RESEARCH SUMMARY
News — Study Title: Belzutifan plus cabozantinib as first-line treatment for patients with advanced clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (LITESPARK-003): an open-label, single-arm, phase 2 study
Publication:
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute authors: Toni K. Choueiri, MD
Summary: In the open-label phase 2 LITESPARK-003 study, led by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s Toni Choueiri, MD, researchers investigated for the first time the combination of cabozantinib, an anti-angiogenic agent, plus belzutifan, a first-in-class HIF-2α inhibitor. The researchers previously for cohort 2 of the trial, which includes patients previously treated with immunotherapy. This study reports results for cohort 1, which includes patients who have not yet received treatment for advanced kidney cancer. After a median follow up of 24 months, 70% of patients had a confirmed objective response, with 4 of 50 patients experiencing a complete response and 31 of 50 experiencing a partial response. Seven of the 50 patients had serious treatment-related adverse events, though they were manageable.
Significance: Current first-line treatment for advanced clear-cell renal cell carcinoma includes anti-PD1 or anti-PD-L1 immunotherapy in combination with a CTLA-4 inhibitor or a VEGF tyrosine kinase inhibitor such as cabozantanib. These options have improved outcomes in patients, however not all patients respond, and some responses do not last. This study’s results suggest that further investigation of this novel combination as first-line therapy option is warranted.
Funding: Merck Sharp & Dome, LLC, (a subsidiary of Merck & Co) and the National Cancer Institute.
Contact: Victoria Warren, [email protected]
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