Moshe Ornstein, MD, MA

Taussig Cancer Institute

RENAL CELL CARCINOMA (KIDNEY CANCER)

Impact Award

Immunogenetic Profiling of Response to Immune Checkpoint Inhibition (ICI) in Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC)

Most patients with advanced kidney cancer (also known as renal cell carcinoma) will be treated with immunotherapy. However, although the outcomes for patients with kidney cancer have improved significantly over the last few decades with the development of immunotherapy, there are still many patients whose cancer does not respond to immunotherapy. As of 2022, there are no tests that can tell physicians which patients with kidney cancer will do well on immunotherapy and which patients need a different treatment approach. As a result, almost all patients receive immunotherapy as the default treatment. In this research project, we are taking a deep dive into the immune and genetic factors within kidney cancer to improve our understanding as to why some kidney cancers improve with immunotherapy treatments and some do not. Ultimately, we hope this information will help us personalize treatment options for our patients with kidney cancer and improve their outcomes.

IN OTHER WORDS

Although immunotherapy has improved the care of patients with kidney cancer, there are no tests that can tell physicians which patients with kidney cancer will do well on immunotherapy and which patients need a different treatment approach. In this research project, we are taking a deep dive into the immune and genetic factors within kidney cancer to help answer these questions. We hope this information will help us personalize treatment options for our patients with kidney cancer.