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Immunological Heterogeneity of the RCC Microenvironment: Do Targeted Therapies Influence Immune Response?

  • Genitourinary Cancers (E Jonasch, Section Editor)
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Abstract

The introduction of targeted agents has substantially improved treatment of metastatic clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC). However, complete responses are rare and therapy is not curative. Moreover, information on the latest generation of potent and selective vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) suggests that a plateau has been reached in terms of efficacy. Recent data reveal that targeted agents are involved in modulating immune responses in RCC. In addition, current research adds to our understanding of how RCC escapes an effective anti-tumor response with the potential to modulate these processes by drug development. This review provides specific insight into targeted therapy induced changes in the immunological microenvironment of RCC, summarizes the available evidence, and discusses potential therapeutic implications.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Urology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Axel Bex

  2. Department of Immunology, Monash University, Alfred Medical Research and Education Precinct (AMREP), Commercial Road, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia

    Tamara Etto

  3. Immunology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Florry Vyth-Dreese

  4. Medical Oncology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Christian Blank

  5. Angiogenesis Laboratory, Department of Medical Oncology, VU University Medical Center, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Arjan W. Griffioen

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  1. Axel Bex
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Correspondence to Axel Bex.

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Bex, A., Etto, T., Vyth-Dreese, F. et al. Immunological Heterogeneity of the RCC Microenvironment: Do Targeted Therapies Influence Immune Response?. Curr Oncol Rep 14, 230–239 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11912-012-0229-9

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