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RecruitingInterventionalPhase 3

Phase III Double Blinded Trial of Immune-Based Therapy With a Live Biotherapeutic MO-03 or Placebo for Frontline Therapy of Advanced Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma [BioFront Trial]

NCT ID: NCT07383441Sponsor: SWOG Cancer Research NetworkLast updated: 2026-06-11

Summary

This phase III trial compares the effect of adding live biotherapy, MO-03, to standard of care (SOC) immunotherapy, including ipilimumab, nivolumab, axitinib, pembrolizumab, cabozantinib, and lenvatinib, to SOC immunotherapy alone in treating patients with clear cell renal cell cancer that may have spread from where it first started (primary site) to nearby tissue, lymph nodes, or distant parts of the body (advanced) or that has spread from where it first started to other places in the body (metastatic). Studies have shown that gut health (the gut microbiome) may impact the effectiveness of immunotherapy. The microbiome includes all of the bacteria and organisms naturally found in the digestive tract. MO-03, a type of biotherapy, contains material from living organisms that may help keep the digestive tract healthy and may help to increase the effect of immunotherapy. Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as ipilimumab, nivolumab, pembrolizumab, may help the body's immune system attack the tumor, and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Axitinib, cabozantinib, and lenvatinib are a type of angiogenesis inhibitor and tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) that block certain proteins which may help keep tumor cells from growing and may also help prevent the growth of new blood vessels that tumors need to grow. Adding MO-03 to SOC immunotherapy may be more effective than SOC immunotherapy alone in treating patients with advanced or metastatic clear cell renal cell cancer.

Detailed description

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: I. To compare investigator assessed progression-free survival of participants with advanced clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) randomized to standard of care immunotherapy (IO)-based combination regimen plus placebo versus IO-based combination regimen plus clostridium butyricum CBM 588 probiotic strain (MO-03) in an intent-to-treat analysis. SECONDARY OBJECTIVES: I. For the safety run-in: To assess the safety of MO-03 when added to each of the following standard frontline treatment regimens for advanced renal cell carcinoma: cabozantinib/nivolumab, axitinib/pembrolizumab (MK-3475) and lenvatinib/pembrolizumab (MK-3475) in the first 50 randomized patients after receiving at least two cycles of treatment. II. To compare investigator assessed Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) 1.1 response (confirmed and unconfirmed complete response and partial response) between the study arms. III. To compare overall survival (OS) between the study arms. IV. To compare investigator assessed progression free survival (PFS) rates between the study arms at 12 months and at 24 months. V. To evaluate the qualitative and quantitative toxicities between the study arms. ADDITIONAL OBJECTIVES: I. To compare time to subsequent systemic therapy between the study arms. II. To evaluate the potential impact of concomitant medications, specifically antibiotics, proton pump inhibitors (PPI) and steroids, on the activity of MO-03 in combination with standard immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) based regimen. TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE BANKING OBJECTIVE: I. To bank archival tissue, blood and stool samples for future contemporary translational studies. OUTLINE: Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 arms and are assigned to 1 of 4 regimens based on risk status. ARM 1: Patients receive MO-03 orally (PO) twice daily (BID) on days 1-42 of each cycle. Cycles repeat every 42 days for up to 3 years in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. In addition, intermediate or poor-risk patients also receive SOC immunotherapy regimens 1, 2, 3, or 4 and favorable risk patients receive SOC immunotherapy regimens 2, 3, or 4. ARM 2: Patients receive placebo PO BID on days 1-42 of each cycle. Cycles repeat every 42 days for up to 3 years in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. In addition, intermediate or poor-risk patients also receive SOC immunotherapy regimens 1, 2, 3, or 4 and favorable risk patients receive SOC immunotherapy regimens 2, 3, or 4. REGIMEN 1: Patients receive SOC ipilimumab intravenously (IV) over 30-90 minutes and nivolumab IV or nivolumab and recombinant human hyaluronidase subcutaneously (SC) every 21 days for up to 4 infusions in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. After completing 4 infusions, patients continue to receive nivolumab IV or nivolumab and recombinant human hyaluronidase SC every 14 or 28 days in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. REGIMEN 2: Patients receive SOC axitinib PO BID for up to 3 years in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients also receive SOC pembrolizumab IV every 21 or 42 days for up to 2 years in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. REGIMEN 3: Patients receive SOC cabozantinib PO once daily (QD) for up to 3 years in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients also receive SOC nivolumab IV or nivolumab and recombinant human hyaluronidase SC every 14 or 28 days for up to 2 years in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. REGIMEN 4: Patients receive SOC lenvatinib PO QD for up to 3 years in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients also receive SOC pembrolizumab IV every 21 or 42 days for up to 2 years in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. All patients also undergo computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and blood sample collection throughout the study. Additionally, patients with suspected bone metastasis may undergo bone scan throughout the study and patients with suspected brain metastasis may undergo brain MRI throughout the study After completion of study treatment, patients are followed every 6 months for the first 2 years then once a year for years 3-5.

Arms & interventions

  • DrugAxitinib

    Given PO

  • ProcedureBiospecimen Collection

    Undergo blood sample collection

  • ProcedureBone Scan

    Undergo bone scan

  • DrugCabozantinib

    Given PO

  • DrugClostridium butyricum CBM 588 Probiotic Strain

    Given PO

  • ProcedureComputed Tomography

    Undergo CT

  • BiologicalIpilimumab

    Given IV

  • DrugLenvatinib

    Given PO

  • ProcedureMagnetic Resonance Imaging

    Undergo MRI

  • BiologicalNivolumab

    Given IV

  • DrugNivolumab and Recombinant Human Hyaluronidase

    Given SC

  • BiologicalPembrolizumab

    Given IV

  • DrugPlacebo Administration

    Given PO

Outcome measures

Primary

  • Progression-free survival (PFS)

    A Cox model will be used to test the treatment hazard ratio with stratification factors in the model as covariates for the futility and efficacy interim analyses and the final analysis.

    Time frame: From date of randomization to date of first documentation of progression, or death due to any cause, assessed up to 5 years

Secondary

  • Incidence of adverse events (AEs) (Safety run-in)

    Time frame: During the first 12 weeks (2 cycles [cycle length =42 days])

  • Overall survival

    Time frame: From date of randomization to date of death due to any cause, assessed up to 5 years

  • PFS rates between the study arms

    Time frame: At 12 and 24 months

  • Incidence of AEs between study arms

    Time frame: Up to 90 days after last dose of study treatment

Eligibility criteria

Sex: AllAge: 18 Years and olderHealthy volunteers: No
Inclusion Criteria: * Participants must have histologically confirmed renal cell carcinoma (RCC) with clear cell component that is advanced (not amenable to curative surgery or radiation therapy) or metastatic RCC at the time of registration on study * Participants must have measurable/evaluable disease by RECIST 1.1 criteria. Participants with only bone metastases or only pleural effusions are considered evaluable disease and are eligible * Participants with new or progressive brain metastases (active brain metastases) or leptomeningeal disease must not require immediate central nervous system (CNS) specific treatment at the time of study registration or anticipated treatment during the first cycle of therapy * Participants must not be currently enrolled or plan to participate in treatment studies while enrolled on this study * Participants must not plan to take any over the counter probiotic supplements at time of study registration and while on protocol treatment * NOTE: Vitamin and electrolyte or mineral supplements are permitted * Participants must not have had prior systemic therapy for advanced or metastatic RCC or any treatment with immune based combination therapy * NOTE: Participants can have prior neo/adjuvant treatment with an anti-PD-1, anti-PD-L1, and/or anti-CTLA-4 antibody or other therapies for any current or prior malignancy if \> 12 months prior to registration * Participants must not be receiving steroid replacement therapy for adrenal insufficiency greater than 50 mg daily of hydrocortisone or prednisone equivalent dose at the time of registration * Participants must not require the use of systemic corticosteroids \> 10 mg/day of prednisone or its equivalent for any reason other than replacement therapy for adrenal insufficiency * Participants must not have received any systemic antibiotics within 7 days prior to registration * NOTE: Uncontrolled infections must be completely resolved * Participants must be ≥ 18 years old at the time of registration * Participants must have a Zubrod performance status 0-2 within 28 days of registration * Participants must be able to safely receive at least one of the standard of care regimens, per the current Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved package inserts, treating investigator's discretion, and institutional guidelines * NOTE: Participants with favorable risk as defined by the International Metastatic RCC Database Consortium (IMDC) must plan to receive one of the TKI+ immunotherapy treatment combinations. They are not able to receive regimen 1 (ipilimumab + nivolumab) for this study * Participants must be able to swallow and retain oral medications and have no known gastrointestinal disorders likely to interfere with absorption of oral medications * Participants must have serum creatinine ≤ 2 x ULN (upper limit of normal). This specimen must have been drawn and processed within 28 days prior to registration * Hemoglobin ≥ 8 g/dL (within 28 days prior to registration) * Leukocytes ≥ 3 x 10\^3/uL (within 28 days prior to registration) * Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1.5 x 10\^3/uL (within 28 days prior to registration) * Platelets ≥ 100 x 10\^3/uL (within 28 days prior to registration) * Total bilirubin ≤ institutional upper limit of normal (ULN) unless history of Gilbert's disease (within 28 days prior to registration) Participants with history of Gilbert's disease must have total bilirubin ≤ 5 x institutional ULN * Aspartate aminotransferase (AST)/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ≤ 3 x institutional ULN (\< 5 x institutional ULN if liver metastases are present) (within 28 days prior to registration) * Participants must have alkaline phosphate measured as a part of the liver function assessment within 28 days prior to registration * Participants must have albumin corrected calcium measured within 28 days prior to registration * Participants with a history human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infection must be on effective anti-retroviral therapy at registration and have undetectable viral load on the most recent test results obtained within 6 months prior to registration * Participants with a history of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection must have undetectable HBV viral load while on suppressive therapy on the most recent test results obtained within 6 months prior to registration * Participants with a history of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection must have been treated and cured. Participants currently being treated for HCV infection must have undetectable HCV viral load test on the most recent test results obtained within 6 months prior to registration * Participants must not have uncontrolled blood pressure and hypertension within 28 days prior to registration * Participants must not have a prior or concurrent malignancy whose natural history or treatment (in the opinion of the treating physician) has the potential to interfere with the safety or efficacy assessment of the investigational regimen * Participants must not have any known history of an autoimmune disease that prohibits the use of immune checkpoint therapy * Participants must not be pregnant or nursing (nursing includes breast milk fed to an infant by any means, including from the breast, milk expressed by hand, or pumped). Individuals who are of reproductive potential must have agreed to use an effective contraceptive method with details provided as a part of the consent process. A person who has had menses at any time in the preceding 12 consecutive months or who has semen likely to contain sperm is considered to be of "reproductive potential." In addition to routine contraceptive methods, "effective contraception" also includes refraining from sexual activity that might result in pregnancy and surgery intended to prevent pregnancy (or with a side-effect of pregnancy prevention) including hysterectomy, bilateral oophorectomy, bilateral tubal ligation/occlusion, and vasectomy with testing showing no sperm in the semen * Participants must be offered the opportunity to participate in specimen banking * Participants who have the ability to complete questionnaires in English or Spanish must be offered the opportunity to participate in the patient-reported outcome study * NOTE: As a part of the OPEN registration process the treating institution's identity is provided in order to ensure that the current (within 365 days) date of institutional review board approval for this study has been entered in the system. * Participants must be informed of the investigational nature of this study and must sign and give informed consent in accordance with institutional and federal guidelines * For participants with impaired decision-making capabilities, legally authorized representatives may sign and give informed consent on behalf of study participants in accordance with applicable federal, local, and Central Institutional Review Board (CIRB) regulations

Study locations (41)

Highlands Oncology Group - Fayetteville

Fayetteville, Arkansas, 72703

Recruiting
Site Public Contact · Contact
Joseph T. Beck · Principal Investigator

NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital and Fowler Family Cancer Center - Jonesboro

Jonesboro, Arkansas, 72401

Recruiting
Site Public Contact · Contact
Xinyu von Buttlar · Principal Investigator

Highlands Oncology Group - Rogers

Rogers, Arkansas, 72758

Recruiting
Site Public Contact · Contact
Joseph T. Beck · Principal Investigator

Highlands Oncology Group

Springdale, Arkansas, 72762

Recruiting
Site Public Contact · Contact
Joseph T. Beck · Principal Investigator

Illinois CancerCare-Bloomington

Bloomington, Illinois, 61704

Recruiting
Site Public Contact · Contact
Bryan A. Faller · Principal Investigator

Illinois CancerCare-Canton

Canton, Illinois, 61520

Recruiting
Site Public Contact · Contact
Bryan A. Faller · Principal Investigator

Illinois CancerCare-Carthage

Carthage, Illinois, 62321

Recruiting
Site Public Contact · Contact
Bryan A. Faller · Principal Investigator

Cancer Care Specialists of Illinois - Decatur

Decatur, Illinois, 62526

Recruiting
Site Public Contact · Contact
Bryan A. Faller · Principal Investigator

Decatur Memorial Hospital

Decatur, Illinois, 62526

Recruiting
Site Public Contact · Contact
Bryan A. Faller · Principal Investigator

Illinois CancerCare-Eureka

Eureka, Illinois, 61530

Recruiting
Site Public Contact · Contact
Bryan A. Faller · Principal Investigator

Illinois CancerCare-Galesburg

Galesburg, Illinois, 61401

Recruiting
Site Public Contact · Contact
Bryan A. Faller · Principal Investigator

Illinois CancerCare-Kewanee Clinic

Kewanee, Illinois, 61443

Recruiting
Site Public Contact · Contact
Bryan A. Faller · Principal Investigator

Illinois CancerCare-Macomb

Macomb, Illinois, 61455

Recruiting
Site Public Contact · Contact
Bryan A. Faller · Principal Investigator

Illinois CancerCare-Ottawa Clinic

Ottawa, Illinois, 61350

Recruiting
Site Public Contact · Contact
Bryan A. Faller · Principal Investigator

Illinois CancerCare-Pekin

Pekin, Illinois, 61554

Recruiting
Site Public Contact · Contact
Bryan A. Faller · Principal Investigator

Illinois CancerCare-Peoria

Peoria, Illinois, 61615

Recruiting
Site Public Contact · Contact
Bryan A. Faller · Principal Investigator

Illinois CancerCare-Peru

Peru, Illinois, 61354

Recruiting
Site Public Contact · Contact
Bryan A. Faller · Principal Investigator

Illinois CancerCare-Princeton

Princeton, Illinois, 61356

Recruiting
Site Public Contact · Contact
Bryan A. Faller · Principal Investigator

Southern Illinois University School of Medicine

Springfield, Illinois, 62702

Recruiting
Site Public Contact · Contact
Bryan A. Faller · Principal Investigator

Illinois CancerCare - Washington

Washington, Illinois, 61571

Recruiting
Site Public Contact · Contact
Bryan A. Faller · Principal Investigator

Mercy Hospital

Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 52403

Recruiting
Site Public Contact · Contact
Deborah W. Wilbur · Principal Investigator

Oncology Associates at Mercy Medical Center

Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 52403

Recruiting
Site Public Contact · Contact
Deborah W. Wilbur · Principal Investigator

Lahey Hospital and Medical Center

Burlington, Massachusetts, 01805

Recruiting
Brendan Connell · Principal Investigator

Lahey Medical Center-Peabody

Peabody, Massachusetts, 01960

Recruiting
Brendan Connell · Principal Investigator

Trinity Health IHA Medical Group Hematology Oncology - Brighton

Brighton, Michigan, 48114

Recruiting
Tareq Al baghdadi · Principal Investigator

Trinity Health IHA Medical Group Hematology Oncology - Canton

Canton, Michigan, 48188

Recruiting
Tareq Al baghdadi · Principal Investigator

Trinity Health IHA Medical Group Hematology Oncology - Chelsea Hospital

Chelsea, Michigan, 48118

Recruiting
Tareq Al baghdadi · Principal Investigator

Trinity Health Saint Mary Mercy Livonia Hospital

Livonia, Michigan, 48154

Recruiting
Tareq Al baghdadi · Principal Investigator

Trinity Health IHA Medical Group Hematology Oncology Ann Arbor Campus

Ypsilanti, Michigan, 48197

Recruiting
Tareq Al baghdadi · Principal Investigator

Baptist Memorial Hospital and Cancer Center-Golden Triangle

Columbus, Mississippi, 39705

Recruiting
Site Public Contact · Contact
Xinyu von Buttlar · Principal Investigator

Baptist Cancer Center-Grenada

Grenada, Mississippi, 38901

Recruiting
Site Public Contact · Contact
Xinyu von Buttlar · Principal Investigator

Baptist Memorial Hospital and Cancer Center-Union County

New Albany, Mississippi, 38652

Recruiting
Site Public Contact · Contact
Xinyu von Buttlar · Principal Investigator

Baptist Memorial Hospital and Cancer Center-Oxford

Oxford, Mississippi, 38655

Recruiting
Site Public Contact · Contact
Xinyu von Buttlar · Principal Investigator

Baptist Memorial Hospital and Cancer Center-Desoto

Southhaven, Mississippi, 38671

Recruiting
Site Public Contact · Contact
Xinyu von Buttlar · Principal Investigator

Saint Francis Medical Center

Cape Girardeau, Missouri, 63703

Recruiting
Site Public Contact · Contact
Bryan A. Faller · Principal Investigator

Parkland Health Center - Farmington

Farmington, Missouri, 63640

Recruiting
Site Public Contact · Contact
Bryan A. Faller · Principal Investigator

Sainte Genevieve County Memorial Hospital

Sainte Genevieve, Missouri, 63670

Recruiting
Site Public Contact · Contact
Bryan A. Faller · Principal Investigator

Missouri Baptist Medical Center

St Louis, Missouri, 63131

Recruiting
Site Public Contact · Contact
Bryan A. Faller · Principal Investigator

Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital

Sullivan, Missouri, 63080

Recruiting
Site Public Contact · Contact
Bryan A. Faller · Principal Investigator

Baptist Memorial Hospital and Cancer Center-Collierville

Collierville, Tennessee, 38017

Recruiting
Site Public Contact · Contact
Xinyu von Buttlar · Principal Investigator

Baptist Memorial Hospital and Cancer Center-Memphis

Memphis, Tennessee, 38120

Recruiting
Site Public Contact · Contact
Xinyu von Buttlar · Principal Investigator
Adding Biotherapy or Placebo to Standard Treatment for Advanced Kidney Cancer | Cancerify