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Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor

Pembrolizumab +/− Axitinib for Renal Cell Carcinoma

Phase 2
Recruiting
Led By David Y Oh, MD, PhD
Research Sponsored by University of California, San Francisco
Eligibility Criteria Checklist
Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial
Must have
Histologically confirmed RCC with a clear cell component
At least 18 years of age on day of signing informed consent
Must not have
Female of childbearing potential who has a positive urine pregnancy test within 72 hours prior to allocation
Has had an allogenic tissue/solid organ transplant
Timeline
Screening 3 weeks
Treatment Varies
Follow Up up to 2 years
Awards & highlights
No Placebo-Only Group

Summary

This trial is studying how well pembrolizumab with or without standard of care axitinib works in treating patients with clear cell kidney cancer that has spread.

Who is the study for?
Adults with advanced or metastatic clear cell kidney cancer who are undergoing surgery may join this trial. They should be in good physical condition, have a tumor that can be biopsied, and agree to use contraception if of childbearing potential. Exclusions include recent anti-cancer treatments, active infections, serious wounds, psychiatric issues affecting participation, pregnancy/breastfeeding intentions within 120 days post-treatment, prior PD-1/PD-L1 therapy or certain autoimmune diseases.
What is being tested?
The study is testing the effectiveness of pembrolizumab (an immune system booster) alone or combined with axitinib (a drug blocking enzymes promoting cancer growth) compared to standard care involving surgery followed by chemotherapy/radiation. The goal is to see if these drugs better control kidney cancer and reduce its return after surgery.
What are the potential side effects?
Pembrolizumab might cause immune-related reactions like inflammation in organs or skin rashes; axitinib could lead to high blood pressure or liver function changes. Both drugs may increase risks for infection and fatigue among other side effects.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

You may be eligible if you check “Yes” for the criteria below
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My kidney cancer has been confirmed to have clear cells.
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I am 18 years old or older.
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I am fully active or restricted in physically strenuous activity but can do light work.
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My cancer has spread beyond its original location.

Exclusion Criteria

You may be eligible for the trial if you check “No” for criteria below:
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I am a woman who can have children and I had a positive pregnancy test recently.
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I have received an organ or tissue transplant from another person.
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I have or had lung inflammation treated with steroids.
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I am currently on medication for an infection.
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I have been diagnosed with HIV.
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I have an active TB infection.
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I have had a solid organ or bone marrow transplant.
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My high blood pressure is not well-managed despite taking medication.
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I am not eligible for surgery or targeted therapy for my condition.
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I have not experienced brain function issues in the last 6 months.
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I have previously received treatments targeting immune checkpoints.
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I have received systemic therapy for kidney cancer.
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My kidney cancer does not have clear cells.
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I have noticeable swelling in my abdomen.
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I have an immune system disorder or have been on high-dose steroids or other immune-weakening medicines recently.
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My cancer has spread to the bones but can't be measured by standard tests.
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I have active brain metastases or carcinomatous meningitis.
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I have a history of hepatitis B or an active hepatitis C infection.

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks
Treatment ~ Varies
Follow Up ~up to 2 years
This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and up to 2 years for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

Study objectives can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.
Primary study objectives
Proportion of participants with >= 2-fold increase in the number of tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TIICs)
Secondary study objectives
Disease-Free Survival Rate (DFS) for participants who obtain CR or PR/SD with R0 resection and are treated 1 year of pembrolizumab-based therapy
Incidence of treatment-related adverse events
Median DFS for participants who obtain CR or PR/SD with R0 resection and are treated 1 year of pembrolizumab-based therapy
+3 more

Side effects data

From 2024 Phase 3 trial • 804 Patients • NCT03040999
64%
Radiation skin injury
63%
Stomatitis
58%
Anaemia
56%
Nausea
48%
Dry mouth
45%
Constipation
45%
Weight decreased
44%
Dysphagia
42%
Neutrophil count decreased
33%
Dysgeusia
33%
Vomiting
32%
Fatigue
31%
White blood cell count decreased
28%
Hypomagnesaemia
26%
Decreased appetite
25%
Hypothyroidism
25%
Hypokalaemia
24%
Lymphocyte count decreased
24%
Platelet count decreased
23%
Oropharyngeal pain
23%
Blood creatinine increased
22%
Diarrhoea
22%
Odynophagia
20%
Hypoacusis
20%
Alanine aminotransferase increased
20%
Hyponatraemia
19%
Tinnitus
19%
Oral candidiasis
19%
Asthenia
16%
Pyrexia
16%
Cough
15%
Aspartate aminotransferase increased
15%
Rash
14%
Insomnia
13%
Acute kidney injury
13%
Pharyngeal inflammation
13%
Pruritus
12%
Dysphonia
12%
Gamma-glutamyltransferase increased
11%
Pneumonia
11%
Dehydration
10%
Hyperthyroidism
10%
Hypoalbuminaemia
10%
Hypocalcaemia
10%
Headache
10%
Productive cough
9%
Neck pain
9%
Peripheral sensory neuropathy
8%
Gastrooesophageal reflux disease
8%
Hiccups
8%
Hyperglycaemia
8%
Hyperuricaemia
8%
Dizziness
8%
Hypophosphataemia
7%
Urinary tract infection
7%
Ear pain
7%
Localised oedema
7%
Hyperkalaemia
7%
Erythema
7%
Oral pain
6%
Abdominal pain upper
6%
Arthralgia
6%
Anxiety
6%
Febrile neutropenia
6%
Dyspepsia
6%
Saliva altered
5%
Back pain
5%
Oedema peripheral
5%
Hypertension
5%
Dyspnoea
4%
Nasopharyngitis
4%
Alopecia
4%
Dry skin
3%
Sepsis
3%
Pneumonia aspiration
3%
Trismus
3%
Pneumonitis
3%
Laryngeal oedema
2%
Malnutrition
2%
Pharyngeal haemorrhage
2%
Cellulitis
1%
Septic shock
1%
Clostridium difficile colitis
1%
Systemic infection
1%
Cardiac arrest
1%
Death
1%
Bronchitis
1%
Hepatitis
1%
Immune-mediated hepatitis
1%
Oesophagitis
1%
General physical health deterioration
1%
Hypophagia
1%
Tumour haemorrhage
1%
Cerebrovascular accident
1%
Syncope
1%
Acute respiratory failure
1%
Aspiration
1%
Colitis
1%
Mouth haemorrhage
1%
Hypersensitivity
1%
Acute myocardial infarction
1%
Abscess neck
1%
Device related infection
1%
Stoma site infection
1%
Vascular device infection
1%
Wound infection
1%
Hypercalcaemia
1%
Pulmonary embolism
1%
Respiratory failure
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
Study treatment Arm
Placebo + CRT Followed by Placebo
Pembrolizumab + CRT Followed by Pembrolizumab

Awards & Highlights

No Placebo-Only Group
All patients enrolled in this study will receive some form of active treatment.

Trial Design

2Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Group I: Cohort B (Pembrolizumab + VEGF-TKI)Experimental Treatment4 Interventions
Preoperative treatment consists of 200 mg pembrolizumab IV on day 1 of each cycle, and 5mg axitinib (a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI)) PO BID on days 1-42 of each cycle. Axitinib maybe titered in select patients after cycle 1. Treatment repeats every 21 days for up to 3 cycles (9 weeks). Within 14-21 days following the end of pre-operative treatment, patients undergo standard of care CN or MET. Patients with PD may undergo CN or MET per physician discretion. Within 21-42 days after surgery, patients with an R0 or R1 resection receive 400 mg pembrolizumab and 1, 3, 5, 7 or 10 mg axitinib PO BID every 42 days for up to 9 cycles (1 year), and patients with an R2 resection receive pembrolizumab IV and axitinib PO BID every 42 days for up to 18 cycles (2 years) in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.
Group II: Cohort A (Pembrolizumab monotherapy)Experimental Treatment3 Interventions
Preoperative treatment consists of 200mg pembrolizumab IV on day 1 of each cycle. Treatment repeats every 21 days for up to 3 cycles (9 weeks). Within 14-21 days following the end of treatment, patients undergo standard of care CN or MET. Patients with PD may undergo CN or MET per physician discretion. Within 21-42 days after surgery, patients with R0 resection or R1 resection receive 400 mg pembrolizumab every 42 days for up to 9 cycles (1 year) and patients with R2 resection receive pembrolizumab every 42 days for up to 18 cycles (2 years) in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.
Treatment
First Studied
Drug Approval Stage
How many patients have taken this drug
Pembrolizumab
2017
Completed Phase 3
~2810

Find a Location

Who is running the clinical trial?

University of California, San FranciscoLead Sponsor
2,585 Previous Clinical Trials
15,084,105 Total Patients Enrolled
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLCIndustry Sponsor
4,005 Previous Clinical Trials
5,185,337 Total Patients Enrolled
David Y Oh, MD, PhDPrincipal InvestigatorUniversity of California, San Francisco

Media Library

Axitinib (Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor) Clinical Trial Eligibility Overview. Trial Name: NCT04370509 — Phase 2
Renal Cell Carcinoma Research Study Groups: Cohort A (Pembrolizumab monotherapy), Cohort B (Pembrolizumab + VEGF-TKI)
Renal Cell Carcinoma Clinical Trial 2023: Axitinib Highlights & Side Effects. Trial Name: NCT04370509 — Phase 2
Axitinib (Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor) 2023 Treatment Timeline for Medical Study. Trial Name: NCT04370509 — Phase 2
~15 spots leftby Sep 2025