ABSTRACT
Nivolumab was approved as a new agent for advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in Japan on September 2016. Nivolumab is an immune checkpoint inhibitor that activates the cytotoxic immune response and has exerted antitumor effects in a mechanism different from other available molecular targeted agents. Therefore, its response pattern, efficacy and adverse events are different from those of the molecular targeted agents for RCC. Here, we report our initial clinical experience with nivolumab. From December 2016 to September 2017, we applied nivolumab to 7 patients with metastatic RCC. The most common metastatic site was the lungs, followed by lymph nodes, bones and brain. According to the immune-related response criteria, the efficacy was stable disease in 2 patients and progressive disease in 5 patients. In 5 cases with multiple metastases, responses differed with the site of metastasis. The response was best in lung metastasis and worst in brain metastasis. Six cases had minor adverse events. In two cases, we discontinued administration of nivolumab temporarily. The patients recovered completely and we considered nivolumab effective and safe for treatment of metastatic RCC.
