Angiogenic and immune predictors of neoadjuvant axitinib response in renal cell carcinoma with venous tumour thrombus

Abstract Venous tumour thrombus (VTT), where the primary tumour invades the renal vein and inferior vena cava, affects 10–15% of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patients. Curative surgery for VTT is high-risk, but neoadjuvant therapy may improve outcomes. The NAXIVA trial demonstrated a 35% VTT response...

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Main Authors: Rebecca Wray, Hania Paverd, Ines Machado, Johanna Barbieri, Farhana Easita, Abigail R. Edwards, Ferdia A. Gallagher, Iosif A. Mendichovszky, Thomas J. Mitchell, Maike de la Roche, Jacqueline D. Shields, Stephan Ursprung, Lauren Wallis, Anne Y. Warren, Sarah J. Welsh, Mireia Crispin-Ortuzar, Grant D. Stewart, James O. Jones, On behalf of the NAXIVA Study Group
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-04-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-58436-8
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author Rebecca Wray
Hania Paverd
Ines Machado
Johanna Barbieri
Farhana Easita
Abigail R. Edwards
Ferdia A. Gallagher
Iosif A. Mendichovszky
Thomas J. Mitchell
Maike de la Roche
Jacqueline D. Shields
Stephan Ursprung
Lauren Wallis
Anne Y. Warren
Sarah J. Welsh
Mireia Crispin-Ortuzar
Grant D. Stewart
James O. Jones
On behalf of the NAXIVA Study Group
author_facet Rebecca Wray
Hania Paverd
Ines Machado
Johanna Barbieri
Farhana Easita
Abigail R. Edwards
Ferdia A. Gallagher
Iosif A. Mendichovszky
Thomas J. Mitchell
Maike de la Roche
Jacqueline D. Shields
Stephan Ursprung
Lauren Wallis
Anne Y. Warren
Sarah J. Welsh
Mireia Crispin-Ortuzar
Grant D. Stewart
James O. Jones
On behalf of the NAXIVA Study Group
author_sort Rebecca Wray
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Venous tumour thrombus (VTT), where the primary tumour invades the renal vein and inferior vena cava, affects 10–15% of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patients. Curative surgery for VTT is high-risk, but neoadjuvant therapy may improve outcomes. The NAXIVA trial demonstrated a 35% VTT response rate after 8 weeks of neoadjuvant axitinib, a VEGFR-directed therapy. However, understanding non-response is critical for better treatment. Here we show that response to axitinib in this setting is characterised by a distinct and predictable set of features. We conduct a multiparametric investigation of samples collected during NAXIVA using digital pathology, flow cytometry, plasma cytokine profiling and RNA sequencing. Responders have higher baseline microvessel density and increased induction of VEGF-A and PlGF during treatment. A multi-modal machine learning model integrating features predict response with an AUC of 0.868, improving to 0.945 when using features from week 3. Key predictive features include plasma CCL17 and IL-12. These findings may guide future treatment strategies for VTT, improving the clinical management of this challenging scenario.
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publishDate 2025-04-01
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spelling doaj-art-e0db2dfec9d340c49f4b478d9f2fd2b02025-08-20T03:52:24ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-04-0116111410.1038/s41467-025-58436-8Angiogenic and immune predictors of neoadjuvant axitinib response in renal cell carcinoma with venous tumour thrombusRebecca Wray0Hania Paverd1Ines Machado2Johanna Barbieri3Farhana Easita4Abigail R. Edwards5Ferdia A. Gallagher6Iosif A. Mendichovszky7Thomas J. Mitchell8Maike de la Roche9Jacqueline D. Shields10Stephan Ursprung11Lauren Wallis12Anne Y. Warren13Sarah J. Welsh14Mireia Crispin-Ortuzar15Grant D. Stewart16James O. Jones17On behalf of the NAXIVA Study GroupEarly Cancer Institute, University of CambridgeEarly Cancer Institute, University of CambridgeEarly Cancer Institute, University of CambridgeCancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of CambridgeCancer Research UK Cambridge Centre, University of CambridgeCancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of CambridgeCambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustCambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustEarly Cancer Institute, University of CambridgeCancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of CambridgeTranslational Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham Biodiscovery InstituteCambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustWarwick Medical School, University of WarwickCambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustRoyal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation TrustEarly Cancer Institute, University of CambridgeCancer Research UK Cambridge Centre, University of CambridgeDepartment of Oncology, University of CambridgeAbstract Venous tumour thrombus (VTT), where the primary tumour invades the renal vein and inferior vena cava, affects 10–15% of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patients. Curative surgery for VTT is high-risk, but neoadjuvant therapy may improve outcomes. The NAXIVA trial demonstrated a 35% VTT response rate after 8 weeks of neoadjuvant axitinib, a VEGFR-directed therapy. However, understanding non-response is critical for better treatment. Here we show that response to axitinib in this setting is characterised by a distinct and predictable set of features. We conduct a multiparametric investigation of samples collected during NAXIVA using digital pathology, flow cytometry, plasma cytokine profiling and RNA sequencing. Responders have higher baseline microvessel density and increased induction of VEGF-A and PlGF during treatment. A multi-modal machine learning model integrating features predict response with an AUC of 0.868, improving to 0.945 when using features from week 3. Key predictive features include plasma CCL17 and IL-12. These findings may guide future treatment strategies for VTT, improving the clinical management of this challenging scenario.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-58436-8
spellingShingle Rebecca Wray
Hania Paverd
Ines Machado
Johanna Barbieri
Farhana Easita
Abigail R. Edwards
Ferdia A. Gallagher
Iosif A. Mendichovszky
Thomas J. Mitchell
Maike de la Roche
Jacqueline D. Shields
Stephan Ursprung
Lauren Wallis
Anne Y. Warren
Sarah J. Welsh
Mireia Crispin-Ortuzar
Grant D. Stewart
James O. Jones
On behalf of the NAXIVA Study Group
Angiogenic and immune predictors of neoadjuvant axitinib response in renal cell carcinoma with venous tumour thrombus
Nature Communications
title Angiogenic and immune predictors of neoadjuvant axitinib response in renal cell carcinoma with venous tumour thrombus
title_full Angiogenic and immune predictors of neoadjuvant axitinib response in renal cell carcinoma with venous tumour thrombus
title_fullStr Angiogenic and immune predictors of neoadjuvant axitinib response in renal cell carcinoma with venous tumour thrombus
title_full_unstemmed Angiogenic and immune predictors of neoadjuvant axitinib response in renal cell carcinoma with venous tumour thrombus
title_short Angiogenic and immune predictors of neoadjuvant axitinib response in renal cell carcinoma with venous tumour thrombus
title_sort angiogenic and immune predictors of neoadjuvant axitinib response in renal cell carcinoma with venous tumour thrombus
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-58436-8
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