Combination immunotherapy for clear cell kidney cancer before surgery

Prospective, Randomized, Neoadjuvant Phase II Study With Combination Immuno-oncology in Primary Clear Cell Renal Cancer at Risk for Recurrence or Distant Metastases (NESCIO-trial)

This study is testing different combinations of immunotherapy treatments before surgery to see if they can help shrink tumors in patients with clear cell kidney cancer.

Quick facts

• Phase: Phase 2
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 69 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years and up
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: The Netherlands Cancer Institute (Academic / other)
• Drugs / interventions: nivolumab, Relatlimab, immunotherapy, ipilimumab
• Locations: 2 sites (Amsterdam, NH and 1 other locations)
• Trial ID: NCT05148546 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This multicenter, randomized, open-label phase II trial investigates different combinations of neoadjuvant immunotherapy in patients with primary, resectable, intermediate to high-risk clear cell renal cell carcinoma. Participants will be assigned to one of three treatment arms, receiving either nivolumab alone, a combination of ipilimumab and nivolumab, or a combination of relatlimab and nivolumab, prior to surgical intervention. The primary endpoint is the pathological response, measured by the decrease in tumor size, with an interim analysis planned after 42 patients are recruited to assess efficacy and safety.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 18 and older with histologically confirmed, resectable clear cell renal cell carcinoma at intermediate to high risk.

Not a fit: Patients with distant metastases or those who have previously received immunotherapy targeting CTLA-4, PD-1, or PD-L1 may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could improve surgical outcomes and overall survival for patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown promising results with similar immunotherapy approaches, indicating potential for success in this trial.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* Adults at least 18 years of age;
* World Health Organization (WHO) Performance Status 0 or 1;
* Histologically confirmed resectable clear cell RCC (measurable according to RECIST 1.1), that can be biopsied, and no history of distant metastases;
* Intermediate to high risk will be based on clinical TNM and biopsy nuclear grade. These are:

  1. cT1b-cT2a grade 4 cN0 cM0
  2. cT2b grade 3 cN0 cM0
  3. cT3 any grade cN0 cM0
  4. cT4 any grade cN0 cM0
  5. cT any cN1 (fully resectable) cM0
* No other malignancies, except adequately treated and a cancer-related life-expectancy of more than 5 years;
* Patient willing to undergo triple tumor biopsies and extra blood withdrawal during screening and in case of relapse;
* No prior immunotherapy targeting CTLA-4, PD-1 or PD-L1, or LAG-3;
* No immunosuppressive medications within 2 weeks prior start immunotherapy;
* Screening laboratory values must meet the following criteria: WBC ≥ 2.0x109/L, Neutrophils ≥1.5x109/L, Platelets ≥100 x109/L, Hemoglobin ≥5.5 mmol/L, Creatinine ≤1.5x ULN, AST ≤ 1.5 x ULN, ALT ≤ 1.5 x ULN, Bilirubin ≤1.5 X ULN, normal CK and Troponin T, normal LDH;
* Women of childbearing potential must use appropriate method(s) of contraception. They should use an adequate method to avoid pregnancy for 23 weeks (30 days plus the time required for nivolumab to undergo five half-lives) after the last dose of investigational drug;
* Women of childbearing potential must have a negative serum or urine pregnancy test (minimum sensitivity 25 IU/L or equivalent units of HCG) within 24 hours prior to the start of study treatment;
* Women who are not of childbearing potential (i.e., who are postmenopausal), or surgically sterile as well as azoospermic men do not require contraception;
* Patient is capable of understanding and complying with the protocol requirements and has signed the Informed Consent document.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Distantly metastasized RCC;
* Brain metastases (based on symptoms);
* Non-clear cell RCC;
* No measurable lesion according to RECIST 1.1;
* Subjects with any active autoimmune disease or a documented history of autoimmune disease, or history of syndrome that required systemic steroids or immunosuppressive medications, except for subjects with vitiligo or resolved childhood asthma/atopy;
* Prior CTLA-4 or PD-1/PD-L1 or LAG-3 targeting immunotherapy;
* Radiotherapy prior or post-surgery;
* Patients will be excluded if they test positive for hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBV sAg) or hepatitis C virus ribonucleic acid (HCV antibody), indicating acute or chronic infection; if treated and being at least one year free from HCV patients are allowed to participate;
* Patients will be excluded if they have known history of testing positive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or known acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS);
* Allergies and Adverse Drug Reactions (like mastocytosis);
* History of severe hypersensitivity reaction to any monoclonal antibody;
* Underlying medical conditions that, in the Investigator's opinion, will make the administration of study drug(s) hazardous or obscure the interpretation of toxicity or adverse events;
* Pregnant or nursing;
* Concurrent medical condition requiring the use of immunosuppressive medications, or immunosuppressive doses of systemic or absorbable topical corticosteroids;
* Use of other investigational drugs before study drug administration 30 days and 5 half-times before study inclusion.

Relatlimab-specific exclusion Criteria:

* Participants with history of myocarditis, regardless of etiology;
* Troponin T (TnT) \> 2 × institutional ULN. Participants with TnT levels between \> 1 to 2 × ULN will be permitted if a repeat levels within 24 hours are ≤ 1 ULN. If TnT levels are between \>1 to 2 × ULN within 24 hours, the participant may undergo a cardiac consultation and be considered for treatment, following cardiologist recommendation. When repeat levels within 24 hours are not available, a repeat test should be conducted as soon as possible. If TnT repeat levels beyond 24 hours are \< 2 × ULN, the participant may undergo a cardiac consultation and be considered for treatment, following cardiologist recommendation. Notification of the decision to enroll the participant following cardiologist recommendation has to be made to the BMS Medical Monitor or designee.
* Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) assessment with documented LVEF \< 50% by either transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) or multigated acquisition (MUGA) scan (TTE preferred test) within 6 months prior to start of study treatment.

Where this trial is running

Amsterdam, NH and 1 other locations

• Netherlands Cancer Institute — Amsterdam, Nh, Netherlands (Recruiting)
• Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust — London, United Kingdom (Not_yet_recruiting)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: John Haanen, Prof — Medical oncologist/researcher
• Study coordinator: John Haanen, Prof

Conditions Renal Cell Carcinoma; Resectable renal cell carcinoma; Checkpoint inhibition; Immunotherapy; PD-1 inhibitor; CTLA-4 inhibitor; LAG-3 inhibitor; Nivolumab