Metastatic nonclear renal cell carcinoma current review in evolving treatment strategies.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the 6th most often diagnosed cancer in men and the 10th in women. Nearly 75% of the renal cancer cases are clear cell histologic subtype, whereas nonclear cell histologies represent the remaining 25%. Treatment options for clear renal type are well established. However, as nonclear RCC represents a heterogenous and less frequent group. Current treatment options for these tumors are limited and mostly based on evidence derived from small phase II clinical trials. The present review aims to provide an update of the available treatment options for nonclear RCC.

In the past decade, the vascular endothelial growth factor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, sunitinib, and mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors, everolimus, and temsirolimus, have demonstrated limited efficacy in nonclear RCC. Recent studies with MET inhibitors and immunotherapy-based combinations have proven promising activity, especially in certain subgroups of patients, such as patients with MET-driven disease or patients with sarcomatoid features RCC.

Here, we report currently available data about biology and treatment of nonclear cell RCC.

Current opinion in urology. 2021 Mar 17 [Epub ahead of print]

Cristina Suárez, Nely Díaz-Mejía, Rafael Morales-Barrera, Macarena González, Joaquin Mateo, Joan Carles

Genitourinary, CNS and Sarcoma Tumor Unit, Medical Oncology Department, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Barcelona, Spain.