Real-world efficacy and safety of pembrolizumab plus lenvatinib in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma: a multi-institutional retrospective study.

Despite the potential of pembrolizumab and lenvatinib combination therapy in treating metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC), real-world evidence on its efficacy and safety remains limited. We retrospectively analyzed data from 118 patients with mRCC who initiated pembrolizumab plus lenvatinib as first-line therapy between August 2022 and March 2024. Patient characteristics, treatment outcomes, and adverse events were evaluated. Oncological outcomes were stratified following the International Metastatic RCC Database Consortium risk classification. The objective response and disease control rates were 69.5% and 98.5%, respectively. Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 26.8 months (95% confidence interval (CI), 23.5-27.8)), whereas the median overall survival (OS) was not reached (95%CI, 20.5- not reached). Grade ≥ 3 treatment-related adverse events occurred in 39.8% of all patients. Clinical outcomes were also compared between patients aged ≥ 75 and < 75 years. Median age was 70 years; 70.3% and 29.7% aged < 75 and ≥ 75 years, respectively. No significant differences were observed in PFS and OS between the two groups (p = 0.14 and p = 0.44, respectively). Pembrolizumab plus lenvatinib demonstrated favorable efficacy and manageable safety in a real-world cohort of patients with mRCC, including older adults.

Scientific reports. 2025 Dec 12*** epublish ***

Taigo Kato, Yasutomo Nakai, Mototaka Sato, Tetsuya Takao, Toshichika Iwanishi, Shingo Toyoda, Hiroki Osaki, Masao Tsujihata, Koichi Okada, Kenichi Kakimoto, Hiromu Horitani, Yutaka Ono, Kensaku Nishimura, Shingo Takada, Kazutoshi Fujita, Hitoshi Takayama, Osamu Miyake, Masashi Nakayama, Yu Ishizuya, Takuji Hayashi, Yoshiyuki Yamamoto, Koji Hatano, Atsunari Kawashima, Norio Nonomura

Department of Urology, The University of Osaka Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan. ., Department of Urology, Osaka International Cancer Institute, Osaka, Japan., Department of Urology, Toyonaka Municipal Hospital, Toyonaka, Osaka, Japan., Department of Urology, Osaka General Medical Center, Osaka, Japan., Department of Urology, Sakai City Medical Center, Osaka, Japan., Department of Urology, Kindai University, Osaka, Japan., Department of Urology, Osaka Police Hospital, Osaka, Japan., Department of Urology, Osaka Rosai Hospital, Osaka, Japan., Department of Urology, National Hospital Organization Osaka National Hospital, Osaka, Japan., Department of Urology, Nippon Life Hospital, Osaka, Japan., Department of Urology, Higashiosaka City Medical Center, Osaka, Japan., Department of Urology, The University of Osaka Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.