Opdivo (Nivolumab) for Kidney Cancer

Overview
Opdivo is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of adults with advanced renal cell carcinoma, a common type of kidney cancer. It can be used as a first-line treatment in combination with either ipilimumab or cabozantinib, or as a treatment option for people who have previously received anti-angiogenic therapy. Opdivo is also known by its drug name, nivolumab.

Opdivo is a type of immunotherapy called a programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) blocking antibody. It’s thought to work by helping the immune system recognize and attack cancer cells more effectively.

How do I take it?
Prescribing information states that Opdivo is given as an intravenous (IV) infusion. For advanced kidney cancer, it may be administered in one of three ways:

• With ipilimumab — Generally given together every three weeks for four doses, followed by Opdivo alone every two or four weeks.
• With cabozantinib — Typically administered every two or four weeks, along with a daily oral dose of cabozantinib.
• As a single agent (for those previously treated) — Typically given alone every two or four weeks.

The drug should be administered exactly as prescribed by a healthcare provider.

Side effects
Common side effects of Opdivo when used as a single agent include fatigue, rash, musculoskeletal pain, pruritus (itching), diarrhea, nausea, asthenia (weakness), cough, dyspnea (shortness of breath), constipation, decreased appetite, back pain, arthralgia (joint pain), upper respiratory tract infection, pyrexia (fever), headache, abdominal pain, vomiting, and urinary tract infection.

When Opdivo is used in combination with other approved treatments for kidney cancer, common side effects include:

• With ipilimumab — Diarrhea, pruritus (itching), nausea, pyrexia (fever), cough, vomiting, abdominal pain, dyspnea (shortness of breath), upper respiratory tract infection, arthralgia (joint pain), headache, hypothyroidism, constipation, decreased weight, and dizziness.
• With cabozantinib — Diarrhea, fatigue, hepatotoxicity (liver damage), palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia syndrome (hand-foot syndrome), stomatitis (mouth inflammation), rash, hypertension (high blood pressure), hypothyroidism, musculoskeletal pain, decreased appetite, nausea, dysgeusia (altered taste), abdominal pain, cough, and upper respiratory tract infection.

Rare but serious side effects may include immune-mediated adverse reactions that can affect any organ or tissue. These include pneumonitis (lung inflammation), colitis (inflammation of the colon), hepatitis (liver inflammation), endocrinopathies (hormonal disorders), dermatologic adverse reactions (skin disorders), and nephritis (kidney inflammation). Infusion-related reactions may also occur and could require slowing or stopping treatment. Serious complications have been reported in people receiving stem cell transplants before or after treatment with Opdivo. The drug may cause harm to an unborn baby, so effective birth control is recommended during treatment.

For more information about this treatment, visit:

Opdivo (Nivolumab) Injection, for Intravenous Use — Bristol-Myers Squibb