An Update on the Treatment of Papillary Renal Cell Carcinoma

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Papillary renal cell carcinoma is the second most common type of kidney cancer, after clear cell kidney cancer. Given that it is relatively rare, studying this disease has been quite a challenge. New treatments and techniques for studying papillary kidney cancer have led to some meaningful improvements in therapy for this disease. In this review article, we summarize some of the historical studies in this space, and look ahead to three upcoming trials in papillary renal cell carcinoma. ABSTRACT: Papillary renal cell carcinoma (pRCC) is the second-most common subtype of kidney cancer following clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), representing 15% of kidney cancers. Despite advances in therapy, including combination strategies with targeted therapies and immune checkpoint inhibitors, progress has lagged behind that of ccRCC. This is in part due to the heterogenous nature of the various subtypes of pRCC. More recently, investigators have turned efforts towards histology and biology-based trials. In this review, we outline some of the distinct biological characteristics of pRCC and discuss the most impactful clinical trials to date. Finally, we look ahead to several highly anticipated ongoing trials in pRCC.