admits patients with metastasic renal cell carcinoma and central nervous system metastasis. In these kinds of patients with metastatic disease or progression to the central nervous system, there is a hypothesis that shows more aggressive clinical behavior. There is limited data on locoregional intervention to metastatic disease in the nervous system drastically, but trends show this could impact overall survival outcomes.

Safety and efficacy of nivolumab plus ipilimumab in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma with brain metastases: CheckMate 920

BACKGROUND

Nivolumab plus ipilimumab (NIVO + IPI) has demonstrated long-term efficacy and safety in patients with previously untreated, advanced renal cell carcinoma (aRCC). Although most phase 3 clinical trials exclude patients with brain metastases, the ongoing, multicohort phase 3b/4 CheckMate 920 trial (ClincalTrials.gov identifier NCT02982954) evaluated the safety and efficacy of NIVO + IPI in a cohort that included patients with aRCC and brain metastases, as reported here.

METHODS

Patients with previously untreated aRCC and asymptomatic brain metastases received NIVO 3 mg/kg plus IPI 1 mg/kg every 3 weeks × 4 followed by NIVO 480 mg every 4 weeks. The primary end point was the incidence of grade ≥3 immune-mediated adverse events (imAEs) within 100 days of the last dose of study drug. Key secondary end points were progression-free survival and the objective response rate according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors, version 1.1 (both determined by the investigator). Exploratory end points included overall survival, among others.

RESULTS

After a minimum follow-up of 24.5 months (N = 28), no grade 5 imAEs occurred. The most common grade 3 and 4 imAEs were diarrhea/colitis (n = 2; 7%) and hypophysitis, rash, hepatitis, and diabetes mellitus (n = 1 each; 4%). The objective response rate was 32% (95% CI, 14.9%-53.5%) with a median duration of response of 24.0 months; 4 of 8 responders remained without reported progression. Seven patients (25%) had intracranial progression. The median progression-free survival was 9.0 months (95% CI, 2.9-12.0 months), and the median overall survival was not reached (95% CI, 14.1 months to not estimable).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients who had previously untreated aRCC and brain metastases-a population with a high unmet medical need that often is underrepresented in clinical trials-the approved regimen of NIVO + IPI followed by NIVO showed encouraging antitumor activity and no new safety signals.

Clinical Activity and Safety of Cabozantinib for Brain Metastases in Patients With Renal Cell Carcinoma

Importance

Patients with brain metastases from renal cell carcinoma (RCC) have been underrepresented in clinical trials, and effective systemic therapy is lacking. Cabozantinib shows robust clinical activity in metastatic RCC, but its effect on brain metastases remains unclear.

Objective

To assess the clinical activity and toxic effects of cabozantinib to treat brain metastases in patients with metastatic RCC.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This retrospective cohort study included patients with metastatic RCC and brain metastases treated in 15 international institutions (US, Belgium, France, and Spain) between January 2014 and October 2020. Cohort A comprised patients with progressing brain metastases without concomitant brain-directed local therapy, and cohort B comprised patients with stable or progressing brain metastases concomitantly treated by brain-directed local therapy.

Exposures

Receipt of cabozantinib monotherapy at any line of treatment.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Intracranial radiological response rate by modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors, version 1.1, and toxic effects of cabozantinib.

Results

Of the 88 patients with brain metastases from RCC included in the study, 33 (38%) were in cohort A and 55 (62%) were in cohort B; the majority of patients were men (n = 69; 78%), and the median age at cabozantinib initiation was 61 years (range, 34-81 years). Median follow-up was 17 months (range, 2-74 months). The intracranial response rate was 55% (95% CI, 36%-73%) and 47% (95% CI, 33%-61%) in cohorts A and B, respectively. In cohort A, the extracranial response rate was 48% (95% CI, 31%-66%), median time to treatment failure was 8.9 months (95% CI, 5.9-12.3 months), and median overall survival was 15 months (95% CI, 9.0-30.0 months). In cohort B, the extracranial response rate was 38% (95% CI, 25%-52%), time to treatment failure was 9.7 months (95% CI, 6.0-13.2 months), and median overall survival was 16 months (95% CI, 12.0-21.9 months). Cabozantinib was well tolerated, with no unexpected toxic effects or neurological adverse events reported. No treatment-related deaths were observed.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this cohort study, cabozantinib showed considerable intracranial activity and an acceptable safety profile in patients with RCC and brain metastases. Support of prospective studies evaluating the efficacy of cabozantinib for brain metastases in patients with RCC is critical.

Clinical outcomes in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma and brain metastasis treated with ipilimumab and nivolumab

The combination of ipilimumab plus nivolumab (I+N) has greatly improved outcomes in patients with intermediate or poor-risk untreated metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). However, little is known about the outcomes of patients with brain metastasis (BrM) treated with I+N. A search was performed to retrospectively identify all patients with mRCC treated with I+N in the Duke Cancer Institute and the Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Center, followed by a chart review. Patients were included if they had BrM at the time of I+N initiation. Cohort characteristics are summarized with descriptive statistics. Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate overall survival (OS) and global, intracranial, and extracranial progression-free survival (PFS) for the cohort and log rank test was used to compare OS and PFS between patient groups. Radiographic response was categorized by RECIST. Fisher’s exact test was used to correlate patient factors with radiographic response. From October 2017 to December 2020, 19 patients with BrM received I+N for mRCC with a median follow-up time of 27.1 months (range 15.0–35.6). By International Metastatic RCC Database Consortium (IMDC) risk criteria, 16% had favorable, 58% had intermediate, and 26% had poor-risk disease. 68% were systemic therapy naïve, and 77% of patients had clear cell histology. 95% had received local CNS directed therapy with surgery, radiotherapy, or both. The objective response rate was 44% (0% complete response) with three of six patients treated in the second line or greater setting experiencing a partial response. The median PFS was 7.6 months (95% CI 5.6 to 14.9). The median extracranial PFS was 8.5 months (95% CI 5.6 to 19.7), and median intracranial PFS was 14.7 months (95% CI 7.2 to not reached). No variables assessed were significantly associated with radiographic response (gender, IMDC risk, presence of bone metastasis, line of therapy, or presence of immune related adverse events). In our retrospective cohort of patients with mRCC with BrM, I+N, in combination with CNS-directed local therapy, appears to have clinical efficacy as previously described with responses seen beyond the first-line setting. Further investigation is warranted in this population given exclusion from prior clinical trials.

Multidiscipline Immunotherapy-Based Rational Combinations for Robust and Durable Efficacy in Brain Metastases from Renal Cell Carcinoma

Advanced imaging techniques for diagnosis have increased awareness on the benefits of brain screening, facilitated effective control of extracranial disease, and prolonged life expectancy of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) patients. Brain metastasis (BM) in patients with mRCC (RCC-BM) is associated with grave prognoses, a high degree of morbidity, dedicated assessment, and unresponsiveness to conventional systemic therapeutics. The therapeutic landscape of RCC-BM is rapidly changing; however, survival outcomes remain poor despite standard surgery and radiation, highlighting the unmet medical needs and the requisite for advancement in systemic therapies. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are one of the most promising strategies to treat RCC-BM. Understanding the role of brain-specific tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) is important for developing rationale-driven ICI-based combination strategies that circumvent tumor intrinsic and extrinsic factors and complex positive feedback loops associated with resistance to ICIs in RCC-BM via combination with ICIs involving other immunological pathways, anti-antiangiogenic multiple tyrosine kinase inhibitors, and radiotherapy; therefore, novel combination approaches are being developed for synergistic potential against RCC-BM; however, further prospective investigations with longer follow-up periods are required to improve the efficacy and safety of combination treatments and to elucidate dynamic predictive biomarkers depending on the interactions in the brain TIME.