Using a special imaging technique to assess treatment response in kidney cancer patients

An Exploratory Study of 89Zr-DFO-Atezolizumab ImmunoPET/CT in Patients With Locally Advanced or Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma

Phase 2 Interventional University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center · NCT04006522

This study is testing a special type of scan to see how well it can show treatment responses in kidney cancer patients, helping doctors choose the best immunotherapy for them.

Quick facts

PhasePhase 2
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment40 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorUniversity of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Academic / other
Drugs / interventionsAtezolizumab, prednisone, immunotherapy
Locations1 site (Dallas, Texas)
Trial IDNCT04006522 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This clinical trial explores the use of 89Zr-DFO-Atezolizumab Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (PET/CT) scans to evaluate programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression and treatment response in patients with locally advanced or metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The study includes two cohorts: one with patients undergoing surgery for localized RCC and another with patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors for metastatic RCC. The trial aims to correlate PET scan results with PD-L1 expression and treatment outcomes, providing insights into patient selection for immunotherapy. A total of 40 patients will participate, with follow-up assessments for cancer recurrence or progression.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates include patients with high-risk localized renal cell carcinoma planned for surgery or those with metastatic RCC scheduled to receive immunotherapy.

Not a fit: Patients with renal cell carcinoma who are not candidates for surgery or immunotherapy may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could improve the ability to identify which kidney cancer patients are most likely to benefit from immune checkpoint inhibitors.

How similar studies have performed: While similar approaches have been explored in other tumor types, this is the first investigation of this method specifically in renal cell carcinoma.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Patients with suspected renal cell carcinoma with planned surgery or patients with metastatic RCC and a tissue diagnosis. (In standard clinical practice, biopsy is not routinely performed in patients who will be having surgery).
* Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent.
* Patient must be able to lie still for a 30 to 60 minute PET/CT scan.
* One of the following:

  1. Patients with locally advanced RCC planned for surgery determined to be a high risk of recurrence, defined by presence of at least clinical T2 or TxN1, OR patients with metastatic RCC for whom treatment with cytoreductive nephrectomy and/or metastasectomy is planned by the treating physician.
  2. Patients with metastatic RCC for whom immuno-oncology (IO) therapy is planned.
* Women of child-bearing potential must agree to undergo and have documented a negative pregnancy test on the day of 89Zr-DFO-Atezolizumab administration. A female of child-bearing potential is any woman (regardless of sexual orientation, having undergone a tubal ligation, or remaining celibate by choice) who meets the following criteria:

  * Has not undergone a hysterectomy or bilateral oophorectomy; or
  * Has not been naturally postmenopausal for at least 12 consecutive months (i.e., has had menses at any time in the preceding 12 consecutive months).

Exclusion Criteria:

* History of severe allergic, anaphylactic, or other hypersensitivity reactions to atezolizumab or any other chimeric or humanized antibodies.
* Uncontrolled severe and irreversible intercurrent illness or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements.
* Subjects must not be pregnant or nursing due to the potential for congenital abnormalities and the potential of this regimen to harm nursing infants.
* Significant autoimmune disease requiring treatment with either prednisone (or steroid equivalent) at a dose \> 10 mg/day or other immunosuppressive agents. (Replacement steroid therapy is acceptable).
* Any patient for whom ICI therapy would be contraindicated for other reasons. Patients with adverse reactions to ICI therapy may undergo second 89Zr-DFO-Atezolizumab injection and PET/CT at the discretion of the treating physician considering that the dose of antibody represents 1% of a single therapeutic dose and therefore unlikely to cause adverse events.
* Subjects unable to provide informed consent.
* Subjects who are claustrophobic or have other contraindications to PET/CT.
* Subjects must not weigh more than the maximum weight limit for the table for the PET/CT scanner where the study is being performed. (\>200 kg or 440 lbs).

Where this trial is running

Dallas, Texas

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Renal Cell Carcinomarenal cell carcinomaatezolizumabPET/CT
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 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.