Patients diagnosed at early stages, when kidney cancer is still localized, can be treated with surgery and have a favorable five – year survival, but those with metastatic disease, who represent approximately one third of the cases, experience poor outcomes. & nbsp,
Over the past decade, significant progress has been made in systemic therapy for kidney cancer, also known as renal cell cancer. Immune checkpoint inhibitors and angiogenesis inhibitors( a type of cancer therapy that limits the blood supply to the tumor ) have become standard of care for patients with advanced or metastatic disease. & nbsp,
In 2021, the U. S. Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) approved belzutifan ( Welireg ) for the treatment of an inherited form of renal cell carcinoma associated with Von Hippel – Lindau ( VHL ) disease. In these patients, germline mutations in the VHL gene cause unrestrained activity of the hypoxia – inducible factor – 2 alpha( HIF – 2α ) transcription factor, which normally functions as a sensor of low oxygen, leading to constitutive expression of target genes that drive proliferation, invasion, and angiogenesis. Belzutifan is a specific inhibitor of HIF – 2α and was shown to shrink VHL – associated renal cell cancers and other VHL – associated tumors. Studies are evaluating belzutifan in metastatic kidney cancer and in non – familial forms that are not related to VHL disease, as VHL inactivation is also commonly found in sporadic renal cell carcinoma. & nbsp,
The inaugural AACR Special Conference on Advances In Kidney Cancer Research, to be held on June 24 – 27, will bring together basic, translational, and clinical researchers, as well as clinicians, to discuss the latest advances, the challenges, and the future of the field. & nbsp,
We asked M. Celeste Simon, PhD, FAACR, one of the co – chairs of the conference, to provide a preview of the exciting topics that will be presented. Simon is the Arthur H. Rubenstein, MBBCh, Professor and the scientific director of the Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute at the University of Pennsylvania. & nbsp, & nbsp,
The other meeting co – chairs are Othon Iliopoulos, MD, Clinical Director of the von Hippel – Lindau Disease / Familial Renal Cell Cancer Program at Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center and associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, Cheryl Lyn Walker, PhD, director of the Center for Precision Environmental Health and professor in the departments of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Medicine, and Molecular and Human Genetics at Baylor College of Medicine, and Qing Zhang, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Pathology at UT Southwestern Medical Center. & nbsp,
What led to this conference, and what is its purpose? & nbsp,
This gathering was created with the intention of bringing together researchers from all areas of kidney cancer research, including clinicians and basic scientists. We have a long list of speakers who have been invited, including prominent experts in the fields of basic, translational, and clinical research on kidney cancer. Additionally, we have a number of brief talks that were chosen from abstracts provided by young researchers. In addition, & nbsp,
Special conferences offer a great opportunity for scientists to interact and communicate with everyone. I am looking forward to the meeting and think it will be fantastic. & nbsp,
What are some of the program’s highlights, and how does it represent the breadth of kidney cancer research? & nbsp,
The development of new model systems to study kidney cancer, how metabolism shapes the disease and may open up new therapeutic intervention opportunities, clinical trials and how to best develop them, focusing on epigenetics, and the state-of-the-art in the diagnosis and treatment of rare kidney tumors are just a few of the topics that will be covered in sessions. & nbsp,
Peter Ratcliffe, a 2019 Nobel laureate who contributed to illuminating the VHL / HIF pathway that led to the development of the HIF – 2 inhibitor, will give our very first speech, and we’ll learn much more about it during the meeting. We will spend a lot of time discussing the future plans and what this meeting might look like in two years because, in my opinion, it truly combines various topics in the field. In addition, & nbsp,
In the last ten years, how has kidney cancer treatment changed? & nbsp,
One of the success stories of combination immunotherapy and antiangiogenic therapy, or the combination of several immunotherapie approaches, could be kidney cancer. There is still so much room for improvement, though, as only a small percentage of patients respond to these treatments. & nbsp,
The FDA’s approval of a HIF-2 inhibitor for patients with germline VHL mutations, in my opinion, is very exciting. This medication, which is the first of its kind, revolutionizes how this population of patients is treated. I was informed that it would be impossible to drug a significant transcription factor like HIF-2 when I graduated from graduate school. In addition, & nbsp,
What research fields on kidney cancer are the most fascinating? & nbsp,
The fact that kidney cancer is a metabolic disorder has long been recognized. Every aspect of disease progression has a significant metabolic impact on it. It has been questioned whether we will ever be able to treat cancer successfully using metabolic approaches, but I believe we have now shown that this is possible. In addition, & nbsp,
We will talk about how we can combine metabolic approaches with some of the treatments currently being provided to patients at the meeting. Personally, I believe it will be very exciting to see how far we can push the HIF-2 inhibitor and the other metabolic interventions we are attempting. & nbsp,
My team has discovered two new targets that may be applicable to all patients, regardless of their different genetic backgrounds, based on our research on metabolic pathways in kidney cancer. We believe we will discuss some intriguing new directions at the meeting. & nbsp,
How we can advance immunotherapy is another crucial area of research. & nbsp,
What part does immunotherapy play in kidney cancer? & nbsp,
Important details about the biomarkers of response have been revealed by the use of immunotherapy in kidney cancer. The idea that cancers with the highest mutational burden, like melanoma, are more likely to respond to immunotherapy is refuted by the fact that kidney cancer is responsive to immune checkpoint blockade despite having a relatively low tumor mutationality burden. Additionally, researchers have been looking into whether we can use the PD-1 or L1 markers’ expressions as indicators of response. According to data on kidney cancer, this is not always the case. & nbsp,
One of the first cancers for which antiangiogenic therapy and checkpoint blockade have been combined to improve efficacy is kidney cancer. Do these treatments complement one another, or is the advantage an additive effect? At the meeting, I’m hoping to learn more about this. & nbsp,
We are also making progress in our understanding of the most effective way to administer immunotherapy, including whether it is preferable to do so before or after surgery, as a first-line therapy or as an aftereffect. In addition to & nbsp,
The outcomes of a significant number of clinical trials that are currently being conducted should provide us with answers to these questions soon. In addition, & nbsp,
What are some of the difficulties and upcoming developments in this industry? & nbsp,
The biggest obstacle, in my opinion, is disease recurrence. We are working to develop alternative strategies to benefit all patients, regardless of the etiology of their disease, because many patients who initially respond to therapy eventually develop resistance. & nbsp,
There are many different treatment options available, but they can be a little overwhelming until we figure out how to match patients with the ones that will benefit them the most. Finding new ways to classify patients and position them for the therapies that are most likely to help them is a crucial future direction. & nbsp,
The development of more effective treatment options for patients with metastatic disease, which is undoubtedly the most fatal, is another crucial area of research. In addition, & nbsp,
Simon was a former board member of AACR and was awarded the G. H. A. Clowes Award for Outstanding Basic Cancer Research in 2023. & nbsp,
In Austin, Texas, from June 24 to 27, the AACR Special Conference on Advances in Kidney Cancer Research will take place. To register, click here. AACRKIDNEY23 & nbsp,
The first publication to appear on American Association for Cancer Research ( AACR ) was Q & amp, A With M. Celeste Simon, PhD, FAACR, on Advances in Kidney Cancer research.