Introducing the International Neoadjuvant Kidney Cancer Consortium (INKCC) and making the case for a neoadjuvant therapy research strategy

As the landscape of kidney cancer treatment evolves, the need for innovative and joined-up strategies has never been more critical.

Neoadjuvant therapy has emerged as a topic of growing interest among researchers. In the context of kidney cancer, neoadjuvant therapy involves the use of drug therapies, such as immunotherapy or targeted therapy, prior to the standard treatment which is nephrectomy (the surgical removal of a kidney). By administering therapy before surgery, clinicians can treat the cancer as early as possible, assess the tumour’s response and adapt treatment plans, tailoring care to individual patient needs. Kidney cancer is often diagnosed at an advanced stage, and surgical intervention alone may not be sufficient. This approach has already led to significant improvements in other cancer types.

However, until recently, there has been a lack of coordination in clinical trials focusing on neoadjuvant therapy for kidney cancer. Small trials, different inclusion criteria and varying treatment lengths has made it problematic to assess results on a larger scale and draw meaningful conclusions.

The International Neoadjuvant Kidney Cancer Consortium (INKCC), comprised of key scientists and clinician researchers from Europe and North America, led by Professor Grant Stewart (University of Cambridge) and Professor Axel Bex (University College London),aims to develop a single strategy on research in neoadjuvant treatment in kidney cancer. In their inaugural paper, published this spring in European Urology, Bex, Stewart et al. introduce INKCC, identify key questions, and make the case for a coherent and coordinated effort to develop this strategy.

The INKCC is gaining traction, with Professor Stewart invited to speak at high-profile meetings including UroOnco25, Kidney Cancer Research Summit (KCRS), European Multidisciplinary Congress on Urological Cancers (EMUC) and the SIU 2025 Congress.

Professor Stewart said, “it is vital that research on neoadjuvant therapy in kidney cancer is planned strategically, using our resources in a way that produces results that are of maximum benefit for patients. Colleagues in other cancer types have made remarkable progress since building a multidisciplinary consensus on research priorities, we hope to replicate this success with INKCC.”

INKCC has undertaken a survey of kidney cancer experts to identify areas of consensus and disagreement. In our next blog, we’ll share the outcomes from this Delphi survey and how this process is already yielding consensus.

Read the full article here: ‘A Call for a Neoadjuvant Kidney Cancer Consortium: Lessons Learned from Other Cancer Types’, European Urology Volume 87 (4) April 2025, Pages 385-389 (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eururo.2025.01.007)