VIRO 2026 Day 2 Highlights: Global Voices in Renal Oncology

Adjuvant and Perioperative Treatment Strategies in Localized RCC

The scientific programme opened with an examination of adjuvant treatment in renal cell carcinoma (RCC). According to Viktor Grünwald, postoperative management strategies are shifting as new clinical trial data continues to influence how clinicians approach patients at increased risk of recurrence.

Yüksel Ürün expanded this evaluation to the broader perioperative landscape. His presentation focused on localized high-risk RCC, detailing how treatment decision-making increasingly extends beyond surgery alone to incorporate systemic therapies.

Atkins connected trial data from KEYNOTE-564 directly to everyday clinical practice. He discussed adjuvant pembrolizumab, emphasizing that clinicians must carefully balance individual patient characteristics, recurrence risk, and available trial evidence when planning postoperative care.

Moving Beyond Clear Cell Histologies

Renal oncology is shifting away from a single disease model toward histology-specific treatment frameworks. Hossein Taghizadeh reviewed first-line treatment strategies for chromophobe RCC, analyzing current evidence for this less common subtype.

Francesco Massari addressed papillary histologies in non-clear cell RCC. According to Massari, treating non-clear cell disease as a single entity is no longer sufficient given the distinct biological differences among individual tumor subtypes.

Overcoming Immunotherapy Resistance and Refining Biomarkers

While immunotherapy forms the backbone of advanced RCC treatment, patient response rates vary significantly. Zin W. Myint examined biomarkers of response and resistance, highlighting ongoing efforts to shift from broad immunotherapy approaches toward biomarker-informed patient selection.

Addressing treatment failure directly, Hans Hammers analyzed why immunotherapy fails and how resistance mechanisms might be overcome. According to Hammers, understanding why certain tumors stop responding after initial disease control is critical for extending durable outcomes to more patients.

Ulka Vaishampayan explored the expanding role of microbiome therapy in RCC management. Vaishampayan’s presentation showed that manipulating the microbiome may eventually influence therapeutic response, extending precision oncology beyond tumor genomics into the patient’s broader biological environment.

Targeted Therapies, HIF-2α, and Emerging Platforms

Targeting central molecular pathways remains a primary focus in clear cell RCC drug development. Jaime R. Merchan reviewed clinical applications of HIF-2α targeting, while Moshe Ornstein evaluated combining HIF-2α-directed therapy with tyrosine kinase inhibitors.

Manojkumar Bupathi reviewed second-line treatment options, noting that sequencing tyrosine kinase inhibitors has grown increasingly complex as first-line combination regimens become standard practice.

Looking toward novel treatment platforms, Guru Sonpavde discussed antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) designed to deliver targeted anti-cancer payloads. David Aggen examined cellular therapies and bispecific T-cell engagers, expanding immunologic strategies beyond conventional checkpoint inhibitors.

Multidisciplinary Management: Radiation, Surgery, and Supportive Care

Ciro Franzese examined stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for oligoprogressive kidney cancer, while Steven Seyedin evaluated SBRT for primary, non-metastatic RCC. Both presentations demonstrated how targeted radiation can complement systemic treatments.

In the surgical domain, Eric A. Singer discussed patient selection for cytoreductive nephrectomy in the era of modern systemic therapy. Ketan K. Badani explored confocal microscopy for real-time diagnosis and surgical margin assessment during tumor management.

Karine Trindade addressed systemic treatment options for localized, inoperable disease, and subsequently analyzed real-world treatment sequencing for advanced RCC in Latin America. Trindade emphasized that translating international trial data requires accounting for regional healthcare access and local realities.

Darren Feldman reviewed radiotheranostics, an emerging field combining diagnostic targeting with therapeutic delivery. James Brugarolas utilized mouse models to study the genetic drivers of translocation renal cell carcinoma (tRCC).

Evita Sadimin addressed diagnostic challenges in renal tumor classifications, noting that accurate molecular and genetic categorization is increasingly vital for establishing patient prognosis.

Sabine D. Brookman-May explored exercise and lifestyle medicine, emphasizing that supportive interventions contribute to overall patient well-being. Biren Saraiya highlighted the integration of primary palliative care into comprehensive RCC management to address patient symptoms and priorities.

Finally, Eric Jonasch presented findings from the International Kidney Cancer Coalition Global Patient Survey, incorporating direct patient perspectives into the congress discussions. Pedro Barata delivered the closing remarks, bringing VIRO 2026 to a close.

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