Treating renal cell carcinoma with subcutaneous immunotherapy

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common type of kidney cancer in adults. The kidneys are a pair of fist-sized organs located in the lower back. These organs act as filters for the body, removing unneeded fluid and substances from the bloodstream.

Kidney cancer is among the most common types of cancer in the United States, and over 90 percent of kidney cancers are RCC. This type of cancer is most commonly diagnosed between ages 60 and 70, and it’s twice as common in males than it is in females.

Treatment recommendations depend on the stage of the cancer and other factors. RCC is usually treated with a combination of therapies, which can include surgery, radiation therapy, ablation therapy, and different systemic therapies, such as chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy.

What is immunotherapy?

Immunotherapies are cancer treatments that help the body’s immune system fight cancer cells. The most commonly used immunotherapies for RCC are immune checkpoint inhibitors. These drugs work by disabling proteins that prevent immune cells from attacking cancer cells, which helps the immune system find and destroy cancer cells.

What is subcutaneous immunotherapy?

Different immunotherapy drugs can be administered in different ways. Most immunotherapy drugs for RCC are administered with an intravenous (IV) infusion, where a needle is inserted in a vein and the drug administered into the bloodstream.

Subcutaneous immunotherapies are delivered with an injection into the subcutaneous tissue, a layer of fatty tissue located just beneath the skin. From there, the drug will be absorbed into the lymphatic system, a network of lymph nodes and lymph vessels that transport immune cells throughout the body).

Subcutaneous immunotherapies are an emerging field in cancer treatment and research is ongoing. Several drugs are available for different cancers, including some that can be used for renal cell carcinoma. Other therapies are under development.

What should I know about subcutaneous immunotherapy?

As a treatment, subcutaneous immunotherapy can have several advantages.

Shorter appointment times

Subcutaneous injections take less time compared to infusion therapies and can be delivered at a healthcare provider’s office. This means a person will need to visit their healthcare provider’s office for each dose of the treatment, but they will not need to travel to an infusion center. The schedule of doses will vary from person to person.

Lower risk of side effects

Subcutaneous immunotherapy may be useful for people who want or need to avoid infusion therapy side effects. Some studies have found the incidence of side effects is lower with subcutaneous immunotherapies compared to intravenous immunotherapies. This includes serious side effects, like infusion reactions and autoimmune reactions.

However, it’s important to remember that any cancer medication can cause side effects. Common side effects of immune checkpoint inhibitors include fatigue, itching, cough, joint pain, cough, and gastrointestinal symptoms. Side effects should be discussed with a healthcare provider before beginning any treatment, and your healthcare providers can help you manage any side effects that occur during treatment.

What should I do if I want to know more?

Like any cancer treatment, subcutaneous immunotherapy will be a good choice in certain circumstances, and other treatment approaches will be recommended in other circumstances. If you or a loved one is living with RCC, learn what you can about the different treatment options that are available and discuss your different treatment options with your healthcare providers. Your cancer care team will be your best source of information.