Neeraj Agarwal, MD discusses the recent update to the CARMENA trial which was presented at ASCO 2019.  The Phase 3 non-inferiority CARMENA trial comparing sunitinib versus nephrectomy followed by sunitinib established that patients could avoid nephrectomy without compromising survival. This benefit was seen in both the intermediate and poor risk subgroups. In the updated data presented at ASCO 2019, the investigators reanalyzed the data based on IMDC risk categories and validated the earlier findings.  In addition, those patients who had a delayed nephrectomy after treatment with upfront sunitinib also demonstrated benefit.

Biographies:

Dr. Neeraj Agarwal, MD, Profesor of medicine, physician and investigator at the Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI), University of Utah. At the HCI, Director of the Genitourinary Oncology (GU) Program, the Center of Investigational Therapeutics (CIT), co-lead of the Experimental Therapeutic Program (one of the four cancer center support grant programs at the HCI), and he serves on the cabinet of the Director of HCI.

Petros Grivas, M.D., Ph.D. is a board-certified oncologist at SCCA, director of UW Medicine's Genitourinary Cancers Program and a UW associate professor of Oncology. Dr. Grivas is considered and international expert in genitourinary cancer. He is dedicated to efficient, personalized, outstanding patient care and optimal patient-physician relationships. Dr. Grivas earned his M.D. and Ph.D. at the University of Patras in Greece. He is board certified in Oncology and Internal Medicine. He lectures internationally, pursues community outreach, leads studies and publishes novel research. He had a main role in clinical trials leading to FDA approval of new drugs for bladder and urothelial cancer.