Hans J. Hammers, MD, PhD

Hans J. Hammers, MD, PhD, associate professor, Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, discusses combinations with immunotherapy being investigated for patients with kidney cancer. 

Since nivolumab (Opdivo) has been approved, it has changed the treatment landscape for patients with kidney cancer, states Hammers. However, ongoing studies have been looking to combine nivolumab with other agents to increase the response. 

Combining nivolumab with VEGF inhibitors is an area that has shown particular promise, explains Hammers. The trials investigating these combinations have shown encouraging data.

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Hans J. Hammers, MD, PhD, associate professor, Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, discusses combinations with immunotherapy being investigated for patients with kidney cancer.

Dr. Hammers on Immunotherapy Combinations in Kidney Cancer

Hans J. Hammers, MD, PhD, associate professor, Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, discusses the next steps with immunotherapy for patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC). 

Data are still needed to determine the response of nivolumab (Opdivo) in certain subsets of patients, states Hammers. If there is a signal of clinical activity, it might be studied in combination with other regimens for this patient population. 

Hans J. Hammers, MD, PhD, associate professor, Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, discusses the next steps with immunotherapy for patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

Dr. Hammers on Next Steps with Immunotherapy in RCC

Hans J. Hammers, MD, PhD, associate professor, Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, discusses the future of treatments for patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC).  

It is an exciting time in kidney cancer, explains Hammers. Ever since the approval of nivolumab (Opdivo), checkpoint inhibitors have continued to see excitement. However, the question remains to be: what is next for these treatments? 

Nivolumab has shown durable response rates of around 20% but it is not enough to effectively treat patients with immunotherapy, states Hammers. Therefore, this has been looked at in combination with targeted agents, such as VEGF inhibitors.    

Hans J. Hammers, MD, PhD, associate professor, Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, discusses the future of treatments for patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

Author | Hans J. Hammers, MD, PhD

Articles

Dr. Hammers on Immunotherapy Combinations in Kidney Cancer

Dr. Hammers on Next Steps with Immunotherapy in RCC

Dr. Hammers on the Future of Treatments for RCC