GSRon said:

Here is another link from the

Here is another link from the recent ASCO Conference.  This video tells a broader tale on the Ipi combo with Nivo.  You Southern California people, may want to check out when this combo may show up at City of Hope..  Looks like there may be some difficult side effects, but the rewards should be well worth it..  You know I will be watching this combo..

http://cancergrace.org/kidney-cancer/2014/07/02/asco_2014_hottest_thing_late_stage_kidney/

Ron

Hi All.. in case you did not see this... soon we may have another weapon...  Nivolumab..!!

http://news.bms.com/press-release/rd-news/bristol-myers-squibb-announces-plans-third-quarter-submission-biologics-licens&t=635405948819403627

Be Well All..!!

Ron

alice124 said:

Great job BDS. Will hold in my favorites file for quick reference. Appreciate your compilation.

This information does not specifically mention the chromophobe renal cell carcinoma but it is referencing the research by the Cancer Genome Atlas which just revealed breakthrough information into the biology of chromophobe RCC. I've posted about this on another thread if you search for it but wanted to add it here and bump up this post, of course. Hope for all in this research, I believe. I put the last emphasis in bold myself. 

Written by: 
Philips GK, Atkins MB.   Are you the author? 
Department of Oncology, Georgetown-Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center and Division of Hematology/Oncology, Medstar Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC.

The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathway blockers and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors have dramatically improved the treatment options and outcome for patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

However, because the vast majority of patients will still succumb to their disease, novel treatment approaches are still necessary. Efforts to identify novel therapeutic target treatments are focused on better understanding unique aspects of tumor cell biology guided the Cancer Genome Atlas analyses and the interaction of the tumor with its microenvironment. Areas of promising investigation include a) the identification of mechanisms of acquired resistance to VEGF pathway inhibition and developing agents targeting these in combination with VEGF receptor (VEGFR) pathway blockade; b) the identification of novel therapeutic targets, particularly for patients with VEGF pathway blocker refractory disease; and c) the development of novel immunotherapies, particularly those involving checkpoint inhibitors used alone or in combination with other immunotherapies of VEGF pathway blockers. Specific targets or agents of interest include angiopoietins (trebaninib), c-Met (cabozantinib), activin receptor-like kinase-1 (ALK-1; dalantercept), interleukin (IL)-8, and HDM2 for acquired resistance to VEGF pathway inhibition; hypoxia inducible factor-2 alpha (HIF-2 alpha), TORC1/2, and the Hippo pathway for novel targets, and PD1 and PDL1 antibodies given either alone or in combination with other checkpoint inhibitors, other immunotherapies, or VEGF pathway blockers for novel immunotherapies. In addition, the application of genetic, immunologic, or other biomarkers developed in the context of this research has the potential to select patients with specific tumor types for therapy targeted to specific vulnerabilities within the tumor or tumor microenvironment. Together, these developments should enable the transition to a new era of rational and more effective therapy for patients with advanced RCC.

Written by: 
Philips GK, Atkins MB.   Are you the author? 
Department of Oncology, Georgetown-Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center and Division of Hematology/Oncology, Medstar Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC.

Reference: Am Soc Clin Oncol Educ Book. 2014:e222-7. 
doi: 10.14694/EdBook_AM.2014.34.e222

PubMed Abstract
PMID: 24857106

UroToday.com Investigative Urology Section

Abstract (provisional)

Background

Ribavirin is an anti-viral drug; however, recent data suggest that it may also be effective in cancer therapy. This study investigated the effect of ribavirin alone or in combination with IFN-alpha on biological processes: proliferation, apoptosis, and migration of murine (Renca) and human renal carcinoma (RCC) cells (786-0) in vitro.

Methods

Renca and 786-0 cells were treated with IFN-alpha, ribavirin, or a combination of IFN-alpha and ribavirin at varying concentrations. Cell proliferation was evaluated using CCK-8 assay. Induction of apoptosis and distribution of cell cycle were determined by flow cytometry. The migratory capacity of cells was quantified using a transwell migration assay. The toxic effect of these drugs was examined using MTT assay in HEK-293 cells. ELISA was used to measure IL-10 and TGF-beta content in the culture supernatants.

Results

Our results showed that both ribavirin alone and in combination with IFN-alpha could significantly inhibit the cell proliferation and arrest the cell cycle progress at the G2/M phase. These treatments also inhibited cell migration and IL-10 production, in a concentration-dependent manner, in 786-0 and Renca cells. Moreover, they significantly induced apoptosis of RCC cells and increased TGF-beta production in concentration-dependent manner. No significant toxic effect was observed in HEK-293 cells. We also found that the effect of combined treatment was more pronounced than that of ribavirin or IFN-alpha alone. However, the combined effect of the two drugs was not synergistic.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that ribavirin can negatively affect biological processes of RCC cells. This agent might become a new candidate for the treatment of RCC in the clinical setting.

BDS said:

Pembrolizumab (MK-3475) receives FDA Approval.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has just approved Merck's immunotherapy pembrolizumab as a new treatment for advanced melanoma.

Merck will sell the drug under the brand name Keytruda. The drug works by blocking a cellular pathway known as PD-1 which is used as cloaking mechanism used by cancer cells to hide from a patient's immune system. Similar anti-PD-1 and anti-PD-L1 drugs are being developed most notably by Bristol-Myers Squibb, Roche and AstraZeneca.

Bristol's PD-1 inhibitor nivolumab (brand name: Opdivo) was approved in Japan recently and is awaiting U.S. approval.

 

http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm412802.htm

  

 

It’s another step in the right direction. Clinical Trials for Renal Cell are opening up - BDS

From Fiercebiotech 

But the biggest promise for PD-1 blockers--both clinically and commercially--likely lies in combination therapies, and Merck has launched a fleet of cocktail studies that match pembrolizumab with treatments from Pfizer, Amgen, Incyte and others in hopes of bolstering the drug's stirring potential as a monotherapy. Its competitors have followed suit, and the coming years are likely to see a host of PD-1 treatments approved for use in tandem with other therapies in a variety of cancers. 

In the near term, Bristol-Myers is closest on Merck's heels in the U.S., submitting its PD-1 candidate for FDA scrutiny in July. Roche and AstraZeneca are not far behind with their contenders, and each company is banking on the agency following through on its promise of swift reviews for the breakthrough class of therapies. 

Pembrolizumab's nod marks the 6th approval for a melanoma treatment since 2011, according to the FDA, reflecting both the explosion of research advances in the field and the series of the disease. Melanoma accounts for about 5% of all new cancers in the U.S., the agency said, killing nearly 10,000 people each year.

 

You beat me to it.. but here are two more links worth a read..  Hang on people.. more help is on the way..!!

http://www.onclive.com/web-exclusives/FDA-Approves-Pembrolizumab-for-Advanced-Melanoma

http://www.fiercebiotech.com/story/merck-wins-breakthrough-fda-approval-cancer-contender-pembrolizumab/2014-09-04

Ron

BDS said:

INTUVAX Vaccine

Immunicum presents updated survival data for INTUVAX-treated renal cancer patients

September 12, 2014 06:58 ET | Source:Immunicum AB

Gothenburg, Sweden, 2014-09-12 12:58 CEST (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Immunicum AB (publ) today announced that updated survival data from a completed Phase I/II study of INTUVAX will be presented on September 15 at the 3rd Annual Cancer Vaccines Conference in London. In this study, the therapeutic cancer vaccine INTUVAX is evaluated in patients with metastatic renal cell cancer.

The purpose of the study was to document the safety profile, the immunological response and to monitor the survival of patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma after treatment with two INTUVAX injections.

The new survival data to be presented at the conference reveals that 7 out of 11 evaluable patients are still alive.

The median survival in a subgroup of five patients who were classified as high-risk patients is now exceeding 17 months. Two of these patients, one of whom is still alive, have achieved a survival of more than two years. This compares with an expected median survival of nine months following current standard treatment for this population – the tyrosine kinase inhibitor sunitinib. Notably, none of the high-risk patients in the INTUVAX study received tyrosine kinase inhibitors during the first nine months after vaccination.

Continued monitoring is necessary to clarify the survival rate among patients who have a slightly less aggressive disease (intermediate mRCC). The updated survival data show that five out of six patients in this subgroup are still alive. For three of these, survival is now exceeding 21 months.

In three out of four patients that received add-on treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors due to tumor growth, decreases of tumor size were noted. In two of these patients, this was particularly unexpected, as their tumor types (metastatic brain tumors and metastases in extensive sarcomatoid tumor transformation) rarely respond to treatment with sunitinib. Examinations with computed tomography (CT scan) indicate that all brain metastases have now disappeared.

"The study results indicate that the extended survival is a result of INTUVAX’ ability to achieve a tumor-specific immune response, that appears to inhibit the rate of growth in the tumor metastases. Preliminary data suggests that subsequent adjunctive treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors may enhance the anti-tumoral effect in a synergistic way," says Dr. Alex Karlsson-Parra, Chief Scientific Officer at Immunicum.

"INTUVAX seems to prolong the survival of those renal cell cancer patients initially considered to have the worst prognosis. For patients with a less aggressive disease, longer follow-up is needed, but the current data is promising even in this group of patients. We look forward to soon start a Phase II trial, in order to progress INTUVAX towards a market registration as quickly as possible," says Jamal El-Mosleh, CEO of Immunicum.

The above data will also be presented at the 22nd Annual International Cancer Immunotherapy Symposium in New York, which will be held on October 6 to 8.

http://www.immunicum.com/

 

RIGHT ON!! Is this one of the vaccines where they use tumor tissue? Just wanting to know so that if it is people on here reading this understand what that process entails (most here won't benefit from this if it is the case but for anyone getting surgery soon it would be great to know!)

BDS said:

INTUVAX

Immunicum reports continued promising survival data for INTUVAX

Gothenburg, Sweden, 2014-12-03 08:30 CET (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Immunicum AB (publ) today announced continued promising data from a phase I/II trial in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. The median survival in the subgroup of five individuals who were initially classified as high-risk patients now stands at 19.8 months, compared with an expected median survival of nine months following current standard therapy. Seven of the eleven evaluable patients in the study, of which two belong to the original group of five high-risk patients, are still alive.

In total, six of eleven patients have now received add-on therapy with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) due to tumor growth. Three of these patients (all with massive infiltration of CD8+ T cells in the removed kidney tumor) have noted a pronounced and prolonged regression of metastases.

Continued monitoring is necessary to clarify the effect on survival in patients with a slightly less aggressive disease (intermediate mRCC). Five of the six patients in this subgroup are still alive, three of which have achieved a survival time of more than two years.

– It is gratifying that the median survival in the INTUVAX-treated renal cancer patients continues to increase. We are now preparing a comprehensive phase II study in the same indication and expect this to be able to start in early 2015, says Immunicum’s CEO, Jamal El-Mosleh.

The purpose of the phase I/II study was to document the adverse event profile and immunological effects, and to follow the survival of patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma after treatment with two INTUVAX injections.

www.Immunicum.com

BDS, I always like your updates on what's coming down the pike. From diagnosis to long term treatment, it makes me think about the difference in interest there is between someone newly diagnosed and someone still having challenges years later. With kidney cancer, the stage that someone is in, is really important. Having a 2.5 cm tumor removed is much more promising than having a double digit sized tumor with identifiable mets. But I think that percieving renal cell carcinoma as a chronic and treatable disease makes us all more optimistic. It's good toknow what is happening out there.