How Can I Find a Clinical Trial for Kidney Cancer?

Last Updated: 15 September 2018 | Print

Taking part in a clinical trial can be a good choice but it is often hard to find a clinical trial that is right for you. Many patient organisations and websites maintain lists of clinical trials. The following tables list some of the many clinical trials available worldwide and focus primarily on immuno-oncology trials for kidney cancer patients. Please note: this is not an exhaustive list, so please check with your local patient organisation. Other trials may be available in your country. If you are aware of an open trial that should be listed here, please send us the trial information to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

For more clinical trials for kidney cancer please search the IKCC clinical trials database: IKCC clinical trials database

For more information about understanding and finding trials, click here.

Pre-surgery (neo adjuvant) trials (for patients before surgery to remove the kidney tumour)

Pre-surgery (neo adjuvant) trials (for patients before surgery to remove the kidney tumour)

Trial name	Agents	Phase	Status	Sponsor	Further information
ADAPTeR	Nivolumab pre and post-OP	II	Open, recruiting	Royal Marsden	click here
Pembrolizumab-031	Pembrolizumab (MK-3475)	I	Open, recruiting	Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.	click here
PROSPER	Nivolumab	III	Open, recruiting	Dana Faber Cancer Institute	click here

Adjuvant trials (for patients immediately after surgery)

Adjuvant trials (for patients immediately after surgery)

Trial name	Agents	Phase	Status	Sponsor	Further information
IMmotion010	Atezolizumab	III	Open, recruiting	Hoffmann-La Roche	click here
Checkmate 914	Nivolumab + Ipilimumab	III	Open, recruiting	Bristol-Myers Squibb	click here
Keynote 564	Pembrolizumab	III	Open, recruiting	Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.	click here
PROSPER	Nivolumab	III	Open, recruiting	Dana Faber Cancer Institute	click here
RAMPART	Durvalumab and tremelimumab	III	Open, recruiting	University College, London, AstraZeneca	click here

First line treatment (for patients who have not yet had any systemic therapy for advanced kidney cancer)

First line treatment (for patients who have not yet had any systemic therapy for advanced kidney cancer)

Trial name	Agents	Phase	Status	Sponsor	Further information
Checkmate 214	Nivolumab+ipilimumab versus sunitinib	III	Closed to accrual	Bristol-Myers Squibb	click here
ADAPT	AGS-003 versus sunitinib	III	Ongoing, not recruiting	Argos Therapeutics	click here
IMmotion151	Atezolizumab (MPDL3280 A) + bevacizumab versus sunitinib	III	Ongoing, not recruiting	Hoffmann-La Roche	click here
Javelin Renal 101	Avelumab + axitinib	III	Ongoing, not recruiting	Pfizer	click here
Nivolumab vs. nivolumab+bevacizumab vs. nivolumab + ipilimumab	Nivolumab vs. nivolumab+bevacizumab vs. nivolumab + ipilimumab	II	Ongoing, not recruiting	MD Anderson	click here
Pazopanib + interferon alpha 2a	Pazopanib + interferon alpha 2a	I/II	Completed	Spanish Oncology Genito-Urinary Group Novartis	click here
Pembrolizumab + bevacizumab	Pembrolizumab + bevacizumab	I/II	Ongoing, not recruiting	Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.	click here
Atezolizumab in combination with other immune-modulating therapies	Atezolizumab + interferon alpha 2b	I	Ongoing, not recruiting	Hoffman-La Roche	click here
Pembrolizumab + pazopanib	Pembrolizumab + pazopanib	I	Ongoing, not recruiting	Novartis, Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.	click here
Pembrolizumab + axitinb	Pembrolizumab + axitinb	I	Ongoing, not recruiting	Pfizer	click here
Javelin renal 100	Avelumab + axitinib	I	Open, recruiting	Pfizer	click here
Lenvatinib/Everolimus or Lenvatinib/Pembrolizumab vs. Sunitinib	Lenvatinib, everolimus, pembrolizumab, sunitinib	III	Open, recruiting	Eisai Inc.	click here
KEYNOTE-426	Pembolizumab + axitinib vs. sunitinib	III	Ongoing, not recruiting	Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.	click here
CheckMate 800	Nivolumab plus ipilimumab	II	Open, recruiting	Bristol-Myers Squibb	click here
KEYNOTE-427	Pembrolizumab	II	Ongoing, not recruiting	Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.	click here
FRACTION-RCC	Nivolumab + ipilimumab vs. Nivolumab + BMS-986016	II	Open, recruiting	Bristol-Myers Squibb	click here
Pazopanib Hydrochloride in Treating Patients With Metastatic Kidney Cancer Who Have No Evidence of Disease After Surgery	Pazopanib hydrochloride	III	Ongoing, not recruiting	National Cancer Institute (NCI)	click here Patient-friendly review will be available soon
Study of Atezolizumab + Bevacizumab in Patients With Advanced Non-Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma	Atezolizumab + bevacizumab	II	Open, recruiting	Dana-Farber Cancer Institute	click here
A Study of AGS-16C3F vs. Axitinib in Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma	AGS-16C3F vs. axitinib	II	Open, recruiting	Agensys, Inc.	click here
S1500 - Cabozantinib, Crizotinib, Volitinib, or Sunitinib in Treating Patients With Locally Advanced or Metastatic Papillary Kidney Cancer	Cabozantinib, crizotinib, volitinib, sunitinib	II	Open, recruiting	National Cancer Institute (NCI)	click here
Savoir	Savolitinib, sunitinib	III	Open, recruiting	AstraZeneca	click here
Checkmate 920	Nivolumab, ipilimumab	IV	Open, recruiting	Bristol-Myers Squibb	click here
Checkmate 9ER	Nivolumab, cabozantinib, sunitinib	III	Open, recruiting	Bristol-Myers Squibb	click here
UNISoN	Nivolumab, Ipilimumab	II	Open, recruiting	ANZUP	click here

Second line treatment (for patients who have had only one prior systemic therapy)

Second line treatment (for patients who have had only one prior systemic therapy)

Trial name	Agents	Phase	Status	Sponsor	Further information
Checkmate 025	Nivolumab versus everolimus	III	Stopped, results published at the ECC 2015	Bristol-Myers Squibb	click here
Nivolumab vs. nivolumab+bevacizumab vs. nivolumab + ipilimumab	Nivolumab vs. nivolumab+bevacizumab vs. nivolumab + ipilimumab	II	Ongoing, not recruiting	MD Anderson	click here
KEYNOTE 029 (MK-3475 029)	Pembrolizumab + interferon alpha 2b + ipilimumab	I/II	Open, recruiting	Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.	click here
Pazopanib + interferon alpha 2a	Pazopanib + interferon alpha 2a	I/II	Completed	Spanish Oncology Genito-Urinary Group Novartis	click here
Pembrolizumab + bevacizumab	Pembrolizumab + bevacizumab	I/II	Ongoing, not recruiting	Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.	click here
Atezolizumab in combination with other immune-modulating therapies	Atezolizumab + interferon alpha 2b	I	Ongoing, not recruiting	Hoffman-La Roche	click here
Cabozantinib plus nivolumab against cabozantinib + nivolumab + ipilimumab	Cabozantinib + nivolumab + ipilimumab	I	Open, recruiting	National Cancer Institute (NCI)/ Exelixis	click here
X4P-001 in Patients With Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma	X4P-001 + axitinib	I/II	Open, recruiting	X4 Pharmaceuticals	click here
Pembrolizumab (MK-3475) in Combination With Epacadostat (INCB024360)	Pembrolizumab (MK-3475) + Epacadostat (INCB024360)	I/II	Closed for kidney cancer patients	Incyte Corporation, Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.	click here
Lenvatinib (E7080) Plus Pembrolizumab in Subjects With Selected Solid Tumours	Lenvatinib + pembrolizumab	Ib/II	Open recruiting	Eisai Inc.	click here
Checkmate 800	Nivolumab +ipilimumab	II	Open, recruiting	Bristol-Myers Squibb	click here
FRACTION-RCC	Nivolumab + ipilimumab vs. Nivolumab + BMS-986016	II	Open, recruiting	Bristol-Myers Squibb	click here
A Study of AGS-16C3F vs. Axitinib in Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma	AGS-16C3F vs. axitinib	II	Open, recruiting	Agensys, Inc.	click here
S1500 - Cabozantinib, Crizotinib, Volitinib, or Sunitinib in Treating Patients With Locally Advanced or Metastatic Papillary Kidney Cancer	Cabozantinib, crizotinib, volitinib, sunitinib	II	Open, Recruiting	National Cancer Institute (NCI)	click here
Savoir	Savolitinib, sunitinib	III	Open, recruiting	AstraZeneca	click here
UNISoN	Nivolumab, Ipilimumab	II	Open, recruiting	ANZUP	click here

Third line treatment (for patients who have had up to two prior systemic therapies)

Third line treatment (for patients who have had up to two prior systemic therapies)

Trial name	Agents	Phase	Status	Sponsor	Further information
Checkmate 025	Nivolumab versus everolimus	III	Stopped, results published at the ECC 2015	Bristol-Myers Squibb	click here
Nivolumab vs. nivolumab+bevacizumab vs. nivolumab + ipilimumab	Nivolumab vs. nivolumab+bevacizumab vs. nivolumab + ipilimumab	II	Ongoing, not recruiting	MD Anderson	click here
Pazopanib + interferon alpha 2a	Pazopanib + interferon alpha 2a	I/II	Completed	Spanish Oncology Genito-Urinary Group Novartis	click here
Pembrolizumab + bevacizumab	Pembrolizumab + bevacizumab	I/II	Ongoing, not recruiting	Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.	click here
Atezolizumab in combination with other immune-modulating therapies	Atezolizumab + interferon alpha 2b	I	Ongoing, not recruiting	Hoffman-La Roche	click here
Cabozantinib plus nivolumab against cabozantinib + nivolumab + ipilimumab	Cabozantinib + nivolumab + ipilimumab	I	Open, recruiting	National Cancer Institute (NCI)/ Exelixis	click here
X4P-001 in Patients With Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma	X4P-001 + axitinib	I/II	Open, recruiting	X4 Pharmaceuticals	click here
Pembrolizumab (MK-3475) in Combination With Epacadostat (INCB024360)	Pembrolizumab (MK-3475) + epacadostat (INCB024360)	I/II	Closed for kidney cancer patients	Incyte Corporation, Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.	click here
Lenvatinib (E7080) Plus Pembrolizumab in Subjects With Selected Solid Tumours	Lenvatinib + Pembrolizumab	Ib/II	Open, recruiting	Eisai Inc.	click here
Checkmate 800	Nivolumab + ipilimumab	II	Open, recruiting	Bristol-Myers Squibb	click here
Study to Compare Tivozanib Hydrochloride to Sorafenib in Subjects With Refractory Advanced RCC	Tivozanib Hydrochloride vs. sorafenib	III	Ongoing, not recruiting	AVEO Pharmaceuticals, Inc.	click here
FRACTION-RCC	Nivolumab + ipilimumab vs. Nivolumab + BMS-986016	II	Open, recruiting	Bristol-Myers Squibb	click here
A Study of AGS-16C3F vs. Axitinib in Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma	AGS-16C3F vs. axitinib	II	Open, recruiting	Agensys, Inc.	click here
Savoir	Savolitinib, sunitinib	III	Open, recruiting	AstraZeneca	click here
UNISoN	Nivolumab, Ipilimumab	II	Open, recruiting	ANZUP	click here

Others

Others

Currently no other trials available.

Renal Cell Carcinoma

The most common kind of kidney cancer. It arises in the small tubes of the kidneys. In the majority of cases, this is the clear cell type.

systemic therapy

Any treatment that reaches cells all over the body. Chemotherapy and targeted therapy are types of systemic therapy.

immuno-oncology

Immuno-oncology (IO) therapy is a way to treat cancer by activating your immune system in the hope that it will attack your tumour.

clinical trial

A type of research study that tests how well new medical approaches work in people.

clear cell

A type of cell that looks clear inside when viewed under a microscope. Clear cell renal cell carcinoma is the most common type of kidney cancer

interferon

A biological response modifier (a substance that can improve the body's natural response to infections and other diseases).

carcinoma

Cancer that begins in the skin or in tissues that line or cover internal organs.

papillary

The second most common type of kidney cancer. Approximately 10-15% of kidney cancers are this subtype. For more information read here: 10 Steps to undestanding therapy options in kidney cancer

pazopanib

A substance used for the treatment of cancer. It is a type of protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor and angiogenesis inhibitor. Pazopanib is a drug that is taken orally.

sunitinib

A drug used to treat advanced kidney cancer and is being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer.

adjuvant

The use of other therapies after performing surgery for cancer. Adjuvant therapies are given when there are no obvious cancer cells remaining but a patient is determined to have a higher risk of having a recurrence. It is given in order to reduce the risk of a cancer recurrence.

oncology

The type of medical practice that specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.

systemic

Affecting the entire body.

surgery

A procedure to remove or repair a part of the body or to find out whether disease is present. An operation.

cancer

A term for diseases in which an uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells happens which can invade and destroy nearby healthy tissues. Cancer cells can also spread to other parts of the body through the blood and lymph systems.

kidney

One of a pair of organs located behind the abdominal cavity.

margin

The edge or border of the tissue removed in cancer surgery.

tumour

An abnormal mass of tissue that results when cells divide more than they should or do not die when they should. Tumours may be benign (not cancer), or malignant (cancer).

renal

Having to do with the kidneys.

cell

The individual unit that makes up the tissues of the body.

Afinitor (RAD001, everolimus)

A drug used to treat advanced kidney cancer.