Pembrolizumab + Axitinib for Kidney Cancer

(NEOPAX Trial)

This trial aims to determine if combining Pembrolizumab (an immunotherapy drug) and Axitinib (a targeted therapy) can shrink tumor clots in the main vein (Inferior Vena Cava) near the kidney in individuals with kidney cancer. By reducing these clots, the trial seeks to make surgeries safer and improve long-term health outcomes for participants. It is recruiting individuals with clear cell kidney cancer who are planning to undergo surgery. Those advised to have surgery for their kidney cancer might be suitable candidates for this trial. As a Phase 2 trial, it focuses on assessing the treatment's effectiveness in an initial, smaller group, offering participants a chance to contribute to important research.

The trial does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications. However, you cannot use certain drugs that strongly affect liver enzymes (CYP3A4/5 inhibitors or inducers) within 7 days before joining the study.

Research has shown that the combination of pembrolizumab and axitinib is generally well-tolerated by patients. Earlier studies found that side effects were similar to those seen when each drug is used alone, indicating no significant increase in side effects when used together.

Using pembrolizumab and axitinib together has improved outcomes in kidney cancer. In a large study, this combination lowered the risk of death compared to another treatment. Additionally, about 85% of patients experienced some control over their disease, with many showing a reduction in tumor size.

Researchers are excited about the combination of Pembrolizumab and Axitinib for treating kidney cancer because it offers a new approach that targets cancer more aggressively. Pembrolizumab is an immunotherapy drug that boosts the body’s immune response to attack cancer cells, while Axitinib inhibits blood vessel growth that tumors need to grow. By combining these two, there's potential for a more comprehensive attack on the cancer than standard treatments, which often focus on just one of these pathways. This dual-action approach could lead to better outcomes and offer hope for patients with advanced kidney cancer.

Research has shown that using pembrolizumab and axitinib together yields promising results for treating kidney cancer. In this trial, participants will receive the combination as neoadjuvant therapy. One study found that this combination helped patients live longer and slowed cancer growth more effectively than sunitinib. Specifically, it reduced the chance of cancer worsening by 31% and nearly halved the risk of death for patients with advanced kidney cancer. In some cases, patients even saw their cancer completely disappear. These findings suggest that using pembrolizumab and axitinib together might be a good option for shrinking tumors and potentially improving long-term health outcomes.²⁶⁷⁸⁹