Bradley McGregor, MD, clinical director, Lank Center for Genitourinary Oncology, senior physician, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and instructor of medicine, Harvard Medical School, discusses the data with the combination of axitinib (Inlyta) and avelumab (Bavencio) in advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

On May 14, 2019, the combination of axitinib and avelumab was approved by the FDA for the frontline treatment of patients with advanced RCC. The combination is going to serve as another available option for patients, says McGregor. Data from the phase III JAVELIN Renal 101 trial served as the basis for the approval, in which the combination showed greater improvement in progression-free survival and response rates compared with sunitinib (Sutent) alone. Of the available frontline combinations, avelumab and axitinib is unique in its tolerability profile, adds McGregor.

In the trial, only 11% of patients required high-dose steroids, which is comparable with what was seen with data from the phase III IMmotion151 trial with atezolizumab (Tecentriq) and bevacizumab (Avastin). It will be exciting to see the data mature, he concludes.