Dr. Jonasch on Modulating the Tumor Microenvironment in RCC

Eric Jonasch, MD, professor, Department of Genitourinary Medical Oncology, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses how to modulate the tumor microenvironment in renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

The tumor microenvironment can be modulated with therapies that interact with immune cells, explains Jonasch. Other treatment options in development can modulate receptors within the microenvironment, thus changing the interaction between the tumor and the surrounding cells.

Also, modulating the interaction between the tumor and the extracellular matrix could be a potential strategy. At the 2019 Kidney Cancer Research Summit, Dimitra Bourboulia, PhD, of SUNY Upstate Medical University, presented on the use of kinase signaling and extracellular matrix proteolysis in RCC; however, this is still investigational, concludes Jonasch.