Plain English Summary
Trial website
Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Protocol/serial number
HTA 09/91/21
Study information
Scientific title
A randomised multi-stage, phase II/III trial of standard first-line therapy (sunitinib or pazopanib) comparing temporary cessation with allowing continuation in the treatment of locally advanced and/or metastatic renal cancer
Acronym
STAR
Study hypothesis
Current study hypothesis as of 15/05/2013:
The aim of the STAR trial is to evaluate the use of a modified sunitinib or pazopanib schedule compared to the standard sunitinib or pazopanib schedule, in patients with locally advanced and/or metastatic renal cancer.
The trial aims to determine whether a modified sunitinib or pazopanib schedule involving a drug-free interval is non-inferior in terms of 2 year overall survival (OS) and quality adjusted life year (QALY) (averaged over trial recruitment and follow-up) compared to sunitinib or pazopanib given according to the standard strategy.
Previous study hypothesis until 15/05/2013:
The aim of the STAR trial is to evaluate the use of a modified sunitinib schedule compared to the standard sunitinib schedule, in patients with locally advanced and/or metastatic renal cancer.
The trial aims to determine whether a modified sunitinib schedule involving a drug-free interval is non-inferior in terms of 2 year overall survival (OS) and quality adjusted life year (QALY) (averaged over trial recruitment and follow-up) compared to a sunitinib given according to the standard strategy.
On 15/05/2013 the following changes were made to the trial record:
1. The public title was previously "Standard vs Modified Sunitinib Treatment in Renal Cancer"
2. The scientific title was previously "A randomised multi stage, phase II/III trial of sunitinib. Comparing temporary cessation with allowing continuation, at the time of maximal radiological response, in the first-line treatment of locally advanced and/or metastatic renal cancer"
On 31/10/2014 the scientific title was changed from 'A randomised multi-stage, phase II/III trial of standard first-line therapy (sunitinib or pazopanib) comparing temporary cessation with allowing continuation, at the time of maximal radiological response, in the treatment of locally advanced and/or metastatic renal cancer' to 'A randomised multi-stage, phase II/III trial of standard first-line therapy (sunitinib or pazopanib) comparing temporary cessation with allowing continuation in the treatment of locally advanced and/or metastatic renal cancer'.
More details can be found at http://www.nets.nihr.ac.uk/projects/hta/099121
Protocol can be found at http://www.nets.nihr.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/54761/PRO-09-91-21.pdf
Ethics approval
NRES Committee North West Liverpool Central, 06/06/2011, REC ref: 11/NW/0246
Study design
Randomised controlled open-label multicentre three-stage trial
Primary study design
Interventional
Secondary study design
Randomised controlled trial
Trial setting
Hospitals
Trial type
Treatment
Patient information sheet
Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet
Condition
Locally advanced and/or metastatic clear cell renal cancer
Intervention
Current interventions as of 31/10/2014:
Sunitinib: one cycle of treatment refers to 50mg (starting dose) od, days 1-28, repeated every 42 days.
Pazopanib: one cycle of treatment refers to 800mg (starting dose) od, days 1-42, repeated every 42 days.
All patients receive sunitinib or pazopanib and will be randomised to receive either drug according to either a Conventional continuation strategy (CCS) or drug-free interval strategy (DFIS)
Control arm: Conventional continuation strategy (CCS)
Patients continue sunitinib or pazopanib with regular radiological assessments every 12 weeks until protocol-defined progressive disease (PD) (RECIST), unacceptable cumulative toxicity or patient decision to stop treatment or withdraw from the study.
Research arm: Disease-free interval strategy (DFIS)
Patients stop treatment after 4 cycles of treatment (i.e. 6 months) and continue 6 weekly active surveillance (clinical assessment) and 12 weekly radiological assessment, with planned recommencement of sunitinib or pazopanib at the time of progressive disease (PD) (RECIST). Assuming further disease control, sunitinib or pazopanib is then continued again for a minimum of 4 cycles. At this point, assuming ongoing disease control, sunitinib or pazopanib can be again temporarily stopped at the discretion of the treating clinician until evidence of PD (RECIST) when again sunitinib or pazopanib is restarted. This DFIS is continued until PD occurs during sunitinib or paozpanib treatment, cumulative toxicity or patient decision to stop treatment or withdraw from the study.
Interventions from 15/05/2013 to 31/10/2014:
Sunitinib: one cycle of treatment refers to 50mg (starting dose) od, days 1-28, repeated every 42 days.
Pazopanib: one cycle of treatment refers to 800mg (starting dose) od, days 1-42, repeated every 42 days.
All patients receive sunitinib or pazopanib and will be randomised to receive either drug according to either a Conventional continuation strategy (CCS) or drug-free interval strategy (DFIS)
Control arm: Conventional continuation strategy (CCS)
Patients continue sunitinib or pazopanib with regular radiological assessments every 12 weeks until protocol-defined progressive disease (PD) (RECIST), unacceptable cumulative toxicity or patient decision to stop treatment or withdraw from the study.
Research arm: Disease-free interval strategy (DFIS)
Patients stop treatment and continue 6 weekly active surveillance (clinical assessment) and 12 weekly radiological assessment, with planned recommencement of sunitinib or pazopanib at the time of progressive disease (PD) (RECIST). Assuming further disease control, sunitinib or pazopanib is then continued again until the time of maximal radiological response and for a minimum of 4 cycles. At this point, assuming ongoing disease control, sunitinib or pazopanib can be again temporarily stopped until evidence of PD (RECIST) when again sunitinib or pazopanib is restarted. This DFIS is continued until PD occurs during sunitinib or paozpanib treatment, cumulative toxicity or patient decision to stop treatment or withdraw from the study.
Interventions from time of registration until 15/05/2013:
Sunitinib: one cycle of treatment refers to 50mg (starting dose) od, days 1-28, repeated every 42 days.
All patients receive sunitinib and will be randomised to receive it according to either a Conventional continuation strategy (CCS) or drug-free interval strategy (DFIS)
Control arm: Conventional continuation strategy (CCS)
Patients continue sunitinib with regular radiological assessments every 12 weeks until protocol-defined progressive disease (PD) (RECIST), unacceptable cumulative toxicity or patient decision to stop treatment or withdraw from the study.
Research arm: Disease-free interval strategy (DFIS)
Patients stop treatment and continue 6 weekly active surveillance (clinical assessment) and 12 weekly radiological assessment, with planned recommencement of sunitinib at the time of progressive disease (PD) (RECIST). Assuming further disease control, sunitinib is then continued again until the time of maximal radiological response and for a minimum of 4 cycles. At this point, assuming ongoing disease control, sunitinib can be again temporarily stopped until evidence of PD (RECIST) when again sunitinib is restarted. This DFIS is continued until PD occurs during sunitinib treatment, cumulative toxicity or patient decision to stop treatment or withdraw from the study.
Intervention type
Other
Phase
Phase II/III
Drug names
Primary outcome measure
1. Stage A: Recruitment rate/month
2. Stage B: Time to Strategy Failure (TSF)
3. Stage C/Overall: 2 year OS and averaged QALY (over recruitment and follow-up)
Secondary outcome measures
1. Time to strategy failure (TSF)
2. Summative progression free interval (SPFI)
3. Cost effectiveness (health economic endpoints)
4. Toxicity
5. Quality of Life (FACT-G, FSKI-15, EQ-5D and EQ-VAS)
6. Progression free survival (PFS)
Ancilliary study: Translational: tissue and imaging
Overall trial start date
03/10/2011
Overall trial end date
31/12/2020
Reason abandoned (if study stopped)
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
Current inclusion criteria as of 31/10/2014:
1. Male or female aged ≥ 18 years old
2. Histological confirmation of a component of clear cell renal cell cancer
3. Inoperable loco-regional or metastatic disease
4. No prior systemic therapy for advanced disease (inoperable loco-regional and/or metastatic disease)
4.1 Allowed situation: previous treatment in the SORCE study providing on placebo arm and not active sorafenib arms
5. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0-1
6. Uni-dimensionally measurable disease (RECIST criteria
7. Full blood count:
7.1 Haemoglobin (Hb) ≥ 9 g/dl
7.2. Absolute Neutrophil Count (ANC) ≥ 1 x 10 9/l
7.3. Platelets ≥ 80 x 10 9/l
8. Renal biochemistry: measured or calculated GFR ≥ 30 ml/min
9. Hepatobiliary function
9.1. Aspartate transaminase (AST) or alanine transaminase (ALT) ≤ 2.5 x ULN
9.2. Bilirubin (BR) ≤ 1.5 x ULN, or in patients with Gilberts syndrome BR ≤ x3 x ULN and direct BR ≤ 35%
10. Provided written informed consent prior to any trial-specific procedures
11. Able and willing to comply with the terms of the protocol including:
11.1. Commencement of sunitinib or pazopanib within 5 (actual not working) days of randomisation
11.2. Temporarily stopping sunitinib or pazopanib if randomised to the DFIS arm
11.3. Capable of oral self-medication
11.4 randomisation within 42 days of the baseline CT scan
11.5. Capable of reporting toxicity and completing quality of life (QoL) and medical resource utilisation (MRU) / Health Economics questionnaires
12. If female and of child-bearing potential, must:
12.1. Have a negative pregnancy test within 72 hours prior to randomisation, and not be breast-feeding
12.2. Agree to use adequate, medically approved, contraceptive precautions (oral or barrier contraceptive under the supervision of a General Practitioner or Family Planning Clinic) during, and for 30 days after the last dose of sunitinib or pazopanib
13. If male with a partner of child bearing potential, must agree to use adequate, medically approved, contraceptive precautions (oral or barrier contraceptive under the supervision of a General Practitioner or Family Planning Clinic) during, and for 30 days after the last dose of sunitinib or pazopanib
14. Requirement to start first-line therapy with either sunitinib or pazopanib and decision already made as to which TKI to be used according to local standard practice
15. Allowed situations include:
15.1. Primary renal cancer in-situ or previous nephrectomy
15.2. Previous brain metastases treated with complete surgical resection, Stereotactic Brain Radiation Therapy (SBRT) or gamma knife with no subsequent evidence of progression (patients treated with whole brain radiotherapy are not eligible)
15.3. Previous radiotherapy and/or previous/ongoing bisphosphonates or bone anti-resorptive drugs for the treatment of symptomatic bony metastasis. Care should be taken to follow dental guidelines for the anti-bone resoptive drug.
Inclusion criteria from 15/05/2013 to 31/10/2014:
1. Male or female aged ≥ 18 years old
2. Histological confirmation of predominantly clear cell renal cell cancer
3. Inoperable loco-regional or metastatic disease
4. No prior systemic therapy for advanced disease (inoperable loco-regional and/or metastatic disease)
5. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0-1
6. Uni-dimensionally measurable disease (RECIST criteria, see Appendix 3)
7. Full blood count:
7.1 Haemoglobin (Hb) ≥ 9 g/dl
7.2. Absolute Neutrophil Count (ANC) ≥ 1 x 109/l
7.3. Platelets ≥ 80 x 109/l
8. Renal biochemistry: measured or calculated GFR ≥ 30 ml/min
9. Hepatobiliary function
9.1. Aspartate transaminase (AST) or alanine transaminase (ALT) ≤ 2.5 x ULN
9.2. Bilirubin (BR) ≤ 1.5 x ULN, or or in patients with Gilberts syndrome BR ≤ x3 x ULN and, direct BR ≤ 35%
10. Provided written informed consent prior to any trial-specific procedures
11. Able and willing to comply with the terms of the protocol including:
11.1. Commencement of sunitinib or pazopanib within 3 days of randomisation
11.2. Temporarily stopping sunitinib or pazopanibif randomised to the DFIS arm
11.3. Capable of oral self-medication
11.4. Capable of reporting toxicity and completing quality of life (QoL) and medical resource utilisation (MRU) questionnaires
12. If female and of child-bearing potential, must:
12.1. Have a negative pregnancy test within 72 hours prior to randomisation, and not be breast-feeding
12.2. Agree to use adequate, medically approved, contraceptive precautions (oral or barrier contraceptive under the supervision of a General Practitioner or Family Planning Clinic) during, and for 6 months after the last dose of sunitinib or pazopanib
13. If male with a partner of child bearing potential, must agree to use adequate, medically approved, contraceptive precautions (oral or barrier contraceptive under the supervision of a General Practitioner or Family Planning Clinic) during, and for 6 months after the last dose of sunitinib or pazopanib
14. Allowed situations include:
14.1. Primary renal cancer in-situ or previous nephrectomy
14.2. Previous brain metastases treated with complete surgical resection, Stereotactic Brain Radiation Therapy (SBRT) or gamma knife with no subsequent evidence of progression (patients treated with whole brain radiotherapy are not eligible)
14.3. Previous treatment in the SORCE study providing on placebo arm and not active sorafenib arms
14.4. Previous radiotherapy and/or previous/ongoing bisphosphonates or bone anti-resorptive drugs for the treatment of symptomatic bony metastasis
Inclusion criteria from time of registration until 15/05/2013:
1. Male or female aged ≥ 18 years old
2. Histological confirmation of predominantly clear cell renal cell cancer
3. Inoperable loco-regional or metastatic disease
4. No prior systemic therapy for advanced disease (inoperable loco-regional and/or metastatic disease)
5. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0-1
6. Uni-dimensionally measurable disease (RECIST criteria, see Appendix 3)
7. Full blood count:
7.1 Haemoglobin (Hb) ≥ 9 g/dl
7.2. Absolute Neutrophil Count (ANC) ≥ 1 x 109/l
7.3. Platelets ≥ 80 x 109/l
8. Renal biochemistry: measured or calculated GFR ≥ 30 ml/min
9. Hepatobiliary function
9.1. Aspartate transaminase (AST) or alanine transaminase (ALT) ≤ 2.5 x ULN
9.2. Bilirubin (BR) ≤ 1.5 x ULN, or or in patients with Gilberts syndrome BR ≤ x3 x ULN and, direct BR ≤ 35%
10. Provided written informed consent prior to any trial-specific procedures
11. Able and willing to comply with the terms of the protocol including:
11.1. Commencement of sunitinib within 3 days of randomisation
11.2. Temporarily stopping sunitinib if randomised to the DFIS arm
11.3. Capable of oral self-medication
11.4. Capable of reporting toxicity and completing quality of life (QoL) and medical resource utilisation (MRU) questionnaires
12. If female and of child-bearing potential, must:
12.1. Have a negative pregnancy test within 72 hours prior to randomisation, and not be breast-feeding
12.2. Agree to use adequate, medically approved, contraceptive precautions (oral or barrier contraceptive under the supervision of a General Practitioner or Family Planning Clinic) during, and for 6 months after the last dose of sunitinib
13. If male with a partner of child bearing potential, must agree to use adequate, medically approved, contraceptive precautions (oral or barrier contraceptive under the supervision of a General Practitioner or Family Planning Clinic) during, and for 6 months after the last dose of sunitinib
14. Allowed situations include:
14.1. Primary renal cancer in-situ or previous nephrectomy
14.2. Previous brain metastases treated with complete surgical resection or gamma knife with no subsequent evidence of progression (patients treated with whole brain radiotherapy are not eligible)
14.3. Previous treatment in the SORCE study providing on placebo arm and not active sorafenib arms
14.4. Previous radiotherapy and/or previous/ongoing bisphosphonates or bone anti-resorptive drugs for the treatment of symptomatic bony metastasis
Participant type
Patient
Age group
Adult
Gender
Both
Target number of participants
210 patients for phase II feasibility, continuing to 1000 patients in phase III trial
Participant exclusion criteria
Current exclusion criteria as of 31/10/2014:
1. Pulmonary or mediastinal disease causing obstruction or clinically significant bleeding/haemoptysis
2. Patients with an estimated life expectancy of <6 months
3. Known contraindications to the particular TKI to be used (i.e. sunitinib or pazopanib)
4. Any previous treatment with sunitinib, pazopanib or other tyrosine kinase inhibitor (including in the adjuvant setting)
5. Untreated brain metastases
6. Any concurrent or previous other invasive cancer that could confuse diagnosis or endpoints
6.1. Allowed situations include (but not limited to): non-melanomatous skin cancer or superficial bladder cancer; for all other cases please discuss with Clinical Trials Research Unit (CTRU))
7. Hypersensitivity to the particular TKI to be used (i.e. sunitinib or pazopanib)
8. Any concomitant medication or substances forming part of local ongoing care known to significantly affect, or have the potential to significantly affect, the activity or pharmacokinetics of the particular TKI to be used (i.e. sunitinib or pazopanib)
9. Poorly controlled hypertension despite maximal medical therapy
10. Any other serious medical or psychiatric condition which in the opinion of the investigator could affect participation in the STAR trial, including gastro-intestinal abnormalities limiting effectiveness of orally administrated drugs, uncontrolled infections, current or recent history of clinically significant cardiovascular disease, significant haemorrhage or gastrointestinal perforation or fistula which, in the opinion of the local investigator, would render the patient unsuitable for standard sunitinib or pazopanib therapy
Exclusion criteria from 15/05/2013 to 31/10/2014:
1. Pulmonary or mediastinal disease causing obstruction or bleeding/haemoptysis
2. Patients with an estimated life expectancy of <6 months
3. Known contraindications to sunitinib or pazopanib
4. No previous treatment with sunitinib, pazopanib or other tyrosine kinase inhibitor (including in the adjuvant setting)
5. Untreated brain metastases
6. Any concurrent or previous other invasive cancer that could confuse diagnosis (non-melanomatous skin cancer or superficial bladder cancer acceptable, for all other cases please discuss with Clinical Trials Research Unit (CTRU))
7. Hypersensitivity to sunitinib or pazopanib
8. Any concomitant medication or substances forming part of local ongoing care known to significantly affect, or have the potential to significantly affect, the activity or pharmacokinetics of sunitinib or pazopanib (see section 10.2 for further information on concomitant medications)
9. Poorly controlled hypertension despite maximal medical therapy
10. Any other serious medical or psychiatric condition which in the opinion of the investigator could affect participation in the STAR trial, including gastro-intestinal abnormalities limiting effectiveness of orally administrated drugs, uncontrolled infections, current or recent history of clinically significant cardiovascular disease, significant haemorrhage or gastrointestinal perforation or fistula which, in the opinion of the local investigator, would render the patient unsuitable for standard sunitinib or pazopanib therapy
Exclusion criteria from time of registration until 15/05/2013:
1. Pulmonary or mediastinal disease causing obstruction or bleeding/haemoptysis
2. Patients with an estimated life expectancy of <6 months
3. Known contraindications to sunitinib
4. No previous treatment with sunitinib or other tyrosine kinase inhibitor (including in the adjuvant setting)
5. Untreated brain metastases
6. Any concurrent or previous other invasive cancer that could confuse diagnosis (non-melanomatous skin cancer or superficial bladder cancer acceptable, for all other cases please discuss with Clinical Trials Research Unit (CTRU))
7. Hypersensitivity to sunitinib
8. Any concomitant medication or substances forming part of local ongoing care known to significantly affect, or have the potential to significantly affect, the activity or pharmacokinetics of sunitinib (see section 10.2 for further information on concomitant medications)
9. Poorly controlled hypertension despite maximal medical therapy
10. Any other serious medical or psychiatric condition which in the opinion of the investigator could affect participation in the STAR trial, including gastro-intestinal abnormalities limiting effectiveness of orally administrated drugs, uncontrolled infections, current or recent history of clinically significant cardiovascular disease which, in the opinion of the local investigator, would render the patient unsuitable for standard sunitinib therapy
Recruitment start date
03/10/2011
Recruitment end date
03/04/2018
Locations
Countries of recruitment
United Kingdom
Trial participating centre
Unit of Clinical Oncology
Sheffield
S10 2SJ
United Kingdom
Funders
Funder type
Government
Funder name
NIHR Health Technology Assessment Programme - HTA (UK), Grant Ref: 09/91/21
Alternative name(s)
Funding Body Type
Funding Body Subtype
Location
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
Not provided at time of registration
Intention to publish date
31/12/2021
Participant level data
Not provided at time of registration
Basic results (scientific)
Publication list
2012 protocol in: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23241439
Publication citations
-
Protocol
Collinson FJ, Gregory WM, McCabe C, Howard H, Lowe C, Potrata D, Tubeuf S, Hanlon P, McParland L, Wah T, Selby PJ, Hewison J, Brown J, Brown J, The STAR trial protocol: a randomised multi-stage phase II/III study of Sunitinib comparing temporary cessation with allowing continuation, at the time of maximal radiological response, in the first-line treatment of locally advanced/metastatic renal cancer., BMC Cancer, 2012, 12, 598, doi: 10.1186/1471-2407-12-598.