A Phase 2 Study of Sasanlimab, Palbociclib and Axitinib in Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma

Launched by STEPHANIE BERG · Aug 8, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying a new combination of three medicines—sasanlimab, palbociclib, and axitinib—to see how well and how safely they work for people with advanced kidney cancer, specifically types called clear cell renal cell carcinoma or translocation renal cell carcinoma. These medicines work in different ways to help the immune system fight cancer and to stop cancer cells from growing and spreading.

The study is looking for adults with kidney cancer that has spread and who have not had previous treatment for advanced disease. To join, participants need to have measurable cancer tumors, be in generally good health with normal organ function, and be able to take pills by mouth. Women and men must agree to use birth control during and for some time after the study to prevent pregnancy. People who have had certain prior cancer treatments, serious health issues, or active infections may not be eligible. If you join, you can expect to receive these study drugs and be closely monitored by the medical team to see how the treatment works and to watch for any side effects. This study is not yet recruiting, but it aims to find better treatment options for people with advanced kidney cancer.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Histologically or cytologically confirmed unresectable advanced or metastatic renal cell carcinoma with a clear cell component or translocation renal cell carcinoma. Patients with clear cell carcinoma and sarcomatoid histology are eligible.
• * a. For tRCC please refer to the following for eligibility definitions:
• • i. TFE3 (Xp11.2) translocation RCC: confirmed by IHC; however, FISH should be utilized if IHC is not optimal (ie, conclusive) or unavailable.
• • ii. TFEB rearranged RCC: confirmed by FISH; TFEB amplified tumors are excluded.
• * b. A formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tumor tissue block from a de novo tumor biopsy obtained during screening will be required (biopsied tumor lesion should not be a RECIST target lesion). Alternatively, a recently obtained archival FFPE tumor tissue block (not cut slides from a primary or metastatic tumor resection or biopsy) can be provided if the following criteria are met:
• • i. The biopsy or resection was performed within 1 year of registration AND
• • ii. The patient has not received any intervening systemic anti-cancer treatment from the time the tissue was obtained and registration onto the current study. If an FFPE tissue block cannot be provided as per documented regulations then 15 unstained slides (10 minimum) will be acceptable
• • c. Availability of an archival FFPE tumor tissue block from primary diagnosis specimen (if available and not provided per above). If an FFPE tissue block cannot be provided as per documented regulations, then 15 unstained slides (10 minimum) will be acceptable.
• • Measurable disease as per RECIST 1.1. See Section 11 for the evaluation of measurable disease.
• • Age ≥ 18 years.
• • ECOG performance status ≤2 (Karnofsky ≥60%, see Appendix A).
• * Normal organ and marrow function as defined below:
• • a. Absolute neutrophil count ≥1.5×109/L
• • b. Platelets ≥100×109/L
• • c. Hemoglobin ≥9g/dL (RBC transfusions allowed)
• • d. Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 × institutional upper limit of normal (ULN) with the following exception: patients with known Gilbert disease should have a total serum bilirubin ≤ 3 x ULN
• • e. AST(SGOT)/ALT(SGPT) ≤1.5 × ULN
• • f. Creatinine clearance ≥30 mL/min according to the CKD-EPI equation. (APPENDIX C)
• • g. Urine protein \<1+ by urinalysis; If ≥1+ protein or otherwise suggestive of any proteinuria above a trace amount (per local institutional standards), a random urine protein and creatinine ratio (UPCR) should be collected. A 24-hour urine collection can also be utilized for direct measurement. When multiple modalities are used, the 24-hour urine measurement takes precedence over the random UPCR; refer to section 6.2 for further guidance.
• • Women of child-bearing potential and men must agree to use adequate contraception (intrauterine device or barrier method of birth control; abstinence) prior to study entry and for the duration of study participation. If condoms are used as a barrier method, a spermicidal agent should be added as a double barrier protection. A negative pregnancy serum test should be obtained within 7 days of therapy initiation. Should a woman become pregnant or suspect she is pregnant while she or her partner is participating in this study, she must discontinue treatment immediately. Data on fetal outcome and breast-feeding are to be collected for regulatory reporting and drug safety evaluation. Participants treated or enrolled on this protocol must also agree to use adequate contraception prior to the study, for the duration of study participation, and 90 days after completion of sasanlimab, axitinib and palbociclib administration.
• • Ability to swallow oral medications.
• • Ability to understand and willingness to sign a written informed consent document.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• * Treatment with the following prior therapies:
• • a. Prior systemic therapy for advanced or metastatic RCC.
• • b. Prior adjuvant or neoadjuvant therapy for RCC if disease progression or relapse has occurred within 12 months of last dose of such therapy. Treatment with an immune checkpoint inhibitor in the adjuvant setting is allowed providing more than 12 months have elapsed since last dose or completion of therapy.
• • c. Prior treatment with any immunotherapeutic agent (IL-2, IFN-α, anti-PD(L)-1, anti-CTLA-4, or any other antibody or drug targeting T-cell co-stimulation or immune checkpoint pathways).
• • d. Prior therapy with axitinib or other therapies targeting VEGF pathway in the metastatic setting (adjuvant therapy is allowed).
• • e. Prior therapy with any CDK4/6 inhibitor.
• • Participants with untreated brain metastases. Participants with metastatic CNS tumors may participate in this trial, if the participant is ≥ 4 weeks from therapy completion (incl. radiation and/or surgery), is clinically stable at the time of study entry and is not receiving corticosteroid therapy \>10 mg/day prednisone equivalents. A repeat MRI or CT brain to show stability is required.
• • Wide field radiation therapy ≤ 2 weeks prior to treatment start. Prior palliative radiotherapy to metastatic non-target lesion(s) is permitted if completed at least 48hrs prior to patient registration.
• • Untreated deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism, or event of deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism within 2 weeks of treatment start. Patient should be on at least 1 week of anticoagulation before C1D1.
• • Major surgery/surgical procedures within the past 4 weeks prior to registration.
• • The patient has serious and/or uncontrolled preexisting medical condition(s) that, in the judgment of the investigator, would preclude participation in this study (for example, interstitial lung disease - also see 3.2.22, severe dyspnea at rest or requiring oxygen therapy, severe renal impairment \[e.g. estimated creatinine clearance \<30ml/min\], history of major surgical resection involving the stomach or small bowel, or preexisting Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis or a preexisting chronic condition resulting in baseline Grade 2 or higher diarrhea).
• * Current or prior use of immunosuppressive medication within 7 days prior to registration, except the following:
• • a. Intranasal, inhaled, topical steroids, or local steroid injections (eg. intra-articular injection).
• • b. Systemic corticosteroids at physiologic doses ≤10 mg/day of prednisone or equivalent.
• • c. Steroids as premedication for hypersensitivity reactions (eg. CT scan premedication).
• • Known severe hypersensitivity reactions to monoclonal antibodies (Grade ≥3) or any history of anaphylaxis.
• • Active autoimmune disease that might deteriorate when receiving an immunostimulatory agents. Patients with diabetes type I, vitiligo, psoriasis, hypo- or hyperthyroidism not requiring immunosuppressive treatment are eligible.
• • Vaccination within 4 weeks of the first dose of sasanlimab and while on trial is prohibited except for administration of inactivated vaccines (for example, inactivated influenza or shingles vaccines). Note, the COVID19 vaccine is not a live vaccine and permitted.
• • Grade ≥3 hemorrhage within 4 weeks of registration.
• • Patient with active systemic bacterial infection (requiring IV antibiotics at the time of initiating study treatment), fungal infection, or detectable viral infection. Patients with known viral infection (such as HIV) are excluded given the potential for interactions between antiretroviral agents and palbociclib and axitinib, and the potential for increased risk of life-threatening infection with therapy that is myelosuppressive. If patients are not known to have HIV, a HIV test is required prior to registration.
• • Patients with known Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C infection are excluded only if there is evidence of active infection (detectable Hepatitis B surface antigen, detectable HBV DNA, or detectable Hepatitis C RNA).
• • Prior allogenic or autologous stem cell or any solid organ transplant.
• • Impairment of gastrointestinal function or gastrointestinal disease that may significantly alter the absorption of oral drugs (e.g., ulcerative diseases, uncontrolled nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, malabsorption syndrome, or small bowel resection).
• • Participants who are currently taking therapeutic doses of warfarin sodium or any other coumadin-derivative anticoagulant. Therapeutic use of low molecular weight heparin and factor Xa inhibitors (eg. apixaban, rivaroxaban) is permitted.
• • Other malignancy diagnosed within 2 years of treatment start unless negligible risk of metastases or death according to the investigator (included but not limited to carcinoma in situ of the cervix, basal or squamous cell skin cancer, localized prostate cancer, ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast, non-muscle invasive urothelial carcinoma, or other malignancy not deemed to impact patients 5-year life expectancy).
• • Has a personal history of any of the following conditions: syncope of cardiovascular etiology, ventricular arrhythmia of pathological origin (including, but not limited to, ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation), myocarditis, sudden cardiac arrest.
• • Has had any major cardiovascular event within 6 months prior to treatment start, including but not limited to: myocardial infarction, unstable angina, cerebrovascular accident, transient ischemic event or New York Heart Association Class III or IV heart failure.
• • Ongoing cardiac dysrhythmias of NCI CTCAE Grade ≥2 or history of long QTC syndrome. Any history of myocarditis.
• • History of interstitial lung disease or other restrictive lung disease, as well as history of symptomatic respiratory condition considered clinically significant by the investigator. Individuals with a history of radiotherapy to the thorax and any history of pneumonitis will be excluded.
• • Current or past tobacco users with a history of cigarette smoking greater than 30 pack-yrs (i.e., # of packs of cigarettes smoked per day × # of years patient has smoked \> 30).
• • Participants with a known hypersensitivity to the study compounds or to its excipients.
• • Current use or anticipated need for treatment with drugs or foods that are known strong CYP3A4/5 inhibitors, including their administration within 7 days prior to treatment start (eg. Grapefruit juice or grapefruit/grapefruit-related citrus fruits \[eg. Seville oranges, pomelos\], ketoconazole, miconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole, , clarithromycin, telithromycin, indinavir, saquinavir, ritonavir, nelfinavir, amprenavir, fosamprenavir nefazodone, lopinavir, troleandomycin, mibefradil, and conivaptan). The topical use of these medications (if applicable), such as 2% ketoconazole cream, is allowed.
• • Current use or anticipated need for drugs that are known strong CYP3A4/5 inducers, including their administration within 14 days prior to treatment start (eg. Phenobarbital, rifampin, phenytoin, carbamazepine, rifabutin, 23albociclib, clevidipine, St John's wort).
• • Participants who have taken herbal medications within 7 days prior to treatment start. Herbal medications include, but are not limited to St. John's wort, Kava, ephedra (ma huang), gingko biloba, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), yohimbe, saw palmetto, and ginseng.
• • Females that are pregnant or breastfeeding.
• • Judgement by the investigator that the patient is unsuitable to participate in the study and the patient is unlikely to comply with study procedures, restrictions and requirements.