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Results from a recent trial suggest that nivolumab has limited efficacy against previously untreated brain metastases in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC).
Around 10% of patients with metastatic RCC develop metastases in the brain. Since the results of this trial are negative and do not impact clinical practice, the study brings into question whether brain imaging should be routinely carried out in patients with metastatic RCC, as it is for other cancers, such as lung cancer.
The researchers suggest that nivolumab could potentially be effective if the disease is detected relatively early, but nivolumab should not replace the standard of care for brain metastasis in metastatic RCC, which is generally radiation.
