Optimizing treatment for patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma in the central and Eastern European region

Introduction: Belarus, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia and the Ukraine represent a collection of Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries in which the epidemiology and treatment of cancer varies greatly between and within countries. Current challenges include non-adherence to current treatment guidelines, restrictions in access and reimbursement for new therapies, and a lack of basic oncology programs. Metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) is a malignancy with historically poor prognosis. In CEE countries, the incidence and mortality rates of mRCC are among the highest in the world. Fortunately, mRCC represents a cancer for which a number of new targeted therapies have recently demonstrated benefit, resulting in new evidence-based treatment guidelines. Incorporating these mRCC treatment recommendations into the routine care of patients with mRCC in CEE countries would represent...