Renal Cell Carcinoma
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May 18 – May 25, 2026
Ultra-hypofractionated stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy for primary renal cell carcinoma: 5-year outcomes from a pooled analysis of the FASTRACK trials.
LANCET ONCOL · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #8/326TOP-TIER
This pooled analysis of two prospective trials (FASTRACK and FASTRACK II) evaluated stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR) for inoperable primary renal cell carcinoma. Among 103 treated patients (median age 76.9 years) with median 5-year follow-up, local control at 5 years was 98% (89-100), with only one local progression. Grade 3 adverse events occurred in 8% of patients (most commonly abdominal pain), with no grade 4 events or treatment-related deaths. These findings demonstrate durable long-term local control and low severe toxicity, supporting SABR as a non-invasive alternative for patients who are not surgical candidates.
10.1016/S1470-2045(26)00170-1
Long-term outcomes of stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy for primary kidney cancer (TROG 15.03 FASTRACK II): a multicentre, non-randomised, phase 2 study.
LANCET ONCOL · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #8/326TOP-TIER
This multicentre phase 2 trial (TROG 15.03 FASTRACK II) evaluated the long-term efficacy and safety of stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR) in 70 patients with primary renal cell carcinoma. Results demonstrated an impressive 100% local control rate at 36, 60, and 84 months, with a median follow-up of 62 months. Grade 3 treatment-related adverse events were limited to 10% of the cohort, and no grade 4 events or treatment-related deaths occurred. These findings establish SABR as a potent, non-invasive treatment option for non-surgical kidney cancer patients, offering durable local control and a manageable safety profile.
10.1016/S1470-2045(26)00091-4
Apr 27 – May 04, 2026
The clinical landscape of HIF2α inhibitors in oncology.
NAT REV CLIN ONCOL · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #2/326TOP-TIER
This review examines the clinical development and therapeutic landscape of HIF2α inhibitors, specifically focusing on the first-in-class antagonist belzutifan and emerging small-molecule or RNA-based modulators. Belzutifan has achieved regulatory approval for treating von Hippel-Lindau disease-associated tumors, sporadic clear-cell renal cell carcinoma, and pheochromocytoma, demonstrating significant efficacy by targeting the PAS-B domain. The research highlights the validation of HIF2α as a druggable target in oncology, addressing management of on-target toxicities like anemia and the potential for combination therapies to overcome resistance. Future clinical practice may expand HIF2α inhibition to various hypoxia-adapted malignancies, provided that predictive biomarkers are identified to optimize patient selection and treatment outcomes.
10.1038/s41571-026-01145-y
Mar 16 – Mar 23, 2026
CALYPSO: Final Results of Savolitinib and Durvalumab Combination in Metastatic Papillary Renal Cancer.
J CLIN ONCOL · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #6/326TOP-TIER
This single-arm phase II study evaluated the efficacy and safety of combining savolitinib and durvalumab in patients with treatment-naïve or pretreated metastatic papillary renal cancer (PRC). Results showed an overall response rate (ORR) of 34% in the intention-to-treat population, which increased to 53% in MET-driven patients, with a median overall survival of 27.4 months in the MET-driven subgroup. The study directly addresses oncological interests by providing targeted therapy outcomes for a specific renal cancer subtype and exploring ctDNA as a predictive biomarker for survival. These findings support the clinical utility of MET-targeted combinations in MET-driven PRC and justify the ongoing Phase III SAMETA trial to further validate these results in practice.
10.1200/JCO-25-01840
Mar 09 – Mar 16, 2026
Residual Absolute Volume of Blastema as a Predictor of Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Wilms Tumor: A Report From the SIOP WT 2001 Study.
J CLIN ONCOL · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #6/326TOP-TIER
This large SIOP WT 2001 study aimed to determine if residual absolute volume of blastema (AVB) after preoperative chemotherapy predicts clinical outcomes across Wilms Tumor (WT) subtypes, analyzing prospectively collected data from 3,459 patients. The study found that specific AVB thresholds (e.g., ≥20 mL for IRWT, ≥100 mL for HRWT, ≥10 mL for stage IV) were strong, independent predictors of worse event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS), with hazard ratios ranging from 2.76 to 5.78. Importantly, patients with intermediate-risk WT (IRWT) and AVB ≥20 mL who received doxorubicin showed superior EFS (87.6% vs 69.2%, p = .0064), suggesting a benefit from intensified therapy. These findings support using AVB as a crucial stratification criterion in future SIOP-RTSG protocols to guide treatment decisions for Wilms Tumor patients.
10.1200/JCO-25-01755
Mar 02 – Mar 09, 2026
Nivolumab plus ipilimumab versus sunitinib for first-line treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma: final analysis of efficacy and safety from the phase III CheckMate 214 trial.
ANN ONCOL · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #4/326TOP-TIER
This phase III CheckMate 214 trial evaluated the long-term efficacy and safety of first-line nivolumab plus ipilimumab (NIVO+IPI) compared to sunitinib (SUN) in 1096 patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma over a median follow-up of 9.3 years. NIVO+IPI demonstrated a significant survival advantage with a 108-month overall survival probability of 31.4% versus 19.5% for SUN (HR 0.71) and a 96-month progression-free survival rate of 22.7% compared to 9.0%. For clinicians focused on oncology, these results provide robust evidence for the durability of dual checkpoint inhibition in treating metastatic kidney cancer across various risk groups. The findings confirm that NIVO+IPI remains a foundational first-line standard of care, offering superior long-term survival and a more favorable grade 3-4 safety profile (48.6% vs 64.1%) than sunitinib.
10.1016/j.annonc.2026.02.017