Treatment Holidays from Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors in Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma

Although less frequently used as monotherapy today, tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors continue to be a backbone in the initial management of patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Toxicities with TKIs are significant and have a negative impact on quality of life for most patients receiving these agents.

Investigators in the U.K. conducted an open-label, noninferiority, randomized phase 2/3 trial comparing conventional administration schedules of either sunitinib or pazopanib to a drug-free interval strategy. Over a 5-year period, 920 patients initiated conventional administration schedules of their physician-selected TKI for 24 weeks, at which time patients with stable disease or bette…