PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
21 January, 2024 by Anshul (neobio)
Renal cancer, or kidney cancer, is a major health concern worldwide, accounting for approximately 3.8% of all adult human malignancies. A distinctive challenge posed by renal cancer is its resistance to radiation and chemotherapy, the principal modes of cancer treatment. Conventional therapies often prove ineffective, leading to the recurrence of the disease in about 40% of patients following surgical resection.
However, advanced research has pointed towards a potential solution in the form of drug Targets.
Key Drug Targets for Renal Care:
Identifying and characterizing these targets allows researchers and clinicians to disrupt the biological processes that lead to tumor growth and proliferation, overcome resistance to treatment, and ultimately improve patient outcomes.
Drug targets that have proven effective in renal cancer treatment include vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors, mTOR inhibitors, immune checkpoint inhibitors, combination therapies, and a promising novel drug, Belzutifan.
VEGF inhibitors are targeted therapies that block the growth of new blood vessels, which tumors need to grow. Key VEGF inhibitors used in renal cancer treatment include Sunitinib, Pazopanib, and Sorafenib. By disrupting the VEGF pathway, these drugs inhibit the growth and spread of kidney cancer cells.
mTOR inhibitors are another class of targeted therapies that play a crucial role in renal cancer treatment. mTOR, a protein that aids cell division and survival, is blocked by these drugs, potentially preventing cancer cell growth and new tumor blood vessel development. Temsirolimus and Everolimus are two orally administered mTOR inhibitors used for targeted therapy in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC).
Immune checkpoint inhibitors are drugs that unleash the body’s immune system to attack cancer cells. Pembrolizumab and Nivolumab are two such drugs that have shown efficacy in treating advanced kidney cancer. They work by blocking the PD-1 checkpoint, which prevents the immune system from attacking cancer cells.
The effectiveness of kidney cancer treatment is significantly enhanced when drugs are used in combination. For instance, the combination of Pembrolizumab (an immune checkpoint inhibitor) with Axitinib (a targeted therapy) has been approved for people with advanced kidney cancer. Another approved combination is Nivolumab with Cabozantinib. These combinations provide a dual attack on cancer cells, disrupting their growth and immune evasion mechanisms.
Lastly, Belzutifan is a first-in-class kidney cancer drug that received expanded approval from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration for the treatment of metastatic kidney cancer. It works by blocking a protein called HIF-2α, which plays a role in tumor growth.Â
With an enhanced understanding of RCC biology and its interaction with the tumor microenvironment, several new therapies targeting cancer metabolism, cytokine signaling, alternative immune checkpoint proteins, and novel biological pathways are under investigation. These novel targets have the potential to provide new avenues for the treatment of advanced RCC, particularly for patients who do not respond to existing treatments or experience disease progression.
Besides these emerging targets, the potential of microbiome products and antibody-drug conjugates is also being explored. Microbiome products can enhance the immune response, offering a potential synergistic effect when combined with existing treatments. On the other hand, antibody-drug conjugates are designed to specifically target cancer cells, delivering a cytotoxic drug directly to the tumor and minimizing damage to healthy cells. These innovative approaches could revolutionize the treatment landscape for renal cancer.
Targeted therapies for renal cancer can cause a range of side effects. These side effects vary depending on the drug or combination of drugs, the dosage, and the patient’s overall health. Some of the most common side effects include skin problems such as hand-foot syndrome and rash, diarrhea, fatigue, high blood pressure, sore mouth, nausea and vomiting, constipation, weight loss, muscle and joint pain, and liver damage.
Effective management of these side effects can significantly improve a patient’s quality of life. This is typically achieved through a combination of medical interventions, lifestyle changes, and supportive therapies.
Surgery remains an essential component of renal cancer treatment. It can improve the effectiveness of targeted therapy by reducing the tumor burden, thereby allowing the targeted drugs to work more efficiently.
Adjuvant therapy, or treatment given after surgery to kill any remaining cancer cells, is also being explored. For instance, current trials are examining the potential of targeted therapies like sorafenib and sunitinib for high-risk relapse patients in the adjuvant setting.
Renal cancer presents unique treatment challenges due to its resistance to traditional therapies. However, advances in targeted therapies, ranging from VEGF and mTOR inhibitors to immune checkpoint inhibitors, combination regimens, and novel agents like Belzutifan, have significantly improved patient outcomes. Ongoing research into emerging drug targets, microbiome-based therapies, and antibody-drug conjugates offers further hope, especially for treatment-resistant cases. Combined with effective side effect management and surgical intervention, these strategies represent a promising future in the fight against renal cancer.
