Belzutifan or Pembrolizumab Alone versus in Combination for Neoadjuvant Treatment of Clear Cell Renal Cell Cancer, BLAZE Trial

Inclusion Criteria

• Biopsy proven clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) * Extra tissue should be submitted if available for correlative analysis. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue blocks are preferred to slides
• Has intermediate-high risk, high risk, or M1 ccRCC as defined by the following pathological tumor-node metastasis and tumor grading: * Intermediate-high risk ccRCC ** pT2 (by radiographic/size criteria), grade 4 or with sarcomatoid/rhabdoid features (on biopsy), N0, M0 ** pT3 (presence of tumor thrombus, perinephric and/or sinus fat invasion by imaging), any grade, N0, M0 * High-risk ccRCC ** pT4, any grade, N0, M0 ** pT, any stage, any grade, N+, M0 *** M1 renal cell carcinoma (RCC) participants who present with the primary kidney tumor, but also solid, isolated, soft tissue metastases that are planned to be completely resected at the time of nephrectomy are eligible (e.g. metastasis to ipsilateral adrenal gland) * NOTE: Fuhrman tumor grade and/or World Health Organization (WHO)/International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP) tumor grade are required for all subjects entering the study
• Evaluated by urology and approved as candidates for nephrectomy
• Age ≥ 18 years and consent to participation
• Performance status of 0-1 per Zubrod/Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) scale
• Absence of distant metastases on imaging of chest, abdomen and pelvis within 42 days of enrollment (by CT, MRI, or positron emission tomography [PET] imaging). Brain imaging is not required unless clinical suspicion per the treating provider
• Patients with a prior or concurrent malignancy whose natural history or treatment does not have the potential to interfere with the safety or efficacy assessment of the investigational regimen are eligible for this trial
• Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 1000
• Platelet (PLT) ≥ 75
• Hemoglobin (Hgb) ≥ 9 (transfusion allowed if Hgb < 9 and symptomatic and stable for 1 week after transfusion)
• Creatinine clearance (CrCl) ≥ 50 or creatinine (Cr) < 1.5 or = to upper limit of normal for age
• Aspartate aminotransferase (AST)/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ≤ 3 times upper limit of normal
• Bilirubin < 1.5 or = to upper limit of normal
• Patients with known history or current symptoms of cardiac disease, or history of treatment with cardiotoxic agents, should have a clinical risk assessment of cardiac function using the New York Heart Association Functional Classification. To be eligible for this trial, patients should be class 2B or better
• Women of child-bearing potential (WOCBP) and men must agree to use adequate contraception prior to study entry and for the duration of study participation, including for 120 days after the last dose of pembrolizumab and 30 days after the last dose of belzutifan. WOCBP will be required to have a negative pregnancy test prior to cycle 1 day 1 of treatment, ≤ 24 hours prior to first dose of treatment. If a urine test cannot be confirmed as negative (e.g., an ambiguous result), a serum pregnancy test is required. In such cases, the participant must be excluded from participation if the serum pregnancy result is positive
• Is a WOCBP and using a contraceptive method that is highly effective (with a failure rate of < 1% per year), with low user dependency, or be abstinent from heterosexual intercourse as their preferred and usual lifestyle (abstinent on a long term and persistent basis), during the intervention period and for at least 30 days after the last dose of study intervention. The investigator should evaluate the potential for contraceptive method failure (ie, noncompliance, recently initiated) in relationship to the first dose of study intervention. Should a woman become pregnant or suspect she is pregnant while she or her partner is participating in this study, she should inform her treating physician immediately
• This includes all female patients, between the onset of menses (as early as 8 years of age) and 55 years unless the patient presents with an applicable exclusionary factor which may be one of the following: * Postmenopausal (no menses in greater than or equal to 12 consecutive months) * History of hysterectomy or bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy * Ovarian failure (follicle stimulating hormone and estradiol in menopausal range, who have received whole pelvic radiation therapy) * History of bilateral tubal ligation or another surgical sterilization procedure
• Male participants are eligible to participate if they agree to the following during the intervention period and for at least 7 days after the last dose of study intervention: * Be abstinent from heterosexual intercourse as their preferred and usual lifestyle (abstinent on a long term and persistent basis) and agree to remain abstinent OR * Must agree to use contraception unless confirmed to be azoospermic (vasectomized or secondary to medical cause) as detailed below: ** Agree to use a male condom plus partner use of an additional contraceptive method when having penile-vaginal intercourse with a WOCBP who is not currently pregnant *** Note: Men with a pregnant or breastfeeding partner must agree to remain abstinent from penile-vaginal intercourse or use a male condom during each episode of penile-vaginal penetration ** Male participants must also agree to use male condom when engaging in any activity that allows for passage of ejaculate to another person of any sex * Contraceptive use by men should be consistent with local regulations regarding the methods of contraception for those participating in clinical studies
• Men treated or enrolled on this protocol must also agree to use adequate contraception prior to the study, for the duration of study participation, and 4 months after completion of pembrolizumab and 30 days after last belzutifan administration
• Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document

Exclusion Criteria

• Has any of the following: * A pulse oximeter reading < 92% at rest, or * Requires intermittent supplemental oxygen, or * Requires chronic supplemental oxygen
• Patients who have had chemotherapy or radiotherapy for RCC prior to study
• Patients who are receiving any other investigational agents
• History of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to belzutifan, pembrolizumab, or other agents used in study
• Prior systemic therapy with anti-PD1, PD-L1, PD-L2, or CTLA-4 or received colony-stimulating factors (eg, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor [G-CSF], granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor [GM-CSF] or recombinant epoetin alpha [EPO]) ≤ 28 days prior to the first dose of study intervention
• Diagnosis of immunodeficiency, active autoimmune disease (per Investigator’s discretion), history of pneumonitis, active infection, or known additional malignancy other than RCC
• Has a known history of HIV infection * Note: Testing for HIV at screening is only required if mandated by local health authority
• Has a known history of hepatitis B virus (HBV) (defined as hepatitis B virus surface antigen [HBsAg] reactive) or known active hepatitis C virus (HCV) (defined as HCV ribonucleic acid [RNA] [qualitative] is detected) infection * Note: Testing for HBV and HCV is only required if mandated by local health authority
• Patients who cannot fulfill study requirements for any reason
• Pregnant or breastfeeding women are excluded from this study because pembrolizumab is a class-D agent with the potential for teratogenic or abortifacient effects and belzutifan has shown embryofetal toxicity in nonclinical studies
• Has a known additional malignancy that is progressing or has required active treatment within the past 3 years * Note: Participants with basal cell carcinoma of the skin, squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, or carcinoma (eg, breast carcinoma, cervical cancer in situ) that have undergone potentially curative therapy are NOT excluded. Invasive cancers are allowed if treated and in complete remission for at least 3 years
• Has any known metastatic disease that is not planned to undergo surgical resection at the time of surgery (with the exception of ipsilateral adrenal metastases that are resectable at surgery)
• Has clinically significant cardiac disease, including unstable angina, acute myocardial infarction ≤ 6 months from day 1 of study drug administration, or New York Heart Association class III or IV congestive heart failure. Medically controlled arrhythmia stable on medication is permitted
• Has moderate to severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh B or C)
• Is unable to swallow orally administered medication or has a gastrointestinal disorder affecting absorption (eg, gastrectomy, partial bowel obstruction, malabsorption)
• Has received prior treatment with belzutifan or another HIF-2alpha inhibitor
• Is currently receiving either strong (phenobarbital, enzalutamide, phenytoin, rifampicin, rifabutin, rifapentine, carbamazepine, nevirapine and St John’s wort) or moderate (eg, bosentan, efavirenz, modafinil) inducers of CYP3A4 that cannot be discontinued for the duration of the study
• Has an active infection requiring systemic therapy
• Has active tuberculosis (TB)