Immunotherapy for genitourinary tumors

Abstract

The present review provides an update about the major achievements and recent advances of immunotherapy in renal cell carcinoma, urothelial carcinoma, and prostate cancer. Although the treatment strategy for renal cell carcinoma and urothelial carcinoma includes traditional cancer immunotherapies, such as interleukin‐2 and interferon‐alfa, the clinical outcomes of these therapies are unsatisfactory. In recent years, the development of immune checkpoint inhibitors has drastically changed the treatment strategy for various cancers, including genitourinary cancer. The present review summarizes the approved cancer immunotherapies for renal cell carcinoma, urothelial carcinoma and prostate cancer. Furthermore, we review the response evaluation and biomarkers for immune checkpoint inhibitors with a distinctive mode of action that is different from cytotoxic agents. Finally, future perspectives for cancer immunotherapy are discussed.

Efficacy and safety of first‐line nivolumab plus ipilimumab in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma: A multicenter retrospective study

“…The introduction of tyrosine kinase inhibitors and immunotherapies has remarkably improved the survival of mRCC patients. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] Randomized studies suggested the efficacy of first-line nivolumab plus ipilimumab in patients belonging to the intermediate-and poor-risk groups of the IMDC. [13][14][15] However, the efficacy and safety of the first-line nivolumab plus ipilimumab for mRCC patients need to be validated in actual practice, 14 and CheckMate 214 trial only enrolled a limited number of Japanese patients.…”

“…The introduction of tyrosine kinase inhibitors and immunotherapies has remarkably improved the survival of mRCC patients 1–12 . Randomized studies suggested the efficacy of first‐line nivolumab plus ipilimumab in patients belonging to the intermediate‐ and poor‐risk groups of the IMDC 13–15 .…”

Relationship of frailty with treatment modality selection in patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (FRART-BC study)

“…Despite these limitations, this study showed the potential role of frailty in patients with MIBC, highlighting the impact of frailty on treatment selection. As the efficacy and tolerability of immunecheckpoint inhibitors have been reported (30), a novel TMT regimen comprised of TURBT, radiotherapy, and immunecheckpoint inhibitor may improve the oncological outcomes in frail patients with MIBC. Further studies are needed to establish optimal treatment strategies for frail patients with MIBC.…”

Exploring the role of natural bioactive molecules in genitourinary cancers: how far has research progressed?

“…Among all cancers, genitourinary cancers are more prevalent in men [ 110 , 111 ]. Kidney, prostate, and bladder cancers are a few urethral malignancies [ 112 ].…”