Pembrolizumab and axitinib induced pathological complete response in metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma with inferior vena cava thrombus: A case report

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma is the predominant subtype of kidney cancer. With distant metastasis, the overall survival rate for patients with renal cell carcinoma decreases significantly compared to localized disease. However, pembrolizumab plus axitinib combination is safe and improves long-term survival. Herein, we report a case of a pathological complete response from systemic pembrolizumab plus axitinib therapy in a 57-year-old male with locally advanced renal cell carcinoma with extensive kidney, inferior vena cava, and hepatic invasion, as well as metastatic disease to the retroperitoneal lymph nodes and lung. After 2-years of systemic treatment, there was absent radiographic evidence of renal cell carcinoma in the lung. The patient underwent right radical nephrectomy, adrenalectomy, partial hepatectomy, and inferior vena cava ligation. Pathology indicated no evidence of tumor consistent with a pathological complete response. This case highlights the possibility of a pathological complete response with pembrolizumab plus axitinib in metastatic renal cell carcinoma and potential disparate findings between radiological response and pathological response.