Kidney cancer treatment has advanced significantly, especially for metastatic disease. Immunotherapy combinations and targeted drugs now help many people live years longer than was possible a decade ago. For localized tumors, surgery remains the standard approach, while research explores ways to spare kidney function and avoid surgery in small tumors.
What's actually going on in research
Trials are testing combinations of immune checkpoint inhibitors with drugs that target blood vessel growth, newer targeted therapies for hereditary forms of kidney cancer, and ablation techniques for small tumors. Researchers are studying biomarkers that predict which treatments work best for each person, and investigating whether kidney biopsies can guide treatment decisions before surgery.
Combination immunotherapy
Pairing two types of immune drugs, or an immune drug with a targeted therapy, has become standard for metastatic kidney cancer. Trials are now testing whether these combinations work for smaller tumors before surgery, potentially shrinking them or even eliminating the need for an operation.
Active surveillance
For small kidney tumors that grow slowly, some trials are studying whether people can safely delay or avoid surgery with careful monitoring. The goal is to identify which tumors can be watched and which need immediate treatment.
HIF-2 alpha inhibitors
Belzutifan, FDA-approved in 2021, targets a protein that kidney cancer cells use to survive low oxygen. It works especially well in people with von Hippel-Lindau disease, and trials are testing it in other forms of kidney cancer.
What to know before you search
Eligibility often depends on cancer stage, prior treatments, kidney function, and whether the cancer has specific genetic features like clear cell type or hereditary syndromes.
What types of trials are currently open
- Treatment trials — Testing new immunotherapy combinations, targeted drugs, or sequences of treatments for metastatic kidney cancer.
- Neoadjuvant trials — Giving immunotherapy or targeted drugs before surgery to shrink tumors, making them easier to remove or potentially avoiding surgery altogether.
- Surveillance studies — Following people with small kidney tumors closely with imaging instead of immediate surgery, to see which tumors can be safely watched.
- Biomarker trials — Using genetic tests or tumor biopsies to match people with the treatments most likely to work for their specific cancer.
- Prevention trials — Testing whether drugs can prevent new kidney tumors in people with hereditary conditions like von Hippel-Lindau disease.
Recently added Kidney Cancer trials
SABR Combined With Axitinib and Toripalimab for Oligometastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma
This is a phase II clinical trial testing whether a combination of stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR), axitinib, and toripalimab is effective and safe for treating oligometastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma (a type of kidney cancer that has spread to 5 or fewer sites). In this study, all metastatic tumors will be treated with SABR - a precise, high-dose radiation therapy delivered in 5 sessions. At the same time, participants will receive axitinib (an oral targeted cancer drug) twice daily, and toripalimab (an intravenous immunotherapy) every 3 weeks for up to 2 years. The study will enroll 48 participants. The main goal is to measure the objective response rate - the proportion of patients whose tumors shrink or disappear after treatment. Researchers will also track how long patients live without their cancer worsening, overall survival, and any side effects from the treatment. Participants will have regular imaging scans, blood tests, and quality-of-life assessments throughout the treatment and follow-up period.
An MRI-Based Study of Intelligent Pathological Subtyping and Grading of Renal Tumors
This retrospective + prospective, non-interventional study aims to develop and evaluate artificial intelligence methods for the detection, pathological subtyping, and histological grading of renal tumors using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Approximately 900 adult patients with available preoperative renal MRI examinations and postoperative pathological results will be included. The pathological findings will be used as the reference standard for model development and evaluation. In addition to MRI data, selected demographic, clinical, and laboratory information may be incorporated to improve model performance. The study will not change participants' diagnosis, treatment, or follow-up, and no additional examinations or interventions will be required. All study data will be de-identified before analysis. The ultimate goal is to develop an MRI-based intelligent diagnostic approach that may assist clinicians in the preoperative assessment and individualized management of patients with renal tumors.
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