Targeted Agents in Patients with Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma on Dialysis: Myths and Reality

Agents targeting the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)/VEGF receptor (VEGFR) pathway, as well as mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors have revolutionised the therapeutic landscape of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) in the past decade, greatly improving the survival rates of these patients. However, translating results of registrative Phase III trials into everyday clinical practice is often troublesome, since real-world patients are completely different from those enrolled in randomised controlled Phase III trials. Prospective data on active oncological treatments in mRCC patients on dialysis are dramatically lacking. This literature review summarises and critically comments on available data relative to mRCC patients on dialysis receiving either VEGF/VEGFR-targeting agents, or mTOR inhibitors. Although prospective studies would definitely be warranted in these specific patient populations, all the available data suggest that mRCC patients on dialysis have the same outcome, both in terms of efficacy and safety, as mRCC patients with normal or marginally impaired kidney function, when treated with VEGF/VEGFR-targeting agents and/or mTOR inhibitors.