What the trial was testing
The trial enrolled 65 patients with kidney cancer. The study was sponsored by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute 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
33% of patients with rare kidney cancer types saw their tumors shrink on this two-drug combination.
Journal of clinical oncology : official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology · 2020 · NCT02724878
These findings — that tumors shrank in patients with rare or aggressive kidney cancer types — 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 65 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 treatment showed promise for kidney cancers that are harder to treat — the non-clear cell types and those with aggressive features. If your tumor tests positive for a protein called PD-L1, your chances of responding may be even higher. This was mid-stage testing and the regimen is not yet FDA-approved for this use. Talk to your oncologist about clinical trials or approved immunotherapy combinations that may be similar.
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
Project: Every Child for Younger Patients With Cancer
This study gathers health information for the Project: Every Child for younger patients with cancer. Gathering health information over time from younger patients with cancer may help doctors find better methods of treatment and on-going care.
Distance-Based Exercise to Preserve Function and Prevent Disability
This clinical trial studies whether an exercise program can be successfully delivered to patients receiving treatment for cancer through virtual sessions and allow patients to exercise in their own home. Treatments for cancer can cause side effects such as fatigue and loss of strength. These side effects can make it difficult to work, take care of family, and do other things the patient wants to do. Preliminary research shows that exercise can help prevent some of these side effects, but it can be more difficult to start an exercise program when a patient is receiving cancer treatment. The exercise program in this study is delivered through telehealth (TH) video calls. The TH sessions are delivered by trained staff that supervise resistance exercises. The trained staff also provide guidance to the patient on completing unsupervised aerobic sessions on their own. This may be a successful way to deliver an exercise program and make it easier for cancer patients to exercise in their own home during treatment.