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RecruitingLast updated: 2 November 2023

NAPSTER: This study recruiting people with kidney cancer to evaluate the effect of immunotherapy, before treatment with radiation therapy and surgery to remove the kidneyNeoAdjuvant Pembrolizumab and STEreotactic Radiotherapy Prior to Nephrectomy for Renal Cell Carcinoma: Investigating Induced Immune Context Changes

Clinical summary

Summary

Eligible participants will be randomly allocated to either the Active Comparator Arm or the Experimental Arm.

In the Active Comparator Arm, participants will receive Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy (SABR) plus nephrectomy (surgical removal of the kidney). SABR will be prescribed at a dose of 42Gy in 3 fractions. All radiation therapy treatment will be completed within 3 weeks. Participants will then undergo nephrectomy within 9-12 weeks after the first dose of treatment.

In the Experimental Arm, participants will receive immunotherapy (called pembrolizumab) followed by SABR plus nephrectomy. Pembrolizumab (200mg, flat dose) will be administered as a 30 minute intravenous infusion every 21 days for 3 cycles. Participants will receive 1 cycle of pembrolizumab prior to SABR followed by an additional 2 cycles of pembrolizumab (1 cycle is 21 days). Participants will then undergo nephrectomy 9-12 weeks after beginning treatment.

Conditions

This trial is treating patients with renal cell carcinoma.

Cancer

Urinary System Cancers Genitourinary

Age

People18+

Phase

II

Trial Acronym

NAPSTER

More information

Trial Identifiers

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Trial sponsor

Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

Scientific Title

NeoAdjuvant Pembrolizumab and STEreotactic Radiotherapy Prior to Nephrectomy for Renal Cell Carcinoma: Investigating Induced Immune Context Changes

Eligibility

Inclusion

  1. Patient has provided written informed consent
  2. Male or female aged 18 years or older at written informed consent
  3. Histologically or cytologically confirmed diagnosis of RCC with clear cell, rhabdoid or sarcomatoid components
  4. Tumour stage T1B-T3, N0 or N1, M0 or low volume M1 planned for nephrectomy
  5. Patients must have adequate bone marrow, hepatic and renal function documented within 14 days prior to randomisation:

    • White Blood Cell (WBC) ≥ 3 X 10^9/L
    • Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥1.5 X 10^9/L
    • Platelets ≥ 100 X 10^9/L
    • Haemoglobin ≥ 100 g/L independent of transfusion
    • Serum Creatinine ≤1.5 X Upper Limit of Normal (ULN) or measured or calculated CrCl calculated as per institutional standard ≥ 30 ml/min. GFR can also be used in place of serum creatinine or CrCl.
    • Total bilirubin ≤1.5 X ULN except for patients with known Gilbert's Syndrome
    • Albumin > 30 g/L
    • AST and ALT ≤1.5 X ULN
    • INR or PT ≤1.5 X ULN unless patient is receiving anticoagulant therapy
  6. ECOG performance status of 0 or 1
  7. Women of child birth potential (WOCBP) must have a negative urine or serum pregnancy test within 72 hours prior to randomisation. If the urine test is positive or cannot be confirmed as negative, a serum pregnancy test will be required
  8. WOCBP should be willing to use two methods of birth control, or be surgically sterile, or abstain from heterosexual activity for the course of the study through 120 days after the last dose of study medication. Patients of childbearing potential are those who have not been surgically sterilised or have not been free from menses for more than 1 year
  9. Male patients should agree to use an adequate method of contraception starting with the first dose of study therapy through 120 days after the last dose of study therapy
  10. Patient agrees to the collection and use of their fresh tumour samples and peripheral blood for translational research
  11. Patient is willing and able to comply with the protocol for the duration of the study including undergoing biopsies, treatment, and scheduled visits and examination

Exclusion

  1. Had prior treatment with any anti-PD-1, or anti-PD-L1, or PD-L2 agent or with an antibody targeting any other immune-regulatory receptors or mechanisms. Examples of such antibodies include antibodies against IDO, PD-L1, IL-2R, and GITR
  2. Known or active inflammatory bowel disease involving colon and small bowels
  3. Previous radiotherapy to the upper abdomen with radiation dose overlap to the involved kidney
  4. Is currently participating in or has participated in a study of an investigational agent or has used an investigational device within 4 weeks prior to randomisation
  5. Has a diagnosis of immunodeficiency or is receiving chronic systemic steroid therapy exceeding 10 mg daily dose of prednisone or equivalent or any other form of immunosuppressive therapy within 7 days prior to randomisation
  6. Has an active autoimmune disease that has required systemic treatment in the last 2 years (i.e. with use of disease modifying agents, corticosteroids or immunosuppressive drugs). Replacement therapy (eg., thyroxine, insulin, or physiologic corticosteroid replacement therapy for adrenal or pituitary insufficiency, etc.) is not considered a form of systemic treatment and is allowed
  7. Has a known additional malignancy that is progressing or has required active treatment in the last 3 years Note: Basal cell carcinoma of the skin, squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, superficial bladder cancer, or carcinoma in situ, such as breast cancer in situ, that has undergone potentially curative therapy are not excluded
  8. Has known active CNS metastases and/or carcinomatous meningitis. Patients with previously treated brain metastases may participate provided they are radiologically stable, i.e. without evidence of progression for at least 4 weeks by repeat imaging (note that the repeat imaging should be performed during study screening), clinically stable and without requirement of steroid treatment for at least 14 days prior to randomisation
  9. Has severe hypersensitivity (≥Grade 3) to pembrolizumab and/or any of its excipients
  10. Has a history of (non-infectious) pneumonitis that required steroids or has current pneumonitis
  11. Has an active infection requiring systemic therapy
  12. Has a known history of HIV infection
  13. Has known history of Hepatitis B (defined as Hepatitis B surface antigen [HBsAg] reactive)or known active Hepatitis C (defined as HCV RNA [qualitative] is detected) infection
  14. Has a history or current evidence of any condition, therapy, or laboratory abnormality that might confound the results of the study, interfere with the patient's participation for the full duration of the study, or is not in the best interest of the patient to participate, in the opinion of the treating investigator
  15. Has a known psychiatric or substance abuse disorders that would interfere with cooperation with the requirements of the trial
  16. Has received a live virus vaccine within 30 days prior to randomisation. Examples of live vaccines include, but are not limited to, the following: measles, mumps, rubella, varicella/zoster (chicken pox), yellow fever, rabies, Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), and typhoid vaccine. Seasonal influenza vaccines for injection are generally killed virus vaccines and are allowed; however, intranasal influenza vaccines (eg, FluMist®) are live attenuated vaccines and are not allowed
  17. Has had a prior solid organ transplant
  18. Is pregnant or breastfeeding, or expecting to conceive or father children within the projected duration of the study, starting with the screening visit through 120 days after the last dose of study drug.
  19. Any contraindications for surgery

Exclusion

  • You have been diagnosed with a prior or secondary type of cancer.
  • You have certain types of non-cancer medical conditions.
  • You have had certain treatments, surgical procedures or drugs.
  • You have previously been treated (or are currently being treated) on a clinical trial.
Message

Clinical trials have complex eligibility criteria.

Ask your doctor if this trial could be right for you.

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