Evolving Paradigms in the Management and Outcomes of Sarcomatoid Renal Cell Carcinoma in the Era of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors

World J Oncol. 2020 Oct;11(5):183-187. doi: 10.14740/wjon1325. Epub 2020 Oct 15.

Abstract

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a common cancer that affects a significant number of patients every year around the world. The presence of sarcomatoid features in these tumors is considered a poor prognostic feature. Patients with RCC with sarcomatoid features had significantly worse outcomes when treated with sunitinib, the previous first-line standard of care therapy when compared to patients without such features. Multiple immune checkpoint inhibitors have recently been approved for the treatment of RCC. In this article, we review the literature available on the outcomes of patients with sarcomatoid RCC treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Keywords: Immune checkpoint inhibitors; Renal cell carcinoma; Sarcomatoid; Sunitinib.

Publication types

  • Review