Conference Coverage

First-line avelumab/axitinib for RCC benefits wide range of patients

Publish date: February 21, 2019

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Comparative studies needed

“For first-line therapy of metastatic clear-cell renal cancer, we now have two regimens that have demonstrated a survival advantage over first-line sunitinib,” Walter M. Stadler, MD, said in an interview. For first-line therapy, there is the combination of nivolumab and ipilimumab in intermediate- and poor-risk patients and also the combination of pembrolizumab and axitinib.

Dr. Walter Stadler

Dr. Walter Stadler

The combination of avelumab and axitinib in JAVELIN Renal 101 “demonstrates a progression free – but not yet an overall survival – advantage. Whether this is due to the immaturity of the data, crossover to immunotherapy in the control group, or a true difference in these regimens remains to be determined. Comparative studies, and studies evaluating less-aggressive dosing regimens for these expensive drugs are needed” he said.

Dr. Stadler is the Fred C. Buffett Professor of Medicine and Surgery, chief of the section of hematology/oncology, director of the genitourinary oncology program, and deputy director of the Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Chicago.


 

REPORTING FROM GUCS 2019


Mean duration of response was more than 4 months longer with the combination than with sunitinib. Moreover, responses were deeper for the combination patients.

In updated safety results, the avelumab/axitinib group had higher rates of any-grade treatment-related diarrhea (54% vs. 45%) and hypothyroidism (24% vs. 13%). But there were few of these adverse events of grade 3 or 4 in either group.

Dr. Choueiri disclosed that he receives honoraria from, has a consulting or advisory role with, and receives institutional research funding from Merck and Pfizer – among other disclosures. The trial was sponsored by Pfizer.

SOURCE: Choueiri TK et al. GUCS 2019, Abstract 544.

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