Systematic review and meta-analysis of first-line therapy for non-clear cell renal cell carcinoma

Non-clear cell renal cell carcinomas (nccRCCs) present considerable challenges owing to their heterogeneity and limited clinical trial representation. A systematic review and meta-analysis including 23 studies (1470 patients) encompassing various metastatic subtypes of nccRCC found that immune checkpoint inhibitors exhibited efficacy as first-line therapy; the combination of immunotherapy with tyrosine kinase inhibitors appeared to yield superior efficacy compared with the use of single-agent therapies. The authors conclude that immunotherapy-based combination approaches may be regarded as a viable first-line treatment option.