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Immunotherapy for metastatic renal cell carcinoma: A systematic review
Author(s) -
Peinemann Frank,
Unverzagt Susanne,
Hadjinicolaou Andreas V,
Moldenhauer Ines
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of evidence‐based medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.885
H-Index - 22
ISSN - 1756-5391
DOI - 10.1111/jebm.12362
Subject(s) - ipilimumab , nivolumab , medicine , renal cell carcinoma , immunotherapy , oncology , adverse effect , kidney cancer , randomized controlled trial , clinical trial , pembrolizumab , cancer
Background Various approaches have been developed for the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (MRCC). The objective was to assess the efficacy of immunotherapeutic approaches. Methods We included participants diagnosed with all types of histologically confirmed MRCC, the test intervention was immunotherapy alone or combined with other immunotherapy or targeted therapies, and the study design was restricted to randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Primary outcomes were overall survival, adverse events, and health‐related quality of life. We conducted the last search in March 31, 2018. Results We included nine RCTs, and we established seven different treatment comparisons according to the type of data. Two RCTs favored nivolumab as monotherapy or combined with ipilimumab on account of all primary outcomes. The efficacy data of all other comparisons were either indifferent or favored the control group. Conclusion The immune checkpoint inhibitors nivolumab as monotherapy or combined with ipilimumab appears to be the only new immunotherapy that may improve overall survival in participants with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Interferon‐α alone is unfavorable to targeted therapies with respect to overall survival and adverse events.