Biomarkers in renal cell carcinoma: Are we there yet?

doi:10.1016/j.ajur.2021.05.013

Asian Journal of Urology, 2021, 8 (4): 362-375 doi: 10.1016/j.ajur.2021.05.013

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Biomarkers in renal cell carcinoma: Are we there yet?

Shuchi Gulati^a,*(

),Nicholas J. Vogelzang^b

^a Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Oh, USA
^b Nevada Cancer Research Foundation, Las Vegas, NV, USA

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Abstract

Management of kidney cancer has undergone a paradigm shift with the approval of new therapies over the last two decades. Although these drugs have improved clinical outcomes in patients with kidney cancer, there are still a large number of patients who do not show objective responses. A multitude of investigators, including those for The Cancer Genome Atlas have biologically characterized and sub-classified kidney cancer. However, we have not been able to identify molecular targets to effectively treat patients with kidney cancer. As we familiarize ourselves with newer drugs for patients with kidney cancer, it is important to understand that these drugs may not work in every patient and instead may expose patients to unnecessary toxic effects along with burdening society with the financial impact. As we head toward the era of “precision medicine”, validated biomarkers are being utilized to guide treatment choices and help identify pathways of resistance in other tumor types. The current review aims at evaluating the progress made so far in this realm for patients with kidney cancer.

Key words： Kidney cancer Clear cell Non-clear cell Immunotherapy Biomarkers

Received: 18 November 2020 Available online: 20 October 2021

Corresponding Authors: Shuchi Gulati E-mail: gulatisi@ucmail.uc.edu

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Cite this article:

Shuchi Gulati,Nicholas J. Vogelzang. Biomarkers in renal cell carcinoma: Are we there yet?[J]. Asian Journal of Urology, 2021, 8(4): 362-375.

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http://www.ajurology.com/EN/10.1016/j.ajur.2021.05.013 OR http://www.ajurology.com/EN/Y2021/V8/I4/362

Evolution of treatment landscape for metastatic clear-cell renal cell carcinoma. Drugs shown here are the ones approved by the FDA for use in this setting and recently presented phase III data. HIF-2α, hypoxia inducible factor-2 alpha; IFN, interferon; IL-2, Interleukin-2; TKI, tyrosine kinase inhibitor; VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor.

Phase III clinical trial data from immunotherapy trials to show clinical outcomes by PD-L1 expression status.

Proposed approach to develop an “integrated biomarker” for patients with kidney cancer. IMDC, International Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Database Consortium; PDL1, programmed death ligand-1; MSLCC, the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

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