Immunomodulatory response to neoadjuvant nivolumab in non-metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma

Health-care teams treating patients undergoing nephrectomy for high-risk, non-metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma are in need of novel perioperative strategies. A prospective, phase I trial of neoadjuvant nivolumab prior to nephrectomy in 15 evaluable patients with non-metastatic ccRCC was conducted and findings support considering neoadjuvant immune checkpoint inhibition for high-risk ccRCC while the tumor remains in situ.