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Kidney CancerApril 2020Summary reviewed June 2026

A Two-Drug Combo Shrank Kidney Cancer Tumors in 61% of Patients

Researchers tested pembrolizumab (a checkpoint inhibitor) combined with bevacizumab (a blood vessel blocker) in 48 people with metastatic kidney cancer who hadn't received treatment yet. About 61% of patients saw their tumors shrink, and half remained progression-free for over 20 months.

What the trial was testing

The BTCRC-GU14-003 enrolled 61 patients with kidney cancer. The study was sponsored by Arkadiusz Z. Dudek, MD and tracked outcomes across the full group of patients who matched the trial's eligibility profile.

It was initial testing (phase 2). Trials at this stage are designed to produce evidence regulators and physicians can act on — not just observations to follow up later.

What the results showed

61% of patients had their tumors shrink with the combination treatment.

Journal of clinical oncology : official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology · 2020 · NCT02348008

These findings — that had their tumors shrink with the combination treatment — were published in the Journal of clinical oncology : official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and represent the headline result of the study.

Researchers tracked outcomes across 61 patients enrolled in the trial. The result was consistent enough across the group that the team felt confident reporting it.

What this means for patients

For patients with kidney cancer, this result changes the calculus on what to ask their care team about. Whether it changes day-to-day care depends on factors like disease subtype, prior treatments, and where the patient is in their care journey.

What you can do now

This was an initial testing study and this exact combination is not FDA-approved for first-line kidney cancer. However, pembrolizumab is FDA-approved for certain kidney cancers, and similar checkpoint inhibitor combinations are now standard care. Ask your oncologist about approved checkpoint inhibitor options for metastatic kidney cancer.

Eligibility for the treatments mentioned above depends on specific test results and clinical history. Bring this summary, the trial name, and your most recent labs or pathology report to your next visit.

Open kidney cancer trials

RecruitingSafety & dosing

A Study of Theranostic Pair PD-32766D/T in Participants With Carbonic Anhydrase IX Positive Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma

This is an open-label, multicenter, Phase 1a/1b study evaluating the theranostic pair 64Cu-PD-32766 Injection (PD-32766D) and 225Ac-PD-32766 Injection (PD-32766T) in adult patients with relapsed or refractory Carbonic Anhydrase IX (CA9)-expressing clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). The primary objective is to evaluate the safety and tolerability of PD-32766T, and to characterize its pharmacokinetics and preliminary antitumor activity. Participants will first undergo imaging with PD-32766D to assess CA9 expression. Subjects with positive tumor uptake will be eligible to receive PD-32766T. In Phase 1a, PD-32766T will be administered in an escalating dose levels and schedule determined according to protocol and Safety Review Committee recommendations. In Phase 1b, participants will receive PD-32766T at the recommended dose and schedule identified from Phase 1a to further evaluate safety, tolerability, and preliminary efficacy. A total of up to 60 participants will be enrolled in the study.

Omaha, Nebraska, United States
RecruitingSafety & dosing / Early efficacy

Phase Ib/II Clinical Study of SHR-8068 Combined Anti-tumor Drugs in the Treatment of Advanced Renal Cell Carcinom

This study evaluated the safety and efficacy of SHR-8068 in combination anti-tumor drugs in the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma

Beijing, Beijing Municipality, China