A recent article published in the 2018 American Society of Clinical Oncology Educational Book, summarises the advances made towards personalised management of advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

The researchers suggest that “Individualised care using predictive biomarkers is central to the treatment of other advanced malignancies,” and “The elucidation of predictive factors is an unmet need in metastatic RCC and an area of active research.”

The researchers conclude that “A single biomarker is not really going to be useful in kidney cancer. Kidney cancer is too heterogeneous a disease. Finding one biomarker that defines treatment response is uncommon. We may see single-marker tumours in leukaemia or haematologic malignancies, but in solid tumours, it is unlikely [single markers] will be the driving force.” A more realistic view is that there may be a panel of 10 to 20 genomic markers.

More likely than not, future treatment of kidney cancer will require “a combination of clinical and biologic approaches to fully realise the potential of precision oncology.”

Read more in Cancer Therapy Advisor here