Dr Qin on Upcoming Areas of Interest in RCC Research

Qian (Janie) Qin, MD, assistant professor, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, UT Southwestern Medical Center, discusses upcoming areas of interest in the renal cell carcinoma (RCC) armamentarium.

An extensive area of research focus will revolve around identifying biomarkers indicative of response to treatments such as VEGF TKIs and immunooncology (IO) agents, Qin begins. Despite the availability of several first-line treatment options for patients with RCC, there is still uncertainty regarding which patients truly benefit from IO/IO combinations as opposed to IO/TKI combinations, Qin explains. Any biomarkers aiding in this distinction would be immensely valuable, she notes. Additionally, Qin says that the genuine role of triplet therapy in the upfront setting remains unclear. Unfortunately, the phase 3 COSMIC-313 trial (NCT03937219) data did not align with hypothesized expectations, with a significant number of patients experiencing toxicities and challenges in achieving the full therapeutic dose. 

Although efforts are underway to develop novel triplet therapies for patients with RCC, elucidating the role of treatment escalation with triplet therapy is crucial for patients with advanced disease, she states. In the context of localized tumor treatment, the deficiency of biomarkers persists, Qin expands. Determining which patients truly benefit from perioperative treatment, especially in the adjuvant setting, remains a challenge, she emphasizes. Measuring levels of circulating tumor DNA or other biomarkers mayexceed the scope of Tumor Node Metastasis staging and tumor grade to identify patients who may benefit from certain therapies in the localized setting, she elucidates.

Qin continues by saying she is interested in biomarker discovery and innovative therapeutic combinations. At UT Southwestern, Qin says that the kidney cancer team is actively involved in developing novel radiotracers as biomarkers for kidney cancer response. For example, an ongoing initiative will examine a HIF-2α inhibitor, serving as a precursor for a novel radiotracer to gauge response to HIF-2α inhibition. A study with this radiotracer is also in progress and holds promise for advancing the RCC field’s understanding of therapeutic responses, she concludes.