Immunotherapy combo boosts survival in advanced kidney cancer
NCT ID NCT02853331
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This phase 3 trial tested whether combining the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab with the targeted drug axitinib works better than the standard drug sunitinib alone for people with advanced kidney cancer. Over 860 patients took part. The combination helped patients live longer and kept their cancer from growing for a longer time compared to sunitinib alone.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- pembrolizumab (immunotherapy) plus axitinib (targeted drug)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this combination could become a new standard first-line treatment for advanced kidney cancer, helping people live longer and control their disease better.
- What could go wrong
- This trial is completed and showed benefits, but results may not apply to all patients. Side effects from combining immunotherapy and targeted therapy can be serious.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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- Can reprogrammed immune cells take on hard-to-treat kidney cancer?