Clinical trial Recruiting at 1 site Phase 2 Interventional Ages 18 and up

Using targeted radiation therapy for patients with limited progression of kidney cancer on immune therapy

Official title: Phase II Trial Of Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) for Oligoprogression on Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors (ICI) in Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma

Run by Yale University · NCT04974671 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is testing if a special type of radiation therapy can help people with kidney cancer who are seeing limited growth while on immune therapy feel better and live longer.

More Renal Cell Carcinoma trials

Quick facts

PhasePhase 2
Study typeInterventional
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
Enrollment30 (estimated)
SponsorYale University
Academic / other
Drugs / interventionsradiation, prednisone
Locations1 site (New Haven, Connecticut)
StatusRecruiting
StartedDecember 22, 2023
Main results expectedJanuary 1, 2027
Study endsApril 1, 2028
Registry record updatedDecember 4, 2025
Trial IDNCT04974671 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Ideal candidates are adults aged 18 and older with histologically confirmed metastatic renal cell carcinoma who have oligoprogressive disease while on immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Probably not a fit

Patients with extensive progression beyond 5 lesions or those who have not received prior immune checkpoint inhibitors may not benefit from this study.

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

What this trial studies

This Phase II trial evaluates the effectiveness of Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) in improving progression-free survival for patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma who are experiencing oligoprogression while on immune checkpoint inhibitors. Participants must have 1-5 oligoprogressive lesions and will receive SBRT while continuing their immune therapy. The treatment will be monitored through imaging assessments and toxicity will be evaluated according to established criteria. The goal is to determine if SBRT can enhance treatment outcomes for these patients.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could improve survival rates and quality of life for patients with oligoprogressive metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

How similar studies have gone: Other studies have shown promising results with SBRT in similar contexts, suggesting potential for success in this approach.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

In order to be eligible for participation in this trial, the subject must:

1. Be willing and able to provide written informed consent/assent for the trial
2. Be ≥ 18 years of age on day of signing informed consent.
3. Have histologically confirmed renal cell carcinoma with metastatic disease detected on imaging. Biopsy of metastasis is preferred but not required
4. The subject has a performance status of 0, 1, or 2 on the ECOG Performance Scale
5. The life expectancy is \> 6 months
6. The most recent systemic therapy must be an ICI-containing regimen, delivered for at least 3 months prior to development of oligoprogressive lesions, with the last dose received within 3 months of trial enrollment.
7. Oligoprogression - defined as documented progression in up to 5 individual lesions with no previous local therapy to those sites using one of the following criteria:

   7.1 RECIST 1.1 7.1.1 At least a 20% increase in the sum of diameters of target lesions (long axis for non-nodal lesions, short axis for nodal lesions), using the previous imaging as a baseline 7.1.2 The sum of all diameters must demonstrate an absolute increase of at least 5 mm 7.1.3 The appearance of at least one new unequivocal lesion 7.2 PERCIST 7.2.1 SUVpeak, normalized to lean body mass (SUL) increase by at least 30% and increase by at least 0.8 SUL of the target lesion 7.2.2 Development of at least one new lesion 7.2.3 Increase in target lesion size by 30% 7.2.4 Unequivocal progression of nontarget lesions 7.3 Progressive enlargement of a known metastasis on 2 consecutive imaging studies at least 2 months apart with a minimum 5 mm increase in size 7.4 Development of a new soft tissue metastatic lesion at least 5 mm in size or any new bone metastasis
8. There is no restriction on the total number of metastases
9. Demonstrate adequate organ function as defined in Table 4, all screening labs should be performed within 28 days of protocol treatment

   Table 4 Adequate Organ Function Laboratory Values

   System Laboratory Value

   Hematological

   Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 1,500 /mcL Platelets ≥ 75,000 / mcL Hemoglobin ≥ 9 g/dL

   Renal - IF SBRT will be delivered to a lesion in or abutting the kidney

   Serum creatinine OR ≤1.5 X upper limit of normal (ULN) OR Measured or calculated\* creatinine clearance (GFR can also be used in ≥30 mL/min for subject with creatinine place of creatinine or CrCl) levels \> 1.5 X institutional ULN

   Hepatic - IF SBRT will be delivered to a lesion in or abutting the liver

   Serum total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 X ULN Direct bilirubin Direct bilirubin ≤ ULN for subjects with total bilirubin levels \> 1.5 ULN AST (SGOT) and ALT (SGPT) ≤ 2.5 X ULN OR
   * 5 X ULN for subjects with liver metastases

     * Creatinine clearance should be calculated per institutional standard
10. Able to be treated with SBRT at a Yale radiation oncology facility
11. Female subject of childbearing potential should have a negative urine or serum pregnancy within 72 hours prior to receiving the first dose of SBRT. If the urine test is positive or cannot be confirmed as negative, a serum pregnancy test will be required.
12. Female subjects of childbearing must use an effective form of birth control during this study. Acceptable and highly effective birth control methods include intra-uterine hormone releasing system as well as other methods of birth control including consistent use of an approved oral contraceptive (birth control pill), an implantable contraceptive, an injectable contraceptive, a double-barrier method, or true abstinence. Oral, implantable, or injectable contraceptives are only considered effective if used properly and started at least 30 days prior to the screening visit and continue for 120 days after last dose of study drug. (Reference Section 5.7)
13. Male subjects should agree to use an adequate method of contraception starting with the first dose of study therapy through 6 months after the last dose of study therapy

Exclusion Criteria:

The subject must be excluded from participating in the trial if the subject

1. Has had radiation therapy within 2 weeks of the first protocol treatment.
2. Has brain-only oligoprogression. subjects with brain and systemic oligoprogression can still be considered, however treatment of brain metastases will be per standard of care prior to receiving study SBRT.
3. Has a diagnosis of immunodeficiency or is receiving systemic steroid therapy or any other form of immunosuppressive therapy within 2 weeks of the first protocol treatment. The use of lowdose steroids for management of chronic conditions is allowed (up to 12mg prednisone orally per day or the equivalent).
4. Has had prior radiation therapy within 2 weeks of the first protocol treatment.
5. Has a known additional malignancy that is progressing or requires active treatment. Exceptions include basal cell carcinoma of the skin, squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, or in situ cervical cancer that has undergone potentially curative therapy.
6. Has an active autoimmune disease requiring systemic treatment within the past 3 months or a documented history of clinically severe autoimmune disease, or a syndrome that requires systemic steroids or immunosuppressive agents. Subjects with vitiligo or resolved childhood asthma/atopy would be an example of an exception to this rule. Subjects that require intermittent use of bronchodilators or local steroid injections would not be excluded from the study. Those with a history of hypothyroidism who are now stable on hormone replacement will not be excluded. Those with Sjorgen's syndrome will not be excluded from the study.
7. Has a history of (non-infectious) pneumonitis that required steroids, current pneumonitis, or underlying lung disease that according to the treating physician makes the patient ineligible.
8. Has an active infection requiring systemic therapy.
9. Is pregnant or breastfeeding, or expecting to conceive or father children within the projected duration of the trial, starting with the screening visit through 120 days after the last dose of trial treatment.
10. Has known active Hepatitis B (e.g., HBsAg reactive) or Hepatitis C (e.g., HCV RNA \[qualitative\] is detected).
11. Has received a live vaccine within 30 days prior to the first protocol treatment.
12. Has serious medical comorbidities precluding radiotherapy. These include subjects with connective tissue diseases such as lupus or scleroderma, Crohn's disease in subjects where the GI tract will receive radiation
13. Substantial overlap with a previously treated radiation volume. Prior radiotherapy is allowed as long as the composite plan meets dose constraints

Where it's running

  • Yale University
    New Haven, Connecticut, United States
    Recruiting

Study contacts

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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.