Effectiveness and Safety of Lenvatinib and Everolimus after Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Metastatic Renal Cell Cancer: A Systematic Review

While the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) is evolving due to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), optimal strategies for later lines of therapy have yet to be defined. The combination of lenvatinib and everolimus represents a viable option, and the present review aimed to summarize its activity, effectiveness, and safety.

A systematic review of the literature was conducted using PubMed, targeting studies published between 2018 and 2025. Eligible studies included English-language prospective and retrospective trials reporting survival outcomes in mRCC patients treated with lenvatinib and everolimus after at least one ICI-containing regimen.

Nine studies met the inclusion criteria, encompassing a total of 441 patients. The lenvatinib and everolimus combination was primarily used in the third and subsequent lines of therapy. Median overall survival ranged from 7.5 to 24.5 months, while median progression-free survival was more consistent, between 6.1 and 6.7 months, except for one study reporting 12.9 months. Objective response rates varied widely (14.0%–55.7%). Adverse events of grade ≥ 3 did not exceed the expected rate, with diarrhoea and proteinuria as the most reported events. Dose reductions and treatment discontinuations due to toxicity occurred but were generally lower than in prior pivotal trials.

Real-world evidence suggests that lenvatinib and everolimus represent an effective and safe option after ICI failure in mRCC patients. Nevertheless, the lack of randomized phase III trials and the heterogeneity of existing studies highlight the need for more robust prospective research to guide post-ICI therapeutic strategies.