NCT05239728 · CITED IN SOURCE DOCUMENTS

A Study of Belzutifan (MK-6482) Plus Pembrolizumab (MK-3475) Versus Placebo Plus Pembrolizumab in Participants With Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma Post Nephrectomy (MK-6482-022)

An NCI or FDA source cites this study. A citation does not establish that it applies to an individual diagnosis.

Phase: PHASE3
Status at capture: ACTIVE NOT RECRUITING
Registry last update: 2026-05-15

The purpose of this study is to assess the efficacy and safety of oral belzutifan (MK-6482) plus intravenous (IV) pembrolizumab (MK-3475) compared to placebo plus pembrolizumab, in the adjuvant treatment of Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma (ccRCC) post nephrectomy. The primary study hypothesis is that belzutifan plus pembrolizumab is superior to placebo plus pembrolizumab with respect to disease-free survival (DFS).

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What did the study report?

Outcomes, safety and baseline populations are separate source sections. Quality-of-life measures appear under their original outcome titles.

No posted result sections were captured. Registered plans do not establish that a treatment works.

Who could take part

eligibility Criteria: The main inclusion and exclusion criteria include but are not limited to the following: Inclusion Criteria: * Has a histologically or cytologically confirmed diagnosis of RCC with clear cell component per American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) (8th Edition), with or without sarcomatoid features * Has intermediate-high risk, high risk, or M1 no evidence of disease (NED) RCC as defined by the following pathological tumor-node metastasis and tumor grading: 1. Intermediate-high risk RCC: pT2, Grade 4 or sarcomatoid, N0, M0; pT3, any grade, N0, M0 2. High risk RCC: pT4, any Grade N0, M0; pT any stage, any Grade, N+, M0 3. M1 NED RCC participants who present not only with the primary kidney tumor but also solid, isolated, soft tissue metastases that can be completely resected at one of the following: the time of nephrectomy (synchronous) or, ≤2 years from nephrectomy (metachronous) * Has undergone complete resection of the primary tumor (partial or radical nephrectomy) and complete resection of solid, isolated, soft tissue metastatic lesion(s) in M1 NED participants * Must have undergone a nephrectomy and/or metastasectomy ≤12 weeks prior to randomization * Has Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 to 1 within 10 days before randomization. * Male participants must agree to continue contraception at least 7 days after the last dose of belzutifan/placebo * Female participants of childbearing potential must be willing to use an adequate method of contraception, for the course of the study through 120 days after the last dose of pembrolizumab or at least 30 days after last dose of belzutifan/placebo, whichever occurs last * Has adequate organ function Exclusion Criteria: * Has had a major surgery, other than nephrectomy plus resection of preexisting metastases for M1 NED participants, within 4 weeks prior to randomization * Has a pulse oximeter reading \<92% at rest, requires intermittent supplemental oxygen, or requires chronic supplemental oxygen * Has clinically significant cardiovascular disease within 6 months from first dose of study intervention * Has other clinically significant disorders such as: serious active nonhealing wound/ulcer/bone fracture; requirement for hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis * Has preexisting brain or bone metastatic lesions * Has received prior systemic therapy for RCC * Has received prior radiotherapy for RCC * Has received a live or live-attenuated vaccine within 30 days before the first dose of study intervention; administration of killed vaccines are allowed * Has a diagnosis of immunodeficiency or is receiving chronic systemic steroid therapy * Has a known additional malignancy (other than RCC treated with nephrectomy and/or metastasectomy) that is progressing or has required active treatment within the past 3 years * Has an active autoimmune disease that has required systemic treatment in past 2 years (i.e., with use of disease modifying agents, corticosteroids, or immunosuppressive drugs); replacement therapy is allowed * Has a history of (noninfectious) pneumonitis/interstitial lung disease that required steroids or has current pneumonitis/interstitial lung disease * Has an active infection, requiring systemic therapy * Has a known history of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, a known history of Hepatitis B or known active Hepatitis C virus infection * Has had an allogenic tissue/solid organ transplant
healthy Volunteers: false
minimum Age: 18 Years
sex: ALL
std Ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT

Treatment arms and interventions

arm Groups

description
Participants receive belzutifan 120 mg orally once daily (QD) for up to approximately 54 weeks PLUS pembrolizumab 400 mg via intravenous (IV) infusion once every 6 weeks (Q6W) for up to 9 administrations (up to approximately 54 weeks).
intervention Names
Drug: Belzutifan
Biological: Pembrolizumab
label
Belzutifan + Pembrolizumab
type
EXPERIMENTAL
description
Participants receive placebo orally QD for up to approximately 54 weeks PLUS pembrolizumab 400 mg via IV infusion once Q6W for up to 9 administrations (up to approximately 54 weeks).
intervention Names
Biological: Pembrolizumab
Drug: Placebo
label
Placebo + Pembrolizumab
type
EXPERIMENTAL

interventions

arm Group Labels
Belzutifan + Pembrolizumab
description
Three 40 mg tablets given as a single oral 120 mg dose.
name
Belzutifan
other Names
MK-6482
PT2977
WELIREG™
type
DRUG
arm Group Labels
Belzutifan + Pembrolizumab
Placebo + Pembrolizumab
description
400 mg via IV infusion
name
Pembrolizumab
other Names
MK-3475
Keytruda®
type
BIOLOGICAL
arm Group Labels
Placebo + Pembrolizumab
description
Oral tablet
name
Placebo
type
DRUG

Study design

allocation

RANDOMIZED

intervention Model

PARALLEL

masking Info

masking: TRIPLE
who Masked: PARTICIPANT
INVESTIGATOR
OUTCOMES_ASSESSOR

primary Purpose

TREATMENT

Enrollment

count: 1800
type: ESTIMATED

Registered outcome plans (not posted results)

primary Outcomes

description
DFS is defined as the time from randomization to the first documented local recurrence, or occurrence of distant kidney cancer metastasis(es) as assessed by investigator, or death due to any cause, whichever occurs first. The DFS for all participants will be presented.
measure
Disease-Free Survival (DFS)
time Frame
Up to approximately 54 months

secondary Outcomes

description
OS is defined as the time from randomization to death due to any cause.
measure
Overall Survival (OS)
time Frame
Up to approximately 89 months
description
An AE is any untoward medical occurrence in a clinical study participant, temporally associated with the use of study intervention, whether or not considered related to the study intervention. An AE can therefore be any unfavorable and unintended sign (including an abnormal laboratory finding), symptom, or disease (new or exacerbated) temporally associated with the use of a study intervention. The number of participants who experienced an AE will be reported.
measure
Number of Participants Who Experience at Least One Adverse Event (AE)
time Frame
Up to approximately 66 weeks
description
An AE is any untoward medical occurrence in a clinical study participant, temporally associated with the use of study intervention, whether or not considered related to the study intervention. An AE can therefore be any unfavorable and unintended sign (including an abnormal laboratory finding), symptom, or disease (new or exacerbated) temporally associated with the use of a study intervention. The number of participants who discontinued the study due to an AE will be reported.
measure
Number of Participants Who Discontinue Study Treatment Due to an AE
time Frame
Up to approximately 54 weeks
description
DRSS1 is defined as the time from randomization to the first documented local recurrence of RCC as assessed by the investigator. For DRSS1, only local recurrence is counted as an event.
measure
Disease Recurrence-Specific Survival 1 (DRSS1)
time Frame
Up to approximately 54 months
description
DRSS2 is defined as the time from randomization to the first documented local recurrence with visceral lesion or occurrence of distant kidney cancer metastasis(es) with visceral lesion, whichever occurs first, as assessed by investigator.
measure
Disease Recurrence-Specific Survival 2 (DRSS2)
time Frame
Up to approximately 54 months
description
The EORTC QLQ-C30 is a questionnaire to assess the overall quality of life of participants with cancer. Participant responses to the questions "How would you rate your overall health during the past week?" and "How would you rate your overall quality of life during the past week?" are scored on a 7-point scale (1= Very poor to 7=Excellent). Using linear transformation, raw scores are standardized, so that scores range from 0 to 100. A higher score indicates a better overall health status. The change from baseline in EORTC QLQ-C30 Items 29 and 30 combined scores will be presented.
measure
Change From Baseline in Health-Related Quality-of-Life (HRQoL) Using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) Items 29 and 30 Score
time Frame
Baseline (Day 1) and up to approximately 36 months
description
The EORTC QLQ-C30 is a cancer specific health-related quality-of life (QoL) questionnaire. Participant responses to 5 questions about their physical functioning are scored on a 4-point scale (1=Not at All to 4=Very Much). Higher scores indicate a worse level of function. Change from baseline in the score of EORTC QLQ-C30 Items 1-5 will be presented.
measure
Change From Baseline in Physical Functioning Using the EORTC QLQ-C30 Items 1- 5 Score
time Frame
Baseline (Day 1) and up to approximately 36 months
description
The EORTC QLQ-C30 is a cancer specific health-related quality-of life (QoL) questionnaire. Participant responses to questions about their role functioning are scored on a 4-point scale (1=Not at All to 4=Very Much). Higher score indicate a worse level of function. Change from baseline in the score of EORTC QLQ-C30 Items 6-7 will be presented.
measure
Change From Baseline in Role Functioning Using the EORTC QLQ-C30 Items 6 and 7 Score
time Frame
Baseline (Day 1) and up to approximately 36 months
description
The FKSI-DRS index consists of a 9-item questionnaire that assesses the extent of participant symptoms from kidney cancer. Responses are scored on a 5-point scale (0=Not at all to 4=Very much) and summed to generate an index symptom score. These scores can range from 0 to 36, with a higher score indicating more favorable kidney cancer symptom status. Change from baseline in the score of FKSI-DRS Items 1-9 will be presented.
measure
Change From Baseline in Disease Symptoms Using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Kidney Symptom Index-Disease-related Symptoms (FKSI-DRS) Items 1-9 Score
time Frame
Baseline (Day 1) and up to approximately 36 months

Full study description

brief Summary: The purpose of this study is to assess the efficacy and safety of oral belzutifan (MK-6482) plus intravenous (IV) pembrolizumab (MK-3475) compared to placebo plus pembrolizumab, in the adjuvant treatment of Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma (ccRCC) post nephrectomy. The primary study hypothesis is that belzutifan plus pembrolizumab is superior to placebo plus pembrolizumab with respect to disease-free survival (DFS).

Source references

references

citation
Choueiri TK, Motzer RJ, Karam JA, Yip W, Suarez C, Ye D, He Z, Caglevic C, Ferguson T, Chang YH, Rojas C, Iacovelli R, Urun Y, Verzoni E, Vazquez Limon JC, Porta C, Uzzo RG, Lee JL, Venugopal B, McKay RR, Hammers H, Miyake H, Chahoud J, Liu H, Burgents JE, Sharma M, Powles TB; LITESPARK-022 Investigators. Adjuvant Pembrolizumab plus Belzutifan for Renal-Cell Carcinoma. N Engl J Med. 2026 Jul 2;395(1):32-43. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2518245.
pmid
42384869
type
DERIVED