Clinical trial Recruiting at 1 site Phase 2 Interventional Ages 18 to 80

Perioperative toripalimab plus lenvatinib for multi-stage clear cell kidney cancer

Official title: A Prospective, Open-label, Phase II Clinical Trial of Perioperative Toripalimab Plus Lenvatinib for Multi-stage Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma (ccRCC)

Run by Jinling Hospital, China · NCT07571551 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This trial tests whether giving toripalimab with lenvatinib before surgery helps shrink or kill tumors in people with localized, locally advanced, or metastatic clear cell kidney cancer.

Quick facts

PhasePhase 2
Study typeInterventional
Ages18 Years to 80 Years
SexAll
Enrollment75 (estimated)
SponsorJinling Hospital, China
Academic / other
Drugs / interventionsimmunotherapy, prednisone, toripalimab, lenvatinib
Locations1 site (Nanjing, Jiangsu)
StatusRecruiting
StartedMay 6, 2026
Main results expectedDecember 31, 2027
Study endsDecember 31, 2032
Registry record updatedMay 11, 2026
Trial IDNCT07571551 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Adults aged 18–80 with histologically confirmed clear cell RCC, ECOG performance status 0–1, at least one measurable lesion, and who are candidates for planned nephrectomy or resection are ideal candidates.

Probably not a fit

Patients with non–clear cell histology, ECOG >1, inability to undergo surgery, or contraindications to immunotherapy or TKIs are unlikely to receive benefit from this regimen.

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

The TRIPLE-PATH trial is an open-label, investigator-initiated phase II trial of neoadjuvant toripalimab (240 mg every 3 weeks) combined with oral lenvatinib in patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma. Patients are assigned to one of three cohorts based on clinical TNM stage (localized cT1–2N0M0, locally advanced cT3–4 or N1, and metastatic M1) and receive the IO/TKI regimen prior to planned resection of the primary tumor. The primary endpoint is pathological response of the resected primary lesion, with radiologic response and safety monitored per protocol. The trial enrolls adults with histologically confirmed clear cell RCC, measurable disease per RECIST v1.1, and ECOG 0–1 at Jinling Hospital in Nanjing.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could increase tumor cell death before surgery, improve surgical outcomes, and reduce the risk of recurrence.

How similar studies have gone: Other combinations of immune checkpoint inhibitors plus TKIs have shown strong radiographic and clinical benefit in advanced ccRCC, but pathological response after neoadjuvant IO/TKI has been less frequently reported.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Patients have fully understood and give written informed consent prior to receive neoadjuvant therapy. Patients with history of major psychiatric disease must be judged able to fully understand the trial, and the explicit consent of family members is required;
* Patients with the ages range from 18 to 80 years old (at the time of signing informed consent);
* Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Status 0 or 1;
* Patients have at least 1 measurable target lesion according to RECIST v1.1. The target lesion can be biopsied as per protocol.
* Histologically confirmed clear cell RCC;
* Patients will be enrolled into 3 separate cohorts based on their clinical TNM at the time of baseline screening:

  1. Cohort 1: localized ccRCC (cT1-2N0M0): the primary tumor in this cohort must meet the subsequent criteria:

     * The cT1a primary tumor should have ≥10 R.E.N.A.L. score, or locate in renal hilum close to renal artery or its main branch;

       * Patients with cT1b-2b primary tumors can be directly enrolled;

         * In case of necessary, patients will undergo dual radiological examinations using contrast-enhanced CT and MRI to rule out potential invasion of the renal pelvis or perirenal fat as per protocol.
  2. Cohort 2: locally advanced ccRCC (cT3-4N0M0 or cTanyN1M0);
  3. Cohort 3: metastatic ccRCC (cTanyNanyM1): the patients should be evaluated as suitable for cytoreductive nephrectomy.

     * Patient have no symptomatic metastatic lesions requiring urgent intervention;

       * The sum of the diameters of the other target lesions (excluding the primary tumor) does not exceed the longest diameter of the primary tumor.
* The patients who are treatment-naive, and have not received systemic therapy for any tumor;
* Adequate main organ function. The screening laboratory indicators must meet the following criteria:

  1. Hemoglobin ≥ 90 g/L (Without blood transfusion);
  2. Platelets count ≥ 100 x 109/L;
  3. Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1.5 x 109/L;
  4. Serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 x ULN, or eGFR \> 60 mL/min/1.73m2;
  5. Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 mg/dL;
  6. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and/or alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ≤ 2.5 x ULN for patients without evidence of liver metastases; AST and/or ALT ≤ 5 x ULN for patients with liver metastases;
  7. Normal CK;
  8. Normal Troponin T;
  9. Normal LDH.
* Willingness and ability to comply with planned visits, therapeutic laboratory testing, and other procedures.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Signs of tumor metastasis involving the central nervous system, or radiological evidence of brain metastasis;
* History of malignant tumors other than ccRCC within the previous 5 years, with the exception of malignant tumors that can be expected to be cured with treatment (including but not limited to adequately treated thyroid cancer, carcinoma in situ of the cervix, basal or squamous cell skin cancer, or ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast treated with radical surgery);
* Prior to participating in the study, patients have received prior immune checkpoint inhibitors, investigational drugs or device therapy;
* History of undergoing major surgery (judged by the investigator) within 4 weeks before the first trial dose, are recovering, or are unable to undergo baseline puncture;
* History of severe drug allergy, including but not limited to antibody drugs;
* Patients with contraindications to immunotherapy restart, including but not limited to:

  1. Grade 2-4 immune myocarditis;
  2. Severe grade 4 proteinuria;
  3. Severe or life-threatening grade 4 immune hepatitis;
  4. Severe grade 3-4 immune pneumonitis;
  5. Severe inflammatory arthritis that significantly affects daily life or quality of life;
  6. Severe neurological toxicity:
  7. Myasthenia gravis grade 2-4;
  8. Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) or transverse myelitis of any grade;
  9. Grade 2-4 encephalitis;
  10. Severe or life-threatening grade 3-4 pancreatitis;
  11. Severe or life-threatening bullous disease (grade 3-4);
  12. Severe grade 3-4 uveitis or episcleritis.
* Known history of allogeneic organ transplantation or allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation or long-term corticosteroid therapy.
* Non-resolution of toxicity after previous antineoplastic therapy, i.e., resolution to baseline, CTCAE v5.0 grade 0-1 (excluding alopecia), or inclusion/exclusion criteria. Irreversible toxicities (e.g., hearing loss) that would not reasonably be expected to be exacerbated by the study drug can be included in the study;
* Known history of clinically significant liver disease, including active viral hepatitis (hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and/or hepatitis B core antibody (HbcAb) positive, HBV DNA\>10000 copies /mL or \>2000 IU/mL; Hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody positive and HCV RNA positive), or other active hepatitis, clinically significant moderate to severe cirrhosis;
* Patients with uncontrolled third space effusion requiring repeated drainage, such as pleural effusion, ascites, pericardial effusion, etc. (Patients who do not need drainage of effusion or stop drainage for 3 days without significant increase in effusion can be enrolled);
* Receiving a systemic corticosteroid (prednisone \> 10mg/ day or equivalent) or other immunosuppressive medication within 14 days before the first study medication;
* Patients with any severe and/or uncontrolled disease, including:

  1. Hypertension that is not well controlled by antihypertensive medication;
  2. Unstable angina pectoris or myocardial infarction, coronary artery bypass grafting or stent implantation within 6 months before study medication;
  3. Grade I or above myocardial ischemia or myocardial infarction, arrhythmia (including QTc≥480ms) and ≥ grade 2 congestive heart failure (New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification); Degree II or above heart block; Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) \< 50%;
  4. Poorly controlled diabetes (fasting blood glucose \> 10 mmol/L);
  5. Patients with urinary protein ≥++ and confirmed 24-hour urinary protein \> 1.0g;
  6. Severe active or uncontrolled infection.
* Patients with or suspected to have active autoimmune diseases, including but not limited to systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, etc.;
* Renal failure requiring hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis;
* Patients with a history of immunodeficiency, including HIV positive patients, other acquired immunodeficiency diseases, congenital immunodeficiency diseases, or organ transplantation history;
* History of live attenuated vaccine inoculation within 4 weeks before the first study drug or the expected vaccination during the study period;
* History of psychiatric drug abuse and can not quit or have a history of mental disorders;
* Women who are of childbearing potential. Women of childbearing potential must have a negative serum or urine pregnancy test, and must use appropriate methods of contraception.
* The presence of any other severe, acute or chronic medical disease or mental illness or laboratory abnormality, as judged by the investigator, that may increase the risk associated with participation in the study or that may interfere with the interpretation of the results of the study.

Where it's running

  • Jinling Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University
    Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
    Recruiting

Study contacts

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

  • Combination treatment for advanced intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and gallbladder cancer

    This study is testing a new combination treatment for people with advanced bile duct and gallbladder cancer to see if it can help them respond better to therapy and possibly become eligible for surgery.

    Recruiting Phase 2 Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital · Tianjin, Tia · NCT06852287

  • Comparing two treatments for advanced liver cancer

    This study is testing if a combination of two treatments for advanced liver cancer can help patients live longer and respond better than just one of the treatments alone.

    Recruiting Phase 3 Sun Yat-sen University · Guangzhou, Guangdong · NCT06201065

  • Combination treatment for advanced intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma

    This study is testing if a new combination of medications can help people with advanced liver cancer live longer and feel better compared to standard chemotherapy.

    Recruiting Phase 3 Shanghai Junshi Bioscience Co., Ltd. · Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality · NCT05342194

  • Lenvatinib and Pembrolizumab With or Without SBRT for Metastatic Kidney Cancer

    This study tests whether adding SBRT to standard lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab helps people with metastatic kidney cancer who have stable disease after initial treatment.

    Recruiting at 8 sites Phase 2 Kidney Cancer Research Bureau · Kazan' and 7 other locations · NCT07928167

  • Cadonilimab and Lenvatinib in advanced kidney cancer

    This study tests whether Cadonilimab plus Lenvatinib can help adults with unresectable, advanced renal cell carcinoma, especially clear cell type, after prior treatments.

    Recruiting Phase 2 Cancer Institute and Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences · Beijing, Panjiayuan Nanli · NCT07909265

  • TMV vaccine alone or with toripalimab for recurrent head and neck cancer

    This study tests a personalized TMV vaccine, alone and with toripalimab, in adults whose head and neck cancer has returned and is planning salvage surgery.

    Recruiting Phase 1 Metaclipse Therapeutics Corporation · Houston, Texas · NCT07898124

How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.