The Effects of Axitinib plus Tislelizumab in the Treatment of Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma

OBJECTIVE: To study and analyze the clinical efficacy of axitinib combined with tislelizumab in the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma and its effects on renal function and serum cytokines. METHODS: Totally 49 patients with advanced renal cancer treated in our hospital from November 2018 to January 2020 were randomized to treatment with axitinib (control group, n = 27) or axitinib combined with tislelizumab (study group, n = 22). The clinical efficacy, renal function and adverse reactions were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: After treatment, both groups showed a significant decrease in blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (SCR), but treatment with axitinib plus tislelizumab led to a significantly greater reduction than did the axitinib (each p < 0.05). After treatment, both groups showed a significant decrease in TNF-β1, VEGF, TIMP-1, and MMP-2, but treatment with axitinib plus tislelizumab led to a significantly greater reduction than did the axitinib (each p < 0.05). The study group had significantly higher rates of adverse reactions (p < 0.05). Significant difference was observed in ORR (59.1% vs 40.7%) and DCR (81.8% vs 66.7%) between the study group and the control group, with higher results in study group (p < 0.05). The study group was superior to the control group in OS (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our study presents an effective alternative for advanced renal cell carcinoma by using axitinib plus tislelizumab. Limitations merit attention, and the study group had higher rates of adverse reactions. Therefore, further studies are suggested to secure a larger population of subjects.