Topic: Drug Innovations in Renal Cell Carcinoma Treatment

Over the past three decades, there has been a remarkable transformation in the therapeutic strategies for Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC). The systemic treatment of metastatic RCC (mRCC) has undergone substantial changes, chiefly propelled by the introduction of vascular growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (VEGFR-TKIs), inhibitors of the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTORI), and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). As a result, the median overall survival for individuals with metastatic disease has seen a commendable increase, shifting from less than 1 year in the 1990s to more than 4 years in the last decade. Various immune combinations (combinations of two ICIs or an ICI plus an anti-angiogenic agent) have recently shown significant OS benefits over the previous standard of care. However, most patients with advanced RCC do not have a long-term clinical response to currently available therapies. Therefore, in the years ahead, we should aim for a more comprehensive characterization of RCC patients, taking into account histological, clinical, radiological and genomic aspects, in the pursuit of a hopefully agnostic therapeutic approach. In addition, the identification of new therapeutic targets, especially for mRCC therapeutic lines subsequent to the first one, becomes imperative.

This Special Issue focuses on the latest diagnostic and therapeutic innovations in RCC. The diagnostic and therapeutic implications of new drug breakthroughs, and the increasing role of genomic profiling and artificial intelligence in the prediction of disease course will be addressed. We hope that this Special Issue will provide valuable information and guidance for optimal clinical management and future directions in renal cell carcinoma research.

20 Sep 2024