Neoadjuvant HIF-2α inhibitor with or without PD-1 antibody for resectable clear cell kidney cancer

PRE-surgical NEOadjuvant Sandwich Immunotherapy With HIF inhibiTion in Renal Cell Carcinoma (PRENEOSHIFT-RCC)

This trial tests whether casdatifan alone or combined with zimberelimab can shrink tumors in people with resectable clear cell kidney cancer before surgery.

Quick facts

• Phase: PHASE2
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 32 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years and up
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (other)
• Drugs / interventions: zimberelimab, radiation, prednisone
• Locations: 3 sites (Boston, Massachusetts and 2 other locations)
• Trial ID: NCT07397611 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This is a randomized, open-label, two-arm Phase 2 trial enrolling about 32 participants with resectable clear cell renal cell carcinoma who are planned for nephrectomy. Participants are assigned by chance to receive either casdatifan alone or casdatifan plus the anti–PD-1 antibody zimberelimab prior to surgery. The study includes regular clinic visits, blood and urine tests, and imaging (CT, MRI or PET) to monitor response and safety. The primary goals are to characterize safety and signs of anti-tumor activity in the neoadjuvant setting.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults (≥18 years) with histologically confirmed clear cell RCC who have resectable, measurable primary tumors (≥1 cm) and are planned for partial or radical nephrectomy with good performance status (ECOG 0–1) are the intended candidates.

Not a fit: Patients with non–clear cell kidney cancers, unresectable disease, very small/non-measurable tumors, poor performance status, or significant organ dysfunction are unlikely to benefit from this protocol.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the treatment could shrink tumors before surgery and potentially lower the chance of recurrence.

How similar studies have performed: Early clinical work with HIF-2α inhibitors and with PD-1 antibodies in RCC has shown encouraging activity, but combining these agents in the neoadjuvant setting remains relatively novel and under active study.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* Adult patients age ≥ 18 years.
* Histologically confirmed diagnosis of ccRCC by a core-needle biopsy. Patients who have not had prior biopsy may undergo screening if they have suspected RCC but can only proceed to registration if ccRCC (any component) is confirmed on the pre-treatment study biopsy.
* Stage cT2 RCC with grade 4 or sarcomatoid features, ≥cT3 Nx RCC, or cTany N+ RCC disease for which partial or radical nephrectomy is planned. For clinical staging, a kidney MRI is highly preferred over a CT Abdomen.
* Participants must have measurable disease i.e. a primary renal tumor that can be accurately measured in at least one dimension as ≥10 mm (≥1 cm) with CT scan or MRI. See Section 11 (Measurement of Effect) for the evaluation of measurable disease.
* Participants must be planned for surgical resection of their primary renal tumor.
* ECOG performance status of 0-1.
* Participants must have adequate organ and marrow function, based upon meeting all of the following laboratory criteria within 14 days before first dose of study treatment:

  1. Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1.0 × 10\^9/L without granulocyte colony-stimulating factor support within 2 weeks of screening laboratory sample collection.
  2. Platelet count ≥ 100 × 10\^9/L without transfusion within 2 weeks of screening laboratory sample collection.
  3. Hemoglobin ≥ 10.0 g/dL (or 6.2 mmol/L).
  4. Aspartate transaminase (AST) ≤ 2.5 × upper limit of normal (ULN)
  5. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ≤ 2.5 × ULN.
  6. Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 × ULN (except participants with Gilbert syndrome who must have total bilirubin \< 3.0 mg/dL).
  7. Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) ≤ 1.5 × ULN.
  8. Ambulatory oxygen saturation \>92% on room air at time of screening.
  9. Serum albumin ≥ 2.8 g/dl.
  10. INR ≤ 1.5.
  11. Calculated creatinine clearance ≥ 40 mL/min (≥ 0.67 mL/sec) using the Cockcroft-Gault equation:

      ---Males: (140 - age) x weight (kg)/(serum creatinine \[mg/dL\] × 72)

      ---Females: \[(140 - age) x weight (kg)/(serum creatinine \[mg/dL\] × 72)\] × 0.85
* No exercise-induced desaturation on a 6-minute walk test, defined as a blood oxygen saturation by pulse oximetry ≤ 88%.
* No active clinical pneumonitis at screening.
* No medical history of severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
* Screening echocardiogram or MUGA scan must demonstrate a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) greater than the institutional lower limit of normal (LLN).
* Negative serum pregnancy test at screening for women of childbearing potential. Female subjects are considered to be of childbearing potential unless one of the following criteria is met: permanent sterilization (hysterectomy, bilateral salpingectomy, or bilateral oophorectomy) or documented postmenopausal status (defined as 12 months of amenorrhea in a woman \> 45 years-of-age in the absence of other biological or physiological causes. In addition, females \< 55 years-of-age must have a serum follicle stimulating hormone \[FSH\] level \> 40 mIU/mL to confirm menopause). Note: Documentation may include review of medical records, medical examination, or medical history interview by study site staff.
* Sexually active fertile subjects and their partners must agree to use highly effective methods of contraception during the course of the study and for the following durations after the last dose of treatment (whichever is later). An additional contraceptive method, such as a barrier method (eg, condom), is required. In addition, men must agree not to donate sperm and women must agree not to donate eggs (ova, oocyte) for the purpose of reproduction during these same periods. Should a woman become pregnant or suspect she is pregnant while she or her partner is participating in this study, she should inform her treating physician immediately.
* Through 7 days after the last dose of casdatifan and 120 days after the last dose of zimberelimab for women of childbearing potential and for men
* Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document.
* Ability to swallow tablets.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Any prior systemic therapy for treatment of renal cell carcinoma.
* Any radiation therapy within 4 weeks before the first dose of study treatment.
* Any clear evidence of distant metastases. Enlarged lymph nodes that are planned to be removed during nephrectomy are permitted.
* Clinical pneumonitis or concern for inflammatory lung disease at time of screening.
* Any complementary medications (eg, herbal supplements or traditional Chinese medicines) with the intention to treat the disease under study within 2 weeks before first dose of study treatment.
* Other prior malignancy active within the previous year except for locally curable cancers (\>90%) that have been apparently cured, such as basal or squamous cell skin cancer, superficial bladder cancer, or carcinoma in situ of the cervix, breast, or Gleason 6 prostate cancer. Also, indolent malignancies, including but not limited to early-stage chronic lymphocytic leukemia and follicular lymphoma, that don't require anti-cancer treatment, could be allowed after discussion with the medical monitor.
* QTc ≥ 480 msec using Fridericia's correction (QTcF) (based on an average of triplicate recordings).
* Malabsorption condition that would alter the absorption of orally administered medications.
* Patient has had any major cardiovascular event within 6 months prior to study drug administration including but not limited to myocardial infarction, unstable angina, cerebrovascular accident, transient ischemic event, pulmonary embolism, clinically significant ventricular arrhythmias (eg, sustained ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, torsades de pointes) or New York Heart Association Class III or IV heart failure.
* The subject has uncontrolled, significant intercurrent or recent illness including, but not limited to, the following conditions:

  a. Cardiovascular disorders: i. Congestive heart failure New York Heart Association Class 2 or greater, unstable angina pectoris, serious cardiac arrhythmias (eg, ventricular flutter, ventricular fibrillation, Torsades de pointes).

ii. Uncontrolled hypertension defined as sustained blood pressure (BP) \> 150 mm Hg systolic or \> 95 mm Hg diastolic despite optimal antihypertensive treatment.

iii. Any history of stroke (including transient ischemic attack \[TIA\]), myocardial infarction, or other clinically significant ischemic event within 12 months before first dose of study treatment.

iv. Clinically significant pulmonary embolism (PE) or deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or prior clinically significant venous or non-CVA/TIA arterial thromboembolic events within 3 months before to first dose of study treatment. Thrombus felt due to tumor and not a bland thrombus is permitted.

Note: Subjects with a diagnosis of DVT/PE due to bland thrombus need to be asymptomatic and have at least 4 weeks of anticoagulation before first dose of study treatment.

v. Any history of myocarditis.

b. Gastrointestinal (GI) disorders including those associated with a high risk of perforation or fistula formation: i. Tumors invading the GI-tract from external viscera. ii. Active and symptomatic peptic ulcer disease, inflammatory bowel disease, diverticulitis, cholecystitis, symptomatic cholangitis or appendicitis, or acute pancreatitis.

iii. Acute obstruction of the bowel, gastric outlet, or pancreatic or biliary duct within 6 months unless the cause of obstruction is definitively managed and subject is asymptomatic.

iv. Abdominal fistula, gastrointestinal perforation, bowel obstruction, or intra-abdominal abscess within 6 months before the first dose. Note: Complete healing of an intra-abdominal abscess must be confirmed before the first dose of study treatment.

v. Known gastric or esophageal varices. vi. Ascites requiring drainage within 28 days prior to initiation of protocol therapy c. Autoimmune disease that has been symptomatic or required treatment with 1mg/kg of corticosteroids within the past two years from the date of randomization. Diabetes mellitus and thyroid auto-immune diseases are excluded.

d. Any condition requiring systemic treatment with either corticosteroids (\> 10 mg daily prednisone equivalent) or other immunosuppressive medications within 14 days of randomization. Note: Inhaled, intranasal, intra-articular, or topical steroids are permitted. Adrenal replacement steroid doses \> 10 mg daily prednisone equivalent are permitted. Transient short-term use of systemic corticosteroids for allergic conditions (eg, contrast allergy) is also allowed. Corticosteroids given as short course premedication is acceptable.

* Other clinically significant disorders that would preclude safe study participation.

  1. Active infection requiring systemic treatment. Note: Prophylactic antibiotic treatment is allowed.
  2. Infection with acute or chronic hepatitis B or C with detectable viral load, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection with detectable viral load or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related illness.
  3. Serious non-healing wound/ulcer/bone fracture. Note: non-healing wounds or ulcers are permitted if due to tumor-associated skin lesions.
  4. Pharmacologically uncompensated, symptomatic hypothyroidism.
  5. Moderate to severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh B or C).
  6. History of solid organ or allogeneic stem cell transplant.
* Major surgery (as defined in Appendix B) within 4 weeks prior to first dose of study treatment. Minor surgery (eg, simple excision, tooth extraction) within 7 days before the first dose of study treatment. Complete wound healing from major or minor surgery must have occurred at least prior to the first dose of study treatment.
* Patients who are receiving treatment with strong CYP3A4 inhibitors and inducers should have a washout period of 28 days or 5 half-lives of the concerning medicine prior to starting casdatifan.
* History of psychiatric illness, mental condition or substance use disorders that are likely to interfere with ability to comply with protocol requirements or give informed consent.
* Use of any live vaccines against infectious diseases within 28 days of first dose of study drug.
* Current breastfeeding.
* Previously identified allergy or hypersensitivity to components of the study treatment formulations.
* Any use of supplemental or intermittent oxygen therapy.
* Other conditions, which in the opinion of the Investigator, would compromise the safety of the patient or the patient's ability to complete the study.

Where this trial is running

Boston, Massachusetts and 2 other locations

• Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center — Boston, Massachusetts, United States (NOT_YET_RECRUITING)
• Brigham and Women's Hospital — Boston, Massachusetts, United States (RECRUITING)
• Dana-Farber Cancer Institute — Boston, Massachusetts, United States (RECRUITING)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Wenxin Xu, MD — Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
• Study coordinator: Wenxin Xu, MD

Conditions: Renal Cell Carcinoma, Kidney Cancer, Kidney Neoplasm, Renal Carcinoma, ccRCC