Clinical Trials Corner

Dear Readers,

The Clinical Trials Corner of the Kidney Cancer journal aims to present results from recently published trials and draw attention to ongoing studies in the field of renal cell carcinoma.

We hope that this section of the journal will help in the recruitment process of the trials and highlight new, possibly practice changing results. If you would like to inform us on a specific clinical trial, please do not hesitate to contact us on mbparikh@ucdavis.edu or kca@iospress.com.

Sincerely,

Mamta_Parikh_lr
Mamta Parikh, MD
Clinical Trials Corner Editor, Kidney Cancer
Assistant Professor, Hematology Oncology
UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, Sacramento, CA, USA

MEDI4736 Combinations in Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma (CALYPSO)

Status: 
Recruiting
Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: 
NCT02819596
Sponsor: 
Queen Mary University of London
Enrollment: 
195
Study Design: 
This study investigates both the safety and efficacy of the immunotherapy drug MEDI4736 (durvalumab) both alone and in combination with targeted therapy in patients with advanced or metastatic RCC. This phase is a randomised, multi-centre study recruiting across the UK and Spain. 195 patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma will be enrolled. Patients with papillary cell cancer are automatically entered into a treatment arm (MEDI4736 + Savolitinib) while those with clear cell RCC are randomised to one of four treatment arms (a: tremelimumab + savolitinib, b: MEDI4736 alone, c: MEDI4736 + Savolitinib, d: Savolitinib alone).
Rationale: 
Patients with papillary cell cancer are often excluded from clinical trials. As such there is no prospective, randomised data on optimal treatment for this subgroup except that based on subgroup analysis within studies. MEDI14736, a monoclonal antibody which inhibits the PD-L1 checkpoint signal, has been shown to have some effectiveness in solid tumours inducing response rates of up to 20% in PD-L1 unselected patients. The response rate seems to be more marked in those with PD-L1 positive staining. Savolitinib, a selective c-Met kinase inhibitor, is currently under investigation in various studies and has shown some encouraging response rates in individuals with papillary type tumours in study D5081C00001. The potential of combining immune and targeted therapy is being increasingly explored in the domain of renal cell cancer and may lead to longer, durable responses, far superior to those currently seen.
Endpoints: 
The primary endpoints are overall response in patients with metastatic papillary cell cancer as measured by RECIST 1.1 criteria as well as a biomarker enriched analysis in all (papillary and clear cell RCC) patients. The secondary endpoints included are OS and PFS as determined by time from onset of treatment to radiological progression by RECIST 1.1.
Results: 
No results are currently available.
Comments: 
Metastatic papillary cell cancer is associated with a poor prognosis due to a naturally more aggressive disease history. This trial provides these patients with an opportunity to receive a combination of immune and targeted therapy. This is an exciting opportunity in a somewhat neglected patient cohort at risk of rapid disease progression.

PROSPER: A phase III randomized study comparing perioperative nivolumab versus observation in patients with localized renal cell carcinoma (RCC) undergoing nephrectomy (ECOG-ACRIN 8143)

Status: 
Recruiting
Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: 
NCT03055013
Sponsor: 
National Cancer Institute/CTEP via the National Clinical Trials Network (Lead group: ECOG);
Enrollment: 
766
Study Design: 
PROSPER RCC (EA8143) is a global, un-blinded, phase 3 study which will examine if perioperative nivolumab in combination with radical or partial nephrectomy can improve clinical outcomes in patients with high risk localized and locally advanced RCC. 766 patients with clinical stage ≥T2 or node positive M0 RCC of any histology will be enrolled. T1 tumors are allowed if signs of clinical node positivity. Tumor biopsy prior to randomization is mandatory to ensure RCC but also permits unparalleled correlative science. Randomization is 1:1. Patients are stratified by clinical T stage, node positivity, and histology. Patients on the investigational arm receive two doses of nivolumab prior to surgery followed by adjuvant nivolumab for 9 months. The adjuvant dosing will be every 2 weeks for 3 months then transition to every 4 weeks x 6 months for enhanced quality of life. The control arm will receive standard of care surgical resection followed by observation. The primary endpoint is recurrence-free survival. The study is also powered to evaluate a significant increase in overall survival with the addition of perioperative PD-1 blockade. Safety, feasibility, and quality of life endpoints critical to adjuvant therapy considerations will be evaluated. PROSPER RCC exemplifies team science with a wealth of embedded correlative work aimed at investigating the impact of the baseline immune milieu, the changes induced by neoadjuvant anti-PD-1 priming, and how both correlate with clinical outcomes.
Rationale: 
As of 2018, there remains no standard adjuvant systemic therapy that increases overall survival over nephrectomy alone for patients with non-metastatic RCC. Nivolumab is an antibody against PD-1 that can improve overall survival in metastatic RCC and is well tolerated. Moving this agent earlier in the disease course to improve clinical outcomes makes sense but requires a thoughtful approach. Within the primary tumor and its microenvironment, there is an ongoing but unsuccessful anti-tumor immune response. Work in murine models has shown that post-PD-1 blockade, anti-tumor CD8 T cells may preferentially expand in these areas and traffic to distant sites, developing into memory cells (Woo Cancer Research 2012). Nephrectomy may remove the majority of these effector cells and cytokines thereby inducing a less potent immune response. Mouse solid tumor models have revealed an overall survival benefit with a short course of neo-adjuvant PD-1 blockade compared to adjuvant therapy alone (Liu Cancer Discovery 2016). In humans, ongoing phase 2 studies of perioperative nivolumab in M0 RCC patients are showing preliminary feasibility and safety with no surgical delays or complications (NCT02575222; NCT02595918).
Comments: 
The success of PROSPER RCC requires a thoughtful disruption of the current practice of upfront surgery followed by consideration of adjuvant systemic therapy. Given the mechanism of action of nivolumab, it makes sense to engage the patient’s immune system by priming with nivolumab prior to surgery when there is significant target (i.e., tumor antigen) in place. This change in practice has strong potential to increase cures, delay time to recurrence and improve overall survival in patients with high risk non-metastatic RCC.

Nivolumab in Combination with Sunitinib, Pazopanib, or Ipilimumab in Subjects with Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma (mRCC) (CheckMate 016)

Status: 
Open
Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: 
NCT01472081
Sponsor: 
Bristol-Myers Squibb
Enrollment: 
175
Study Design: 
The purpose of this study was to determine the safety, efficacy and optimal dose of Nivolumab in combination with Sunitinib, Pazopanib, or Ipilimumab for the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). Patients in the immune combination arm were randomly assigned to one of three dosing options: nivolumab 3 mg/kg plus ipilimumab 1 mg/kg (N3I1), nivolumab 1 mg/kg plus ipilimumab 3 mg/kg (N1I3), or nivolumab 3 mg/kg plus ipilimumab 3 mg/kg (N3I3).
Rationale: 
This is an open-label, dose-escalation, phase I study that investigates for the first time, the efficacy and safety of immune combination therapy PD-1 inhibitor nivolumab and CTLA-4 inhibitor ipilimumab and nivolumab in combination with a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) in mRCC.
Endpoints: 
Primary Endpoints: Safety and tolerability of Nivolumab plus TKI or Nivolumab + Ipilimumab measured by the incidence of adverse events, serious adverse events and laboratory abnormalities. Secondary Outcome Measures: Efficacy of Nivolumab plus TKI, or Ipilimumab measured by Objective Response Rate and duration of response according to Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors (RECIST) 1.1.
Results: 
Safety and efficacy results from the immune combination nivolumab plus ipilimumab arms of the study were recently published (Hammers et al.). Patients in the N3I3 arm were censored due to dose-limiting toxicities. Forty-seven patients were treated in the remaining two immune combination arms. Almost 40% in the N3I1 arm and approximately 60% of the N1I3 arm patients presented grade 3 to 4, treatment-related adverse events. The objective response rate was 40%, with a 2-year overall survival of approximately 70% in both treatment arms.
Comments: 
This study showed that immune combination treatments in mRCC are safe and present promsing efficacy with durable responses in patients. A Phase III study of Nivolumab combined with Ipilimumab versus Sunitinib monotherapy is currently (NCT02231749).

A Phase II, Randomized Study of Atezolizumab (Anti PD-L1 Antibody) Administered as Monotherapy or in Combination with Bevacizumab Versus Sunitinib in Participants with Untreated Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma

Status: 
Open
Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: 
NCT01984242
Sponsor: 
Hoffmann-La Roche
Enrollment: 
305
Study Design: 
This multicenter, randomized, open-label study evaluated the efficacy, safety and tolerability of atezolizumab as monotherapy or in combination with bevacizumab versus sunitinib in patients with histologically confirmed, previously untreated mRCC. After progression on atezolizumab or sunitinib, crossover to combination arm atezolizumab + bevacizumab was allowed.
Rationale: 
VEGF pathway inhibition has significantly improved the outcome of patients with advanced or metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC), however most patients will develop resistance, often within 12 months. Therefore, new therapeutic strategies are needed to reach durable responses. Combination of immune checkpoint inhibitors with VEGF inhibitors may prevent the development of resistance.
Endpoints: 
Primary Endpoint: progression free survival (PFS) according to Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors (RECIST) 1.1 measured in both Intent-to-Treat (ITT) Population and subjects who have detectable PD-L1 expression. Secondary Endpoints include overall response rate (ORR) per RECIST 1.1, duration of response (DoR), overall survival (OS) and safety profiles of the different treatment arms.
Results: 
More than 50% of patients were PD-L1+. In the overall population, PFS was 11.7; 6.1 and 8.4 months in the combination atezolizumab + bevacizumab; atezolizumab monotherapy and sunitinib group respectively. In the PD –L1 + group, PFS reached 14.7 months (95% CI 8.2- 25.1, HR 0.64) with the combination therapy. Overall response rate was 32%, 25% and 29% in the combination arm, atezolizumab monotherapy and sunitinib group respectively. Upon progression in the monotherapy arms, 78% of the sunitinib and 60% of the atezolizumab patients subsequently crossed over to the combination arm with atezolizumab + bevacizumab and achieved ORRs of 28% and 24%, respectively. Safety data in all arms was comparable to the already known individual treatment profiles.
Comments: 
PD-L1 inhibitor atezolizumab with bevacizumab showed promising antitumor activity in treatment naïve mRCC patients. Checkpoint inhibitors in combination with VEGF inhibitors may become a key component of the treatment options for mRCC. A phase III study of first line atezolizumab in combination with bevacizumab versus sunitinib is currently ongoing (NCT02420821).

A Phase III Randomized, Open-label Study to Evaluate Efficacy and Safety of Pembrolizumab (MK-3475) in Combination with Axitinib versus Sunitinib Monotherapy as a First-line Treatment for Locally Advanced or Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma (mRCC)

Status: 
Recruiting
Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: 
NCT02853331
Sponsor: 
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.
Enrollment: 
840
Study Design: 
KEYNOTE-426 is a phase III randomized, open-label, multicentre trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of pembrolizumab in combination with axitinib versus sunitinib monotherapy in treatment-naive advanced or metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) subjects.
Rationale: 
The currently established first line treatment in mRCC are vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathway inhibitors or in rare cases interferon alpha and interleukin 2 therapy. A previous phase 1b study (NCT02133742) suggests that first-line pembrolizumab, an anti–programmed death 1 (PD-1) antibody, in combination with axitinib, exhibited substantial antitumor activity in mRCC patients. This study aims to evaluate efficacy and safety of the combination treatment pembrolizumab and axitinib versus sunitinib monotherapy.
Endpoints: 
There are two primary endpoints: Progression-Free Survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) as assessed by central imaging review per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.1 (RECIST 1.1) in the combination arm of pembrolizumab plus axitinib versus sunitinib alone. Secondary endpoints include the following: Objective Response Rate (ORR) and Disease Control Rate (DCR) as Per RECIST 1.1, safety and tolerability profiles in subjects treated with pembrolizumab plus axitinib versus sunitinib monotherapy.
Comments: 
VEGF/VEGFR targeting anti-angiogenic agents, have made a substantial improvement in the outcome mRCC patients. However, most patients will progress following standard of care first-line treatment. Recent studies showed that nivolumab demonstrated statistically significant improvement in overall survival of treatment refractory patients. This trial moves combination therapy with checkpoint inhibitors into the first line setting of treatment naïve mRCC subjects.

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