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PARP1 and BRCA1/2 expression and overall survival in high risk of recurrence localized clear cell-type renal cell carcinoma.
Crispen, Paul L. , Kim, Donghyun, Araújo, Daniel Vilarim , George, Thomas J. , Milhem, Mohammed , Zakharia, Yousef

Mayo Clinic

Journal of Clinical Oncology | March 2, 2026 | Volume: 44 | Issue: 7_suppl | Pages: 514-514

10.1200/jco.2026.44.7_suppl.514 Get It

514 Background: Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1) senses single strand DNA damage and catalyzes repair mechanisms. PARP inhibitor (PARPi) suppresses PARP1 activity and promotes cell death in BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutated cancers that are homologous recombination repair deficient (HRD) via a phenomenon known as “synthetic lethality”. Utility of PARPi in HRD-negative (HRDn) cancers remain uncertain, although in a preclinical study overexpression—but not endogenous levels—of BRCA2 in mouse hybridoma cells led to HRD and increased sensitivity to DNA crosslinking agents, suggesting potential sensitization to PARPi. In renal cell carcinoma (RCC), HRD mutations are rare and the role of PARPi remains investigational. In this study, PARP1 and BRCA1/2 expression and overall survival (OS) in high risk of recurrence localized clear cell-type renal carcinoma (hrr-ccRCC) were explored. Methods: Batch-corrected bulk mRNA profile (RNA Seq V2 RSEM) and clinical data of HRDn stages II grade 4-only (n = 4) and III (n = 100) ccRCC from The Cancer Genome Atlas Pan-Cancer project were reviewed. Gene expression was classified “high” if mRNA level is higher than median, otherwise it was classified “low”. Survival analyses were Log-rank Kaplan-Meier. Group comparisons were two-tailed Mann-Whitney test. Results: In HRDn hrr-ccRCC (n = 104), BRCA1 and BRCA2 were upregulated by median fold change (mFC) of 1.6 and 3.7, respectively, whereas PARP1 was downregulated by mFC 0.8 compared to normal control (n = 72, all p < 0.0001). BRCA1 and BRCA2 levels were positively correlated (R 2 = 0.71). Median duration of follow-up for OS was 36.5 months (IQR 20.9-60.0). High BRCA2 (n = 54) was associated with superior OS compared to low BRCA2 (n = 50) with hazard ratio (HR) for death at 0.34 (95% CI 0.19-0.63, p = 0.0008). When high BRCA2 group was further stratified by PARP1 level, those with concomitant low PARP1 (n = 16) trended towards a superior OS compared to those with high PARP1 (n = 38) with HR 0.19 (95% CI 0.06-0.60, p = 0.067). Similarly, high BRCA1 (n = 53) was associated with superior OS compared to low BRCA1 (n = 51) with HR 0.53 (95% CI 0.29-0.96, p = 0.04). However, no differential OS was seen when high BRCA1 group was stratified by PARP1 level. No differential OS was seen when low BRCA1 or low BRCA2 groups were stratified by PARP1 level. Conclusions: In this retrospective analysis of HRDn hrr-ccRCC, high BRCA2 was associated with superior OS which was more pronounced with concomitant low PARP1 . High BRCA1 was also associated with superior OS, but PARP1 levels had no influence. The findings of this study may imply a potential therapeutic value of PARP1 suppression with PARPi by mimicking low PARP1 expression in treating HRDn hrr-ccRCC with BRCA2 overexpression. Further investigation is warranted.
Metastasis-directed therapy with or without pembrolizumab for oligometastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma: Pooled analysis of two prospective single-arm phase II trials.
To, Van , D'souza, Criselle, Kiany, Simin , Thio, Niko , Liu, Suyu, Sun, Xiaowen, Castle, Becky, Macdonald, Sean, Choi, Haesun , Ludmir, Ethan B., Jonasch, Eric, Tannir, Nizar M., Msaouel, Pavlos, Haymaker, Cara, Tang, Chad, Siva, Shankar, Sherry, Alexander D. , D’Souza, Criselle , Sun, Xiaowen , Macdonald, Sean , Pryor, David I. , Azad, Arun , Ludmir, Ethan B. , Jonasch, Eric W. , Msaouel, Pavlos , Neeson, Paul Joseph , Tang, Chad , Siva, Shankar

Mayo Clinic

Journal of Clinical Oncology | March 2, 2026 | Volume: 44 | Issue: 7_suppl | Pages: 498-498

10.1200/jco.2026.44.7_suppl.498 Get It

498 Background: Radiotherapy-based metastasis-directed therapy (MDT) has emerged as a viable treatment paradigm for oligometastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). However, the optimal integration of MDT with frontline immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI) is unclear, especially in light of the M1 NED subgroup analysis of KEYNOTE-564 suggestive of a larger benefit from adjuvant pembrolizumab. Here, we sought to compare the effects of MDT with or without pembrolizumab on clinical and translational outcomes among patients with oligometastatic ccRCC enrolled on two prospective phase II trials. Methods: We undertook an exploratory cohort study of two prospective, single-arm, investigator-initiated phase II trials. The RAPPORT trial (NCT02855203) assigned 30 patients to radiotherapy-based MDT followed by pembrolizumab 200 mg Q3W for eight cycles (MDT+ICI cohort). The MD Anderson trial (NCT03575611) assigned 121 patients to serial MDT (which was almost exclusively radiotherapy-based) without systemic therapy (MDT cohort). For both trials, eligibility criteria consisted of 1 to 5 ccRCC metastatic lesions amenable to MDT. For the present analysis, the primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS), prospectively defined by RECIST v1.1 and analyzed using Cox regression. Peripheral blood flow cytometry obtained at baseline, end of MDT in both cohorts (after 1 cycle of ICI in the MDT+ICI cohort), and after completion of all treatment in both cohorts (3 months in the MDT alone cohort and 12 months in the MDT+ICI cohort) was compared using adjusted linear mixed effect models. Results: A total of 150 patients were included for analysis (MDT+ICI: 30; MDT: 120). Median follow-up time was 34 months (MDT+ICI: 28; MDT: 36). At enrollment, the MDT+ICI cohort had a larger number of metastases (median 3 vs 1). Adjusted for prognostic factors, median PFS was 28 months after MDT+ICI and 17 months after MDT (HR, 0.57; 95% CI: 0.31 to 0.998; P = 0.049). Induction of activated systemic CD8 + T cells (ICOS + ) was observed in both cohorts following MDT; however, this increase was greater in the MDT+ICI cohort. Moreover, there was evidence of decreased systemic CD8 + T cell immunosuppression (CD73 + ) following treatment cessation in the MDT+ICI group. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the largest prospective analysis of MDT for ccRCC in the ICI era. The addition of maintenance ICI to MDT may improve clinical outcomes in patients with oligometastatic ccRCC. Greater immunomodulatory signals were observed with MDT+ICI, providing a mechanistic link to the clinical benefits. The ASTROs trial (NCT06004336) randomizing patients with oligometastatic ccRCC to MDT with or without pembrolizumab has been initiated to test the hypotheses generated by the present study. Clinical trial information: NCT02855203 and NCT03575611 .
Response of venous tumor thrombi in renal cell carcinoma to immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy: A multicenter retrospective cohort study.
Li, Eric, Wang, Michael, Dorr, Maddy, Roberson, Daniel S. , McLeay, Matthew T. , Basourakos, Spyros, Khanna, Abhinav, Costello, Brian A. , Boorjian, S., Leibovich, Bradley C. , Sharma, Vidit, Li, Eric, Roberson, Daniel S. , Lyon, Timothy D. , Zakharia, Yousef , Sharma, Vidit

Mayo Clinic

Journal of Clinical Oncology | March 2, 2026 | Volume: 44 | Issue: 7_suppl | Pages: 496-496

10.1200/jco.2026.44.7_suppl.496 Get It

496 Background: Approximately 10% of patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) have an associated venous tumor thrombus (VTT), the presence of which impacts surgical management and increases perioperative risk. Historical systemic therapy regimens had limited success in downsizing VTT; however, the impact of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) on VTT shrinkage is unknown. Our primary objective is to assess VTT shrinkage comparing responses to ICI versus non-ICI regimens. Methods: This multicenter retrospective cohort study included patients with RCC and VTT from 2006-2024 who received upfront systemic therapy. Patients were evaluated at tertiary referral centers across Mayo Clinic Rochester, Florida, and Arizona. Systemic therapies were categorized as ICI versus non-ICI regimens. VTT length was quantified by distance relative to the superior border of the renal vein ostium. The primary outcome was change in VTT length on serial imaging as measured by absolute length reduction (cm), RECIST version 1.1 criteria, and Mayo VTT level reclassification. Linear mixed-effect models (LMMs) identified associations with VTT shrinkage and clinicopathologic features. Results: A total of 108 patients with median age 65 years (IQR 57-71) were included, of whom 49 (45%) received ICI regimens. ICI regimens were associated with greater VTT shrinkage (1cm vs 0.1 cm, p=0.025), increased RECIST responses (51% vs 32%, p=0.046), and a higher rate downstaging per Mayo VTT level (33% vs 12%, p=0.008) compared to non-ICI regimens. On multivariable LMM analysis, ICI regimens remained more likely to result in VTT shrinkage compared to non-ICI regimens (-0.12 cm/month, 95% CI –0.24-0.00, p=0.046). Absence of abdominal lymphadenopathy was also associated with VTT shrinkage (-0.18cm/month, 95% CI -0.06- -0.30, p=0.004). Initial Mayo VTT level, IMDC risk, and number of metastatic sites were not associated with VTT shrinkage. Conclusions: Treatment with ICI-regimens resulted in VTT shrinkage and Mayo VTT level reduction. This is a particularly important area of exploration as radical nephrectomy and tumor thrombectomy carry up to a 40% risk of peri-operative major complications. These data support using ICI regimens for patients with RCC with VTT who are not candidates for upfront surgery and prioritizing ICI regimens in neoadjuvant clinical trials.
Real world outcomes comparing the use of GLP-1 agonists in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and comorbid obesity: A propensity score matched analysis from Global Federated Health Research Network.
Arya, Yajur , Syal, Arshi , Adeoye, Oluwatayo , Batra, Nitya, Mahadevia, Himil

Mayo Clinic

Journal of Clinical Oncology | March 2, 2026 | Volume: 44 | Issue: 7_suppl | Pages: 484-484

10.1200/jco.2026.44.7_suppl.484 Get It

484 Background: Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common type of urogenital cancer. Lifestyle and metabolic risk factors seem to play an important role in this rising incidence. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists are widely used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity. Emerging evidence suggests that these agents may have potential anti-tumor activity as GLP-1 signaling may influence pathways involved in cell proliferation and inflammation. Our study aims to evaluate the impact of GLP-1 receptor agonists on outcomes among patients with RCC and comorbid obesity. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using the US Collaborative Network TriNetX, covering January 2000 to December 2023, encompassing data from 105 global healthcare organizations. Adult patients aged 18 and above with RCC and comorbid obesity were identified and then stratified into two groups based on treatment with GLP-1 agonists or not. The two groups were then propensity-matched based on age, race, and common comorbidities. We followed these patients for 5 years to assess outcomes, including overall mortality, myocardial infarction, heart failure, ischemic stroke, chronic kidney disease (CKD), metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), and need for hemodialysis. Results: We identified 2232 patients with RCC and obesity who received GLP-1 receptor agonists, and 13090 patients with RCC and obesity who did not receive GLP-1 therapy. After propensity matching, each cohort consisted of 2231 patients with similar baseline characteristics. Our analysis found that over 5 years, patients with RCC and obesity who received GLP-1 receptor agonists had a significantly lower risk of overall mortality (Hazard Ratio (HR): 0.493, 95% CI: 0.427 to 0.57, p-value < 0.001), myocardial infarction (Risk Difference: -2.239%, 95% CI: -3.836 to -0.642, p-value = 0.006), heart failure (Risk Difference: -4.213%, 95% CI: -6.876 to -1.551, p-value = 0.002), ischemic stroke (ischemic stroke: -2.111%, 95% CI: -3.44 to -0.781, p-value = 0.002), and CKD (Risk Difference: -8.526%, 95% CI: -11.441 to -5.611, p-value < 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in the risk for MASLD and need for hemodialysis between the two subgroups. Conclusions: Our study revealed that patients with RCC and obesity who received GLP-1 receptor agonists had a significantly lower risk of mortality, myocardial infarction, heart failure, CKD and ischemic stroke. Further longitudinal cohort studies are imperative to better understand these associations and guide evidence-based clinical practice in this population.
Immune checkpoint inhibitor combinations in sarcomatoid metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Kumar, Priya, Riaz, Zaryab Bin, Marsool, Mohammed Dheyaa, Sarfraz, Muhammad Uzair, Khan, Muhammad Ali, Barker, Kenneth, Chohan, Yashveer, Abdul-Muhsin, Haidar, Basu, Arnab, Singh, Parminder, Barker, Kenneth N. , Marsool, Mohammed Dheyaa Marsool , Khan, Muhammad Ali, Childs, Daniel S. , Singh, Parminder Pal , Riaz, Irbaz Bin , Zakharia, Yousef

Mayo Clinic

Journal of Clinical Oncology | March 2, 2026 | Volume: 44 | Issue: 7_suppl | Pages: 483-483

10.1200/jco.2026.44.7_suppl.483 Get It

483 Background: Sarcomatoid dedifferentiation (sRCC) in metastatic clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (mccRCC) confers aggressive disease and poor prognosis. We maintain a living meta-analysis of first-line immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)–based combinations in mccRCC (Riaz et al., Eur Urol Oncol 2021), which demonstrated improved survival with ICI-based regimens over sunitinib. Here, we present an updated synthesis focused on the comparative efficacy of ICI combinations in the sarcomatoid subset. Methods: A systematic search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CENTRAL through October 2025 was performed as part of our living meta-analysis of first-line mccRCC therapy. Eligible phase III RCTs compared ICI combinations (IO/IO or IO/TKI) versus sunitinib, including CheckMate 214, CheckMate 9ER, KEYNOTE-426, CLEAR/KEYNOTE-581, JAVELIN Renal 101, and IMmotion151. Extracted outcomes included overall (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS), and objective (ORR), complete (CR), and partial (PR) response rates. Random-effects meta-analyses generated pooled hazard ratios (HRs) for time-to-event outcomes and risk ratios (RRs) for response rates with 95% confidence intervals. Subgroup interaction analyses compared sarcomatoid versus non-sarcomatoid subgroups, with p < 0.1 considered significant. Results: Six phase III RCTs (n = 5,121; 624 sarcomatoid) were included. Across all ICI-based combinations, ICI therapy improved outcomes versus sunitinib in both sarcomatoid and non-sarcomatoid disease. In the pooled analysis, the OS interaction favored sRCC meeting the prespecified significance threshold for subgroup analyses (HR 0.53 vs 0.68; p-interaction = 0.06 < 0.10), while no significant interaction was seen for PFS. Response outcomes showed the strongest differential benefit, particularly with IO/TKI regimens. IO/IO results were directionally consistent but limited by smaller non-sarcomatoid samples. Conclusions: ICI-based combinations significantly improve survival and response outcomes versus sunitinib in mccRCC. Using a prespecified α = 0.10 for interaction testing, the pooled analysis showed a significant OS interaction and higher response rates in sRCC, indicating enhanced ICI sensitivity. These updated meta-analysis data support ICI regimens as the preferred first-line therapy for mRCC with sarcomatoid de-differentiation. Endpoint Regimen Subgroup (S = sarcomatoid; NS = non-sarcomatoid) Effect (95% CI) p-interaction PFS IO/IO S 0.51 (0.40–0.65) – IO/TKI S vs NS 0.48 (0.36–0.64) vs 0.46 (0.39–0.52) 0.81 OS IO/IO S 0.54 (0.07–4.42) – IO/TKI S vs NS 0.51 (0.17–1.48) vs 0.68 (0.30–1.58) 0.24 ORR IO/IO S 2.93 (0.49–17.37) – IO/TKI S vs NS 2.43 (1.84–3.21) vs 1.95 (1.67–2.28) 0.03 CR IO/IO S 3.81 (0.82–17.71) – IO/TKI S vs NS 5.93 (4.73–7.42) vs 2.85 (0.10–83.73) 0.007 PR IO/IO S 3.48 (1.70–7.11) – IO/TKI S vs NS 2.10 (1.78–2.47) vs 1.75 (1.18–2.61) <0.001
Real-world early quality of life (QOL) changes on IO-based regimens in the prospective observational ODYSSEY metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) study.
Ged, Yasser , Maughan, Benjamin L., Bhavsar, Nrupen Anjan, Costello, Brian A. , Kilari, Deepak, Gupta, Sorab , Barbosa, Fernando Maciel, Monk, Paul, Vaishampayan, U., Jabusch, Sarah , Ward, Kimberly T., Wu, Yuan, Zhang, T., George, Daniel J., Vaishampayan, Ulka N. , Vaishampayan, Ulka , Harrison, Michael R. , Wulff, Elizabeth, Maughan, Benjamin L. , Bhavsar, Nrupen Anjan , Appleman, Leonard J. , Kilari, Deepak , Bratton, Melyssa R. , Monk, Paul , Rose, Tracy L. , Page, Courtney B , George, Daniel J.

Mayo Clinic

Journal of Clinical Oncology | March 2, 2026 | Volume: 44 | Issue: 7_suppl | Pages: 476-476

10.1200/jco.2026.44.7_suppl.476 Get It

476 Background: Lack of standardized reporting and collection of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) limits cross-trial comparisons of first-line IO-based regimens for mRCC. Prospectively collected real world data may fill this important knowledge gap. Pts with stable/improved QoL at 3 mo versus baseline have longer median OS than pts with worse/unobserved HRQoL versus baseline (Cella, 2024). Methods: ODYSSEY is a multi-site, prospective observational study of 468 US pts with mRCC. Pts must have mRCC (any histology), no prior systemic therapy (ST), and follow up at a PCORnet study site. Exclusion criteria include treatment for cancer except mRCC. Descriptive statistics are used to show PRO score changes from baseline. We evaluate longitudinal change from baseline in PRO scores using least squares mean (LSM). Minimally important differences (MID) are 3 points for FKSI-19 total score, 1 point for the FKSI-Disease Related Symptoms (DRS) subscale and 7 points for FACT-G. Higher score indicates better QOL. The primary objective is to determine patterns of change in QOL and symptom burden of pts with mRCC. Results: As of 10/1/25, 360 pts were managed with ST, including 266 pts on IO-based combinations: 35 cabozantinib + nivolumab (C+N), 49 lenvatinib + pembrolizumab (L+P), 40 axitinib + pembrolizumab (A+P), and 142 ipilimumab + nivolumab (I+N). Overall median follow-up is 12.1 mos (IQR 6, 24). Age, sex and race were similar across regimens. Prior nephrectomy (50%) was lower than in trials. C+N and L+P pts had less clear cell (56 and 65%) versus A+P and I+N pts (94 and 82%). A+P pts had more favorable IMDC risk (19%) and less poor risk (14%). Baseline QOL was variable across regimens, with L+P generally the lowest. Absolute changes in PROs from enrollment to mo 3 (early change) by regimen are shown in the Table. LSM change from baseline in FKSI-19 and FKSI-DRS favored IO-IO versus IO-TKI at 3 mos but not at 6 mos (not shown). Conclusions: While early change in PROs did not meet the MID threshold between the IO-TKI and I+N cohorts, different patterns of early change are apparent among specific IO-TKI regimens. IO-TKI regimens exhibited higher variation in early PRO change vs I+N. As the data matures, we will associate baseline PROs and early PRO changes with early death and other outcomes. Clinical trial information: NCT04919122 . 3 month change. Instrument C+N (N=35) L+P (N=49) A+P (N=40) All IO-TKI(N=124) I+N(N=142) FKSI-19, N (%) 26 (74) 33 (67) 33 (83) 92 (74) 104 (73) Mean (SD) -0.3 (11) 2.8 (13) -3.2 (12) -0.2 (12) 0.7 (10) Median (IQR) 1.4 (-7, 6) 5.0 (-7, 11) -1.0 (-14, 5) 1.4 (-10, 8) -0.3 (-5, 6) FKSI-DRS, N (%) 26 (74) 33 (67) 33 (83) 92 (74) 104 (73) Mean (SD) -0.8 (5) 1.5 (7) -1.8 (6) -0.3 (6) 0.8 (5) Median (IQR) -0.5 (-5, 3) 2.0 (-5, 5) -1.0 (-5, 3) 0.0 (-5, 4) 0.0 (-2, 4) FACT-G, N (%) 27 (77) 32 (65) 29 (73) 88 (71) 102 (72) Mean (SD) 2.1 (14) 5.2 (16) -3.5 (15) 1.4 (15) 0.3 (13) Median (IQR) 4.0 (-4, 10) 1.2 (-6, 13) -6.4 (-11, 4) 1.6 (-8, 10) 1.6 (-7, 8)
Clinical efficacy of belzutifan in pre-treated renal cell carcinoma: A real world retrospective cohort benchmarked to LITESPARK-005.
Khan, Muhammad Ali, Sarfraz, Muhammad Uzair, Marsool, Mohammed Dheyaa, Kumar, Priya, Basu, Arnab, Abdul-Muhsin, Haidar, Abbas, Mousab Al, Marsool, Mohammed Dheyaa Marsool , Childs, Daniel S. , Riaz, Irbaz Bin , Zakharia, Yousef

Mayo Clinic

Journal of Clinical Oncology | March 2, 2026 | Volume: 44 | Issue: 7_suppl | Pages: 464-464

10.1200/jco.2026.44.7_suppl.464 Get It

464 Background: Based on LITESPARK-005 trail, Belzutifan was FDA-approved to treat advanced RCC following ICI and a VEGF-TKI. We conducted a retrospective cohort study to report the real-world outcomes of Belzutifan in pre-treated RCC patients. Methods: A retrospective chart review of all patients who received Belzutifan at the Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center between Dec 2023 and Sep 2025 was conducted. Patients treated for sporadic RCC were eligible; those with von Hippel–Lindau disease, non-RCC pathologies (e.g., Pheochromocytoma, ovarian cancer) were excluded. Radiologic response was assessed by trained curators using RECIST-defined criteria, approximated through systematic review of radiology reports with clinician adjudication when needed. Progression-free survival (PFS), defined as the time from treatment initiation to radiographic progression or death, was estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method. Non-progressors were censored at the last radiology assessment. Patients who discontinued therapy for non-progression reasons were censored at the last radiology assessment prior to discontinuation. Any-cause hypoxia and anemia were reported using CTCAEv5 definitions. Results: A total of 158 patients were identified; 83 (52.5%) who received Belzutifan for sporadic RCC were included. The remaining were excluded for VHL disease (68, 43%) or other pathologies (7, 4.4%). Median follow up was 12 months, 67% were male, median age was 70 (range 39, 94) with 57 patients (69%) were ≥ 65. 28 patients (34%) had a poor IMDC score at baseline. The cohort received a median of 3 previous lines of therapy (range 1,8). Median treatment duration was 3 months (IQR: 1-9.5). Median PFS was 5.7 months (95% CI, 3.8–8.7). At 12 and 18 months, 23.1% and 13.9% of patients, respectively, remained alive and progression-free. Corresponding OS rates at these time points were 60.2% and 51.5%. A confirmed ORR occurred in 12 patients (14.4%). Hypoxia occurred in 44 (53%) patients, median onset 31 days (range 1–270) and 29 (34.9%) required hospitalizations. Median hemoglobin (Hb) levels at baseline were 12.65 g/dl (range, 7.2-15.5), and 68 (82%) patients developed Hb decline on Belzutifan, 27 (32.5%) required transfusions. Conclusions: In an older, high-risk cohort with higher number of prior lines of therapy, Belzutifan yielded PFS/OS and ORR landmarks comparable to the trial supporting its effectiveness in the real world. Outcomes compared with LITESPARK-005 trial. Variable Real world cohort (Mayo Clinic) LITESPARK-005, Belzutifan arm Median PFS (months, 95% CI) 5.7 (3.8-8.7) 5.6 (3.9-7) 12-month PFS rate (%, 95% CI) 23.1% (14.4-33.4) 33.4% (28.4-33.5) 18-month PFS rate (%, 95% CI) 13.9% (7.7-23.9) 24% (19-29.4) 12-month OS rate (%, 95% CI) 60.2% (48.9-70.8) 67.9% (62.9-72.4) 18-month OS rate (%, 95% CI) 51.5% (40.6-62.9) 55.2% (50-60.1) ORR (%, 95% CI) 14.4% (7.7-23.9) 21.9% (17.8-26.5)
Outcomes of nephrectomy in patients with pathologic complete response to immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy for renal cell carcinoma: A multicenter study.
Ghoreifi, Alireza, Sobhani, Sina , Lopez, Carlos Rivera, Helstrom, Emma, Deol, Ekamjit S. , KHENE, Zine-Eddine, Gill, Inderbir, Thompson, Robert Houston, Tachibana, Isamu Tachibana, Khanna, Abhinav, Lee, R. Jeffrey, Uzzo, R., Margulis, Vitaly, Singla, Nirmish, Djaladat, Hooman, Ghoreifi, Alireza , Ghoreifi, Alireza , Moghaddam, Farshad Sheybaee , Basin, Michael F. , Lopez, Carlos A. Rivera , Khene, Z. , Gill, Inderbir, Thompson, R. Houston, Tachibana, Isamu , Margulis, Vitaly, Djaladat, Hooman

Mayo Clinic

Journal of Clinical Oncology | March 2, 2026 | Volume: 44 | Issue: 7_suppl | Pages: 454-454

10.1200/jco.2026.44.7_suppl.454 Get It

454 Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-based combination therapy has become the standard of care for advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). A pathologic complete response (pCR) in the primary tumor may be observed in up to one-third of patients; however, data on the outcomes of these patients remain limited. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes of patients who achieved a pCR following ICI therapy. Methods: Patients with advanced RCC who underwent nephrectomy following ICI therapy were evaluated across five high-volume U.S. academic centers between 2015 and 2023. Clinical characteristics and outcomes were compared between those with and without a pCR in the primary tumor (ypT0N0/Nx). Multivariable logistic regression models were used to identify factors associated with pCR. Recurrence-free (RFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier (KM) method. Results: A total of 182 patients were included (Table 1). Among all patients, downstaging to ≤ypT1N0/Nx was observed in 45 patients (25%), of whom 21 (11%) achieved a pCR. In multivariable analysis, the presence of clinical thrombus was marginally associated with a lower likelihood of achieving pCR (odds ratio [95% CI]: 0.39 [0.15–1.00], p=0.06). During a median follow-up of 25 months, 70 patients (38%) experienced recurrence, including 4 (2%) in the pCR group. Median time to recurrence was 7.5 months. KM analysis demonstrated a higher estimated 5-year RFS in the pCR group compared to those with residual disease; however, the difference was not statistically significant (68% vs. 54%, p=0.2). In addition, OS rates were comparable between the two groups. Conclusions: In our cohort, 11% of patients who underwent nephrectomy following ICI therapy for advanced RCC showed pCR, which correlated with improved oncologic outcomes. Despite the lower recurrence rates observed in the pCR group, sustained long-term surveillance remains necessary due to the continued, albeit reduced, risk of disease recurrence. Clinical characteristics of patients who underwent post-ICI nephrectomy, stratified by their pathologic complete response (pCR). Variable pCR (n=21) No pCR (n=161) p-value Median (IQR) age, year 61 (56 – 70) 64 (56 – 71) 0.46 Gender (male), n (%) 15 (71) 118 (73) 0.8 Tumor advancement, n (%) Locally advanced Metastatic 2 (10)19 (90) 36 (22)125 (78) 0.26 Risk group (for metastatic), n (%) Favorable Intermediate Poor 3 (25)6 (50)3 (25) 38 (34)59 (54)13 (12) 0.42 ICI regimen, n (%) ICI monotherapy ICI+ICI ICI+TKI 4 (19)9 (43)8 (38) 46 (28)64 (40)51 (32) 0.64 Immunotherapy cycles (>4), n (%) 8 (50) 49 (37) 0.42 Median (IQR) clinical tumor size, cm 9.3 (6.7 – 11.9) 8.4 (6.6 – 12) 0.68 Clinical nodal involvement, n (%) 8 (38) 53 (33) 0.63 Clinical thrombus, n (%) 12 (57) 60 (37) 0.1 ICI: immune checkpoint inhibitor; TKI: tyrosine kinase inhibitor.
Artificial intelligence (AI)–assisted eligibility screening for prostate cancer clinical trial matching.
Tran, Phu N. , Cingolani, Filippo , Naqvi, Syed Arsalan Ahmed , Ayub, Umair , Khoury, Peter R., Heath, Elisabeth I., Velcheti, V., Bekaii-Saab, Tanios S., Singh, Parminder Pal , Heath, Elisabeth I., Giridhar, Karthik V. , Tevaarwerk, Amyé , Bekaii-Saab, Tanios S., Zakharia, Yousef , Riaz, Irbaz Bin

Mayo Clinic

Journal of Clinical Oncology | March 2, 2026 | Volume: 44 | Issue: 7_suppl | Pages: 405-405

10.1200/jco.2026.44.7_suppl.405 Get It

405 Background: Clinical trials are critical to advancing prostate cancer treatment, yet patient enrollment remains a major bottleneck. Despite strong interest in AI for trial matching, real-world use remains limited due to reasons such as complex infrastructure requirements. To address this, we developed a lightweight, scalable AI framework leveraging the Google Healthcare Search API—requiring minimal technical expertise—to automate trial eligibility screening. Methods: We used a pre-trained GPT-5 large language model (LLM) to decompose the eligibility criteria of 13 prostate cancer clinical trials into 269 YES/NO questions, such that for an eligible patient of a given trial, the chart review would yield YES for inclusion and NO for exclusion questions. From 348 patients enrolled in one of the trials, we built a dataset linking each eligibility question to each patient, resulting in 4,947 patient–question pairs (2,034 inclusion pairs with YES labels and 2,913 exclusion pairs with NO labels). The task was framed as binary classification. During evaluation, for each patient–question pair, the LLM extracted search phrases from the question to retrieve relevant EHR information via the Google Healthcare Search API, then used the question and retrieved information to predict YES or NO responses. Performance was measured using accuracy, precision, recall, specificity, and F1 score. Results: Across 4,947 question–patient pairs, our framework achieved 0.81 accuracy, 0.85 precision, 0.65 recall, 0.92 specificity and a F1 score of 0.74. Results for different phases of trials is reported in Table 1, which demonstrates the approach’s robustness across trial phases. Predictions for exclusion criteria were highly precise, while inclusion criteria were more challenging. Most errors were observed in criteria involving complex nested logical conditions, interpretable clinical definitions and data not explicitly measurable or recorded in the EHR (e.g., planned treatments or clinician-assessed scores). Conclusions: This work demonstrates a practical AI framework to support clinical trial matching. The system can identify complex disease states (biochemical recurrence vs radiographic metastasis), castration status (sensitive, resistant) and genomics. Future work should focus on developing human-in-the-loop supervision and improving question decomposition to reduce errors in complex eligibility criteria. Screening performance of the proposed framework across different phases of trials. Trial Phase #Patient-Question Pairs #YES/NO labels Accuracy Precision Recall Specificity F1 score I, II, I/II 4,227 Yes: 1,735 No: 2,492 0.80 0.84 0.66 0.92 0.74 III 720 Yes: 299 No: 421 0.82 0.90 0.63 0.95 0.74 All 4,947 Yes: 2,034 No: 2,913 0.81 0.85 0.65 0.92 0.74 #YES/NO labels: The number of patient-question pairs that are labeled YES/NO among total patient-question pairs of the same row.
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) as potential biomarkers of response to 177 Lu-PSMA-617.
Kim, Yohan, Linford, Jessica , Huang, Minqi, Noori, Rubia, Muniz, Miguel, Zarka, Jabra , Heath, Elisabeth I. , Orme, Jacob J. , Chaudhuri, Aadel A., Sartor, Alton Oliver, Zarka, Jabra G , Jang, Albert , Chauhan, Pradeep S. , Greiner, Lilli , Childs, Daniel S. , Pachynski, Russell K. , Ledet, Elisa M. , Chaudhuri, Aadel A. , Lucien, Fabrice

Mayo Clinic

Journal of Clinical Oncology | March 2, 2026 | Volume: 44 | Issue: 7_suppl | Pages: 214-214

10.1200/jco.2026.44.7_suppl.214 Get It

214 Background: 177 Lu-PSMA-617 (LuPSMA) has revolutionized care for patients (pts) with metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), but only half achieves PSA decline ≥50%. Biomarkers are urgently needed to improve pt selection. EVs and ctDNA released by cancer cells into the blood are emerging biomarkers to estimate overall tumor burden and capture tumor heterogeneity in mCRPC. Here, we analyzed pre-treatment plasma levels of tumor EVs and ctDNA in a pilot cohort of 35 pts with mCRPC treated with LuPSMA. Methods: Blood samples were collected pre-cycle 1 of LuPSMA at Tulane Cancer Center between 12/2018-1/2025. Plasma-derived small and large EVs were incubated with fluorescently conjugated antibodies and enumerated using nanoscale flow cytometry. ctDNA fraction was estimated from plasma cfDNA methylation WGS (∼10×) with ichorCNA. We also analyzed EVs from blood samples of male healthy donors (HD) and pts with localized prostate cancer (LPC) collected 1 day to 8 months after radical prostatectomy (post-RP) from 6/2020-8/2024 at Mayo Clinic as controls. Results: Median age at collection for 10 HD was 55 yrs and for 36 pts with LPC post-RP was 65 yrs. Median PSMA+ EV level was 2.0 x 10 6 /mL for post-RP and 1.4 x 10 6 /mL for HD. For 35 pts with mCRPC, 25 pts had complete data for analysis. Median PSMA+ EV level was 1.4 x 10 7 /mL, significantly higher than post-RP (p<0.001) and HD (p<0.001). At LuPSMA start, median age was 69 yrs (range 54-83), PSA was 82 ng/mL (range 0.8-503), median time from CRPC diagnosis to start was 50 months (range 6.9-285), median time from plasma collection to treatment initiation was 0.5 months (range 0-7.3). Median number of prior lines of life-extending therapy was 4 (range 1-11), including 100% androgen receptor pathway inhibitor and 75% docetaxel. Pts received median 4 cycles of LuPSMA. Median ctDNA fraction was 14.0% (range 0-51.1). Median time to reach nadir PSA for pts with any decline was 2.6 months. 15 pts (60%) achieved PSA40 (defined ≥40% decline in PSA from start to nadir) (range -99% to -42%) compared to 10 pts (40%) who did not (range -16% to rise), which predicted better median overall survival (OS) after LuPSMA start (40.7 v 6.0 months; HR 0.23, 95% CI, 0.07-0.71; p=0.0001). Pts were classified as LuPSMA responders using PSA40. Responders had a lower ratio of large to small PSMA+ EVs (0.30 v 0.53, p=0.0042) with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.83 (95% CI, 0.68-0.99), and a lower median ctDNA fraction (6.1% v 26.2%, p=0.0044) with an AUC of 0.83 (95% CI, 0.68-1.00). Incorporating both PSMA+ EV and ctDNA fraction together predicted PSA40 response with an AUC of 0.93 (95% CI, 0.84-1.00, p=0.0003). Conclusions: Using pre-LuPSMA plasma samples from a heavily pre-treated historical cohort, we integrated non-invasive liquid biopsy methods to successfully predict response to LuPSMA using PSA decline. Prospective validation is underway.