Recruiting

Testing a blood test to guide kidney cancer follow-up treatment

Plain-English translation of NCT06005818 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated October 2025 · Translation generated June 2026 · How we translate trials

Phase 2 — Testing in a bigger group (up to a few hundred people) to see if the treatment actually works and is still safe.

What is this trial?

This trial is testing whether a new blood test called Signatera can help doctors make smarter decisions about treating kidney cancer after surgery. The blood test looks for tiny traces of cancer DNA that might be left in your body. If the test is negative (meaning no cancer DNA is found), you may not need additional medication. If it's positive, you would receive pembrolizumab, an immune-boosting medication, to help prevent the cancer from coming back.

After surgery to remove a kidney tumor, doctors usually give all patients the same follow-up treatment, even though some patients may not need it. This trial is testing whether the blood test can identify which patients truly need the medication and which ones can safely avoid it—reducing unnecessary treatment and its side effects.

Do you qualify?

You likely qualify if…

you have been diagnosed with kidney cancer (clear cell type) and had surgery to remove the tumor
your surgery was performed between 4 and 12 weeks before you enroll in the study
you are at intermediate-high or high risk for cancer recurrence based on your tumor size and grade
you have had the blood test (Signatera) done within the last 90 days
you are at least 18 years old and able to give informed consent
you have no signs of cancer remaining after surgery, confirmed by imaging scans

You likely don't qualify if…

you have a weakened immune system or are taking chronic steroid medications
you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or unwilling to use birth control during the study
you have had previous systemic cancer treatment (with limited exceptions for very recent pembrolizumab)
you have cancer that has already spread beyond the kidney to other parts of your body
you have serious organ function problems or other major medical conditions that would make the treatment unsafe

What participation looks like

If you qualify, you will first have the blood test (Signatera) performed to look for remaining cancer DNA. Depending on your results, you will either enter the observation group (if the test is negative and you simply have follow-up visits and scans) or the treatment group (if the test is positive and you receive the medication pembrolizumab every 6 weeks for one year). The study lasts about one year, with regular clinic visits to check your health, monitor for side effects, and perform imaging scans to make sure the cancer hasn't returned.

AI-generated summary from trial data · Jun 24, 2026 · Not medical advice

Trial locations(1 site)

United States

University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama