First-, second-, third-line therapy for mRCC: benchmarks for trial design from the IMDC

Br J Cancer. 2014 Apr 15;110(8):1917-22. doi: 10.1038/bjc.2014.25. Epub 2014 Apr 1.

Abstract

Background: Limited data exist on outcomes for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) patients treated with multiple lines of therapy. Benchmarks for survival are required for patient counselling and clinical trial design.

Methods: Outcomes of mRCC patients from the International mRCC Database Consortium database treated with 1, 2, or 3+ lines of targeted therapy (TT) were compared by proportional hazards regression. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were calculated using different population inclusion criteria.

Results: In total, 2705 patients were treated with TT of which 57% received only first-line TT, 27% received two lines of TT, and 16% received 3+ lines of TT. Overall survival of patients who received 1, 2, or 3+ lines of TT were 14.9, 21.0, and 39.2 months, respectively, from first-line TT (P<0.0001). On multivariable analysis, 2 lines and 3+ lines of therapy were each associated with better OS (HR=0.738 and 0.626, P<0.0001). Survival outcomes for the subgroups were as follows: for all patients, OS 20.9 months and PFS 7.2 months; for those similar to eligible patients in the first-line ADAPT trial, OS 14.7 months and PFS 5.6 months; for those similar to patients in first-line TIVO-1 trial, OS 24.8 months and PFS 8.2 months; for those similar to patients in second-line INTORSECT trial, OS 13.0 months and PFS 3.9 months; and for those similar to patients in the third-line GOLD trial, OS 18.0 months and PFS 4.4 months.

Conclusions: Patients who are able to receive more lines of TT live longer. Survival benchmarks provide context and perspective when interpreting and designing clinical trials.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antineoplastic Agents / administration & dosage
  • Antineoplastic Agents / adverse effects
  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell / drug therapy*
  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell / pathology
  • Clinical Trials as Topic
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Molecular Targeted Therapy*
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Proportional Hazards Models
  • Survival Analysis
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / antagonists & inhibitors*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • VEGFA protein, human
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • MTOR protein, human
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases