Adding a probiotic to standard immunotherapy for advanced kidney cancer
Official title: Phase III Double Blinded Trial of Immune-Based Therapy With a Live Biotherapeutic MO-03 or Placebo for Frontline Therapy of Advanced Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma [BioFront Trial]
Run by SWOG Cancer Research Network · NCT07383441 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This trial tests whether adding MO-03 probiotic to standard immunotherapy helps people with advanced or metastatic clear cell kidney cancer.
Quick facts
| Phase | Phase 3 |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 718 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | SWOG Cancer Research Network Research network |
| Drugs / interventions | ipilimumab, nivolumab, immunotherapy, radiation, prednisone, pembrolizumab, axitinib, cabozantinib, lenvatinib |
| Locations | 41 sites (Fayetteville, Arkansas and 40 other locations) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | June 5, 2026 |
| Main results expected | January 31, 2033 |
| Study ends | January 31, 2034 |
| Registry record updated | June 11, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07383441 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Patients with histologically confirmed advanced or metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma, measurable disease by RECIST 1.1, and not currently enrolled in another treatment study.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with non-clear cell histology, brain metastases needing immediate CNS therapy, or those who cannot tolerate immunotherapy may not benefit.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
In this phase 3 trial, participants with advanced or metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma are randomized to receive standard immunotherapy plus either a placebo or the MO-03 probiotic (Clostridium butyricum CBM 588). The study aims to see if MO-03 can improve progression-free survival and overall survival when added to front-line IO-based regimens. Secondary goals include safety, tumor response rates by RECIST, and time to the next systemic therapy, with analyses across different front-line combinations. The trial also examines how concomitant medications like antibiotics, PPIs, and steroids may influence MO-03 activity. Locations are in Arkansas, led by SWOG Cancer Research Network and NCI collaboration.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, MO-03 could improve how long patients stay free of disease and potentially extend overall survival.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies in cancer immunotherapy suggest gut microbiome modulation can influence treatment responses, but this specific probiotic approach is investigational.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Participants must have histologically confirmed renal cell carcinoma (RCC) with clear cell component that is advanced (not amenable to curative surgery or radiation therapy) or metastatic RCC at the time of registration on study * Participants must have measurable/evaluable disease by RECIST 1.1 criteria. Participants with only bone metastases or only pleural effusions are considered evaluable disease and are eligible * Participants with new or progressive brain metastases (active brain metastases) or leptomeningeal disease must not require immediate central nervous system (CNS) specific treatment at the time of study registration or anticipated treatment during the first cycle of therapy * Participants must not be currently enrolled or plan to participate in treatment studies while enrolled on this study * Participants must not plan to take any over the counter probiotic supplements at time of study registration and while on protocol treatment * NOTE: Vitamin and electrolyte or mineral supplements are permitted * Participants must not have had prior systemic therapy for advanced or metastatic RCC or any treatment with immune based combination therapy * NOTE: Participants can have prior neo/adjuvant treatment with an anti-PD-1, anti-PD-L1, and/or anti-CTLA-4 antibody or other therapies for any current or prior malignancy if \> 12 months prior to registration * Participants must not be receiving steroid replacement therapy for adrenal insufficiency greater than 50 mg daily of hydrocortisone or prednisone equivalent dose at the time of registration * Participants must not require the use of systemic corticosteroids \> 10 mg/day of prednisone or its equivalent for any reason other than replacement therapy for adrenal insufficiency * Participants must not have received any systemic antibiotics within 7 days prior to registration * NOTE: Uncontrolled infections must be completely resolved * Participants must be ≥ 18 years old at the time of registration * Participants must have a Zubrod performance status 0-2 within 28 days of registration * Participants must be able to safely receive at least one of the standard of care regimens, per the current Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved package inserts, treating investigator's discretion, and institutional guidelines * NOTE: Participants with favorable risk as defined by the International Metastatic RCC Database Consortium (IMDC) must plan to receive one of the TKI+ immunotherapy treatment combinations. They are not able to receive regimen 1 (ipilimumab + nivolumab) for this study * Participants must be able to swallow and retain oral medications and have no known gastrointestinal disorders likely to interfere with absorption of oral medications * Participants must have serum creatinine ≤ 2 x ULN (upper limit of normal). This specimen must have been drawn and processed within 28 days prior to registration * Hemoglobin ≥ 8 g/dL (within 28 days prior to registration) * Leukocytes ≥ 3 x 10\^3/uL (within 28 days prior to registration) * Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1.5 x 10\^3/uL (within 28 days prior to registration) * Platelets ≥ 100 x 10\^3/uL (within 28 days prior to registration) * Total bilirubin ≤ institutional upper limit of normal (ULN) unless history of Gilbert's disease (within 28 days prior to registration) Participants with history of Gilbert's disease must have total bilirubin ≤ 5 x institutional ULN * Aspartate aminotransferase (AST)/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ≤ 3 x institutional ULN (\< 5 x institutional ULN if liver metastases are present) (within 28 days prior to registration) * Participants must have alkaline phosphate measured as a part of the liver function assessment within 28 days prior to registration * Participants must have albumin corrected calcium measured within 28 days prior to registration * Participants with a history human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infection must be on effective anti-retroviral therapy at registration and have undetectable viral load on the most recent test results obtained within 6 months prior to registration * Participants with a history of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection must have undetectable HBV viral load while on suppressive therapy on the most recent test results obtained within 6 months prior to registration * Participants with a history of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection must have been treated and cured. Participants currently being treated for HCV infection must have undetectable HCV viral load test on the most recent test results obtained within 6 months prior to registration * Participants must not have uncontrolled blood pressure and hypertension within 28 days prior to registration * Participants must not have a prior or concurrent malignancy whose natural history or treatment (in the opinion of the treating physician) has the potential to interfere with the safety or efficacy assessment of the investigational regimen * Participants must not have any known history of an autoimmune disease that prohibits the use of immune checkpoint therapy * Participants must not be pregnant or nursing (nursing includes breast milk fed to an infant by any means, including from the breast, milk expressed by hand, or pumped). Individuals who are of reproductive potential must have agreed to use an effective contraceptive method with details provided as a part of the consent process. A person who has had menses at any time in the preceding 12 consecutive months or who has semen likely to contain sperm is considered to be of "reproductive potential." In addition to routine contraceptive methods, "effective contraception" also includes refraining from sexual activity that might result in pregnancy and surgery intended to prevent pregnancy (or with a side-effect of pregnancy prevention) including hysterectomy, bilateral oophorectomy, bilateral tubal ligation/occlusion, and vasectomy with testing showing no sperm in the semen * Participants must be offered the opportunity to participate in specimen banking * Participants who have the ability to complete questionnaires in English or Spanish must be offered the opportunity to participate in the patient-reported outcome study * NOTE: As a part of the OPEN registration process the treating institution's identity is provided in order to ensure that the current (within 365 days) date of institutional review board approval for this study has been entered in the system. * Participants must be informed of the investigational nature of this study and must sign and give informed consent in accordance with institutional and federal guidelines * For participants with impaired decision-making capabilities, legally authorized representatives may sign and give informed consent on behalf of study participants in accordance with applicable federal, local, and Central Institutional Review Board (CIRB) regulations
Where it's running
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Highlands Oncology Group - Fayetteville
Fayetteville, Arkansas, United States Recruiting -
NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital and Fowler Family Cancer Center - Jonesboro
Jonesboro, Arkansas, United States Recruiting -
Highlands Oncology Group - Rogers
Rogers, Arkansas, United States Recruiting -
Highlands Oncology Group
Springdale, Arkansas, United States Recruiting -
Illinois CancerCare-Bloomington
Bloomington, Illinois, United States Recruiting -
Illinois CancerCare-Canton
Canton, Illinois, United States Recruiting
Show 35 more locations
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Illinois CancerCare-Carthage
Carthage, Illinois, United States Recruiting -
Cancer Care Specialists of Illinois - Decatur
Decatur, Illinois, United States Recruiting -
Decatur Memorial Hospital
Decatur, Illinois, United States Recruiting -
Illinois CancerCare-Eureka
Eureka, Illinois, United States Recruiting -
Illinois CancerCare-Galesburg
Galesburg, Illinois, United States Recruiting -
Illinois CancerCare-Kewanee Clinic
Kewanee, Illinois, United States Recruiting -
Illinois CancerCare-Macomb
Macomb, Illinois, United States Recruiting -
Illinois CancerCare-Ottawa Clinic
Ottawa, Illinois, United States Recruiting -
Illinois CancerCare-Pekin
Pekin, Illinois, United States Recruiting -
Illinois CancerCare-Peoria
Peoria, Illinois, United States Recruiting -
Illinois CancerCare-Peru
Peru, Illinois, United States Recruiting -
Illinois CancerCare-Princeton
Princeton, Illinois, United States Recruiting -
Southern Illinois University School of Medicine
Springfield, Illinois, United States Recruiting -
Illinois CancerCare - Washington
Washington, Illinois, United States Recruiting -
Mercy Hospital
Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States Recruiting -
Oncology Associates at Mercy Medical Center
Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States Recruiting -
Lahey Hospital and Medical Center
Burlington, Massachusetts, United States Recruiting -
Lahey Medical Center-Peabody
Peabody, Massachusetts, United States Recruiting -
Trinity Health IHA Medical Group Hematology Oncology - Brighton
Brighton, Michigan, United States Recruiting -
Trinity Health IHA Medical Group Hematology Oncology - Canton
Canton, Michigan, United States Recruiting -
Trinity Health IHA Medical Group Hematology Oncology - Chelsea Hospital
Chelsea, Michigan, United States Recruiting -
Trinity Health Saint Mary Mercy Livonia Hospital
Livonia, Michigan, United States Recruiting -
Trinity Health IHA Medical Group Hematology Oncology Ann Arbor Campus
Ypsilanti, Michigan, United States Recruiting -
Baptist Memorial Hospital and Cancer Center-Golden Triangle
Columbus, Mississippi, United States Recruiting -
Baptist Cancer Center-Grenada
Grenada, Mississippi, United States Recruiting -
Baptist Memorial Hospital and Cancer Center-Union County
New Albany, Mississippi, United States Recruiting -
Baptist Memorial Hospital and Cancer Center-Oxford
Oxford, Mississippi, United States Recruiting -
Baptist Memorial Hospital and Cancer Center-Desoto
Southhaven, Mississippi, United States Recruiting -
Saint Francis Medical Center
Cape Girardeau, Missouri, United States Recruiting -
Parkland Health Center - Farmington
Farmington, Missouri, United States Recruiting -
Sainte Genevieve County Memorial Hospital
Sainte Genevieve, Missouri, United States Recruiting -
Missouri Baptist Medical Center
St Louis, Missouri, United States Recruiting -
Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital
Sullivan, Missouri, United States Recruiting -
Baptist Memorial Hospital and Cancer Center-Collierville
Collierville, Tennessee, United States Recruiting -
Baptist Memorial Hospital and Cancer Center-Memphis
Memphis, Tennessee, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Pedro Barata — SWOG Cancer Research Network
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.