Nivolumab in previously treated patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma: a guide to its use

Nivolumab (Opdivo®), an anti-programmed death (PD)-1 receptor antibody, is a useful addition to the options available to treat previously treated patients with advanced (i.e. inoperable and/or metastatic) renal cell carcinoma. By blocking the interactions between the PD-1 receptor and PD-ligand (PD-L) 1 and PD-L2, nivolumab enhances T-cell response against tumour cells and increases cytokine production. Nivolumab treatment significantly improved...