← Back to Search

Checkpoint Inhibitor

Immunotherapy + Cabozantinib for Advanced Kidney Cancer

Phase 3
Waitlist Available
Led By Tian Zhang
Research Sponsored by National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Eligibility Criteria Checklist
Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial
Must have
Must be intermediate or poor risk patient per International Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Database (IMDC) criteria
Any metastatic disease, including visceral, lymph node, other soft tissue and bone, measurable per RECIST 1.1.
Must not have
Active autoimmune disease requiring ongoing therapy
Active treatment with coumarin agents (e.g., warfarin), direct thrombin inhibitors (e.g., dabigatran), direct Xa inhibitor betrixaban or platelet inhibitors (e.g., clopidogrel) within 5 days of registration
Timeline
Screening 3 weeks
Treatment Varies
Follow Up up to 5 years
Awards & highlights
Pivotal Trial
No Placebo-Only Group

Summary

This trial is testing a new combination treatment for patients with untreated renal cell carcinoma. The usual treatment is immunotherapy with ipilimumab and nivolumab, followed by nivolumab alone. The new treatment adds cabozantinib to nivolumab after initial treatment with ipilimumab and nivolumab. It is not yet known if this new combination treatment is better than the usual treatment.

Who is the study for?
This trial is for adults with advanced kidney cancer that hasn't been treated yet. Participants should have a certain level of physical fitness (Karnofsky performance status >= 70%), measurable disease, and be at an intermediate or poor risk according to specific criteria. They can't join if they've had certain treatments before, have active autoimmune diseases, uncontrolled conditions like hypertension or infections like HIV with detectable viral load, or are pregnant.
What is being tested?
The study compares standard immunotherapy treatment using Nivolumab and Ipilimumab followed by Nivolumab alone versus the same regimen followed by a combination of Nivolumab with Cabozantinib. The goal is to see if adding Cabozantinib improves outcomes in untreated renal cell carcinoma that has spread.
What are the potential side effects?
Possible side effects include immune-related reactions affecting organs, high blood pressure from Cabozantinib, fatigue, liver enzyme changes, digestive issues such as diarrhea from Ipilimumab and skin problems. Each patient may experience side effects differently.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

You may be eligible if you check “Yes” for the criteria below
Select...
My kidney cancer is classified as intermediate or poor risk.
Select...
My cancer has spread and can be measured by scans.
Select...
I am at intermediate or poor risk for kidney cancer according to specific health criteria.
Select...
My cancer has spread and can be measured by scans.
Select...
I have not been treated with PD-1, PD-L1, or CTLA-4 inhibitors.
Select...
I am 18 years old or older.
Select...
I am able to care for myself but may not be able to do active work.
Select...
My kidney cancer diagnosis includes clear cell characteristics.
Select...
It has been less than 80 days since my last ipilimumab/nivolumab dose.
Select...
I have not had any systemic therapy for kidney cancer.
Select...
I am able to care for myself but may not be able to do active work.

Exclusion Criteria

You may be eligible for the trial if you check “No” for criteria below:
Select...
I am currently being treated for an autoimmune disease.
Select...
I haven't taken blood thinners or platelet inhibitors in the last 5 days.
Select...
I have not had major surgery in the last 4 weeks.
Select...
My adrenal glands are not working properly and it's not under control.
Select...
I have lung lesions with cavities or disease in my airways.
Select...
My cancer is growing into or around major blood vessels.
Select...
I am not taking immunosuppressive drugs or more than 10 mg of prednisone daily.
Select...
I haven't had a major heart attack or severe heart failure symptoms in the last 6 months.
Select...
I have not had a blood clot in an artery in the last 6 months.
Select...
I have had pancreatitis, an organ transplant, or congenital QT syndrome.
Select...
My thyroid condition has not been treated.
Select...
I am experiencing significant side effects from past treatments.
Select...
My liver function is moderately to severely impaired.

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks
Treatment ~ Varies
Follow Up ~up to 5 years
This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and up to 5 years for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

Study objectives can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.
Primary study objectives
Overall survival (OS)
Secondary study objectives
Complete response (CR) (randomized patients)
Incidence of adverse events
Objective response
+2 more
Other study objectives
Estimates of OS by ethnicity
Estimates of OS by race
Estimates of OS by sex

Side effects data

From 2022 Phase 2 trial • 45 Patients • NCT02101736
95%
HYPOTHYROIDISM
73%
DIARRHEA
55%
WEIGHT LOSS
50%
FATIGUE
41%
ALANINE AMINOTRANSFERASE INCREASED
41%
Neutrophil Count Decreased
41%
ASPARTATE AMINOTRANSFERASE INCREASED
41%
VOMITING
41%
ANOREXIA
41%
NAUSEA
36%
HYPERTENSION
36%
HEADACHE
36%
PALMAR-PLANTAR ERYTHRODYSESTHESIA SYNDROME
36%
PAIN IN EXTREMITY
32%
PROTEINURIA
32%
PAIN
27%
White Blood Cell Count Decreased
27%
ABDOMINAL PAIN
23%
PLATELET COUNT DECREASE
23%
HYPONATREMIA
23%
Decreased Platelet Count
23%
Platelet Count Decreased
23%
Renal & Urinary Disorders - Other, Ketonuria
23%
Skin Hypopigmentation
23%
HAIR COLOR CHANGE
18%
Upper Respiratory Infection
18%
HEMOGLOBIN INCREASED
18%
HYPOKALEMIA
18%
HYPOPHOSPHATEMIA
18%
Alopecia
18%
Hyperkalemia
14%
HYPERGLYCEMIA
14%
Pruritis
14%
HYPOGLYCEMIA
14%
Rash Acneiform
14%
Rash Maculopapular
14%
BILIRUBIN INCREASED
14%
ACNEIFORM RASH
14%
Cough
14%
Blood Bilirubin Increased
14%
DIZZINESS
14%
Skin And Subcutaneous Disorders - Other, Achromotricia
14%
CONSTIPATION
14%
Fever
9%
NASAL CONGESTION
9%
TUMOR PAIN
9%
Papulopustular Rash
9%
ALKALINE PHOSPHATASE INCREASED
9%
Creatinine Increased
9%
Back Pain
9%
ABSOLUTE NEUTROPHIL COUNT DECREASED
9%
LIPASE INCREASED
9%
Skin And Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders- Other, Rash Unspecified
9%
Paresthesia
9%
ORAL PAIN
9%
LYMPHOCYTE COUNT DECREASED
9%
WEIGHT GAIN
9%
HYPOCALCEMIA
9%
DRY SKIN
5%
Hypotension
5%
Injury, Poisoning And Procedural Complications - Other, Ankle Injury
5%
Peripheral Sensory Neuropathy
5%
Joint Range Of Motion Decreased
5%
Hypertension
5%
SERUM AMYLASE INCREASED
5%
Investigations - Other, Eosinophilia
5%
Allergic Rhinitis
5%
ANXIETY
5%
Hypermagnesemia
5%
Rash Ezcematoid
5%
Behaviour Disturbance
5%
Scalp Pain
5%
Psychiatric Disorders - Other, Mood Swings
5%
Sinus Tachycardia
5%
Periodontal Disease
5%
Myalgia
5%
Tooth Infection
5%
URINARY FREQUENCY
5%
Conjunctivitis
5%
Sinusitis
5%
Syncope
5%
Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time Prolonged
5%
Breast Pain
5%
Peripheral Motor Neuropathy
5%
Scalp Lesion
5%
Sore Throat
5%
Tachycardia
5%
JOINT RANGE OF MOTION DECREASED
5%
INSOMNIA
5%
Skin And Subcutaneous Disorders - Other, Dry Skin Patches
5%
URINARY URGENCY
5%
Injury, Poisoning And Procedural Complications- Other, Scalp Laceration
5%
Musculoskeletal And Connective Tissue Disorder - Other, Tendinitis
5%
Skin And Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders - Other, Skin Color Change
5%
Skin And Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders - Other: Blue Lips (Not Cyanosis)
5%
HEMATURIA
5%
RASH
5%
Gastrointestinal Disorders - Other, Buccal Cyst
5%
Investigations - Other, International Normalized Ration Increased
5%
Infections And Infestations - Other, Gi Viral Infection
5%
Gastrointestinal Disorders - Other, Dental Pain
5%
Stomach Pain
5%
SKIN INFECTION
5%
HYPOMAGNESEMIA
5%
Muscle Weakness Upper Limb
5%
Skin And Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders- Other, Blister/Bug Bite On Finger
5%
Skin And Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders- Other, Erythema
5%
Neuropathy
5%
Infections And Infestations - Other, Covid-19
5%
Investigations - Other, Increased Mean Corpuscular Volume
5%
DIFFICULTY WALKING, BACK PAIN, BOWEL/BLADDER URGENCY, LEGS GAVE OUT, AND PARESTHESIAS
5%
Skin And Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders- Other, New Freckles/Moles
5%
Surgical & Medical Procedures - Other, Dental Extractions
5%
TENDONITIS
5%
SINUS BRADYCARDIA
5%
HYPERTHYROIDISM
5%
Creatine Phosphokinase Increased
5%
SUBJECT WAS ADMITTED TO THE HOSPITAL ON 10/24/20 WITH GRADE 2 WEIGHT LOSS THAT THE PHYSICIAN FELT NE
5%
Skin And Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders- Other, Sore On Lips
5%
Skin And Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders- Other, Transient Erythema
5%
Musculoskeletal And Connective Tissue Disorders - Other, Extremity Cramps
5%
Muscle Weakness Lower Limb
5%
Urine Discoloration
5%
SPINAL CORD COMPRESSION
5%
ANEMIA
5%
PARONYCHIA
5%
BRUISING
5%
HYPOALBUMINEMIA
5%
Ear And Labyrinth Disorders - Other, Impacted Cerumen
5%
Ear Pain
5%
Elevated Amylase
5%
Facial Pain
5%
Gastrointestinal Disorders - Other, Stomatitis
5%
Hoarseness
5%
Laryngitis
5%
Leg Pain
5%
Localized Edema
5%
Lung Infection
5%
Metabolism And Nutrition Disorders - Other, Decreased Oral Intake
5%
Metabolism Other - Decreased Vitamin D
5%
Metbolism And Nutrition Disorders - Other, Hyperchloremia
5%
Mucositis Oral
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
Study treatment Arm
Cohort B
Cohort A

Awards & Highlights

Pivotal Trial
The final step before approval, pivotal trials feature drugs that have already shown basic safety & efficacy.
No Placebo-Only Group
All patients enrolled in this study will receive some form of active treatment.

Trial Design

2Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
Group I: Arm B (nivolumab, cabozantinib)Experimental Treatment8 Interventions
INDUCTION: Patients receive nivolumab IV over 30 minutes and ipilimumab IV over 30 minutes on day 1. Treatment repeats every 21 days for up to 4 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. TREATMENT: Patients with iuPD with clinical instability receive cabozantinib PO daily on days 1-28. Treatment repeats every 28 days until further disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients with iCR receive nivolumab IV over 30 minutes on day 1. Treatment repeats every 28 days in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients with non-CR/non-PD rwith clinical stability eceive nivolumab IV over 30 minutes on day 1 and cabozantinib PO daily on days 1-28. Treatment repeats every 28 days in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients undergo CT scan, MRI and blood and urine sample collection, and may also undergo a bone scan as clinically indicated throughout the study.
Group II: Arm A (nivolumab)Active Control8 Interventions
INDUCTION: Patients receive nivolumab IV over 30 minutes and ipilimumab IV over 30 minutes on day 1. Treatment repeats every 21 days for up to 4 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. TREATMENT: Patients with iuPD with clinical instability receive cabozantinib PO daily on days 1-28. Treatment repeats every 28 days until further disease progression or unacceptable toxicity Patients with iCR receive nivolumab IV over 30 minutes on day 1. Treatment repeats every 28 days in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients with non-CR/non-PD with clinical stability receive nivolumab IV over 30 minutes on day 1. Treatment repeats every 28 days in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients undergo CT scan, MRI and blood and urine sample collection, and may also undergo a bone scan as clinically indicated throughout the study.
Treatment
First Studied
Drug Approval Stage
How many patients have taken this drug
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
2017
Completed Phase 3
~1180
Cabozantinib
2020
Completed Phase 2
~2360
Biospecimen Collection
2004
Completed Phase 3
~2030
Computed Tomography
2017
Completed Phase 2
~2790
Nivolumab
2015
Completed Phase 3
~4010
Ipilimumab
2015
Completed Phase 3
~3420

Find a Location

Who is running the clinical trial?

National Cancer Institute (NCI)Lead Sponsor
13,938 Previous Clinical Trials
41,021,995 Total Patients Enrolled
Tian ZhangPrincipal InvestigatorAlliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology

Media Library

Ipilimumab (Checkpoint Inhibitor) Clinical Trial Eligibility Overview. Trial Name: NCT03793166 — Phase 3
Renal Cell Carcinoma Research Study Groups: Arm A (nivolumab), Arm B (nivolumab, cabozantinib)
Renal Cell Carcinoma Clinical Trial 2023: Ipilimumab Highlights & Side Effects. Trial Name: NCT03793166 — Phase 3
Ipilimumab (Checkpoint Inhibitor) 2023 Treatment Timeline for Medical Study. Trial Name: NCT03793166 — Phase 3
~125 spots leftby Sep 2025