A study published in The New England Journal of Medicine suggests that combining the targeted kinase inhibitor cabozantinib with the immunotherapy drugs nivolumab and ipilimumab may slow the progression of advanced renal cell carcinoma in patients who have not received previous treatment. The researchers found that patients who received the combination treatment had significantly improved progression-free survival compared to those who received only nivolumab and ipilimumab. Nivolumab and ipilimumab work by releasing molecular brakes that prevent the immune system from attacking cancer cells. Cabozantinib, which inhibits multiple cancer-promoting pathways, may enhance the effects of the immunotherapy drugs. In the study, 855 previously untreated patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma were assigned to either the combination treatment or the immunotherapy drugs alone. The patients receiving all three agents had a 27% decreased risk of progression or mortality compared to the immunotherapy-only group. Although overall survival benefits have not been observed yet, the findings demonstrate a significant progression-free survival benefit for the combination treatment.

Reference:

1.) https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2212851

2.) https://ascopost.com/news/may-2023/cabozantinib-in-combination-with-nivolumab-and-ipilimumab-may-slow-progression-of-advanced-renal-cell-carcinoma/