An exploratory analysis of the phase 3 CheckMate 9ER trial presented at the 2021 ASCO Genitourinary Cancer Symposium found that patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) reported improved health-related quality of life (HRQoL) when treated with nivolumab (Opdivo) plus cabozantinib (Cabometyx), compared to treatment with sunitinib (Sutent).
Moreover, patients treated with the combination experienced a delay in deterioration and a significant decreased risk for confirmed deterioration in HRQoL scores, including disease-related kidney cancer symptoms.
“These results indicate that the superior clinical efficacy of (nivolumab plus cabozantinib) over (sunitinib) is accompanied by the additional benefit of better HQoL,” the researchers wrote. “Moreover, the HRQoL outcomes also support the acceptable tolerability profile of the (nivolumab plus cabozantinib) combination for…
