Clinical trial to assess the importance of nephrectomy

ISRCTN ISRCTN19562321
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN19562321
ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT00930033
Secondary identifying numbers P_070144
Submission date
21/09/2011
Registration date
03/11/2011
Last edited
25/10/2022
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Cancer
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data

Plain English summary of protocol

http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/find-a-clinical-trial/a-trial-comparing-combination-surgery-sunitinib-kidney-cancer-carmena

Contact information

Prof Arnaud Mejean
Scientific

Department of Urology Necker
Hopital Europeen Georges Pompidou (HEGP)
20 Rue Leblanc
Paris
75908
France

Study information

Study designInternational multi-centre non-inferiority randomised phase III trial
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)Hospital
Study typeTreatment
Participant information sheet Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet
Scientific titleRandomized phase III trial evaluating the importance of nephrectomy in patients presenting with metastatic renal cell carcinoma treated with sunitinib
Study acronymCARMENA
Study objectivesWe are investigating whether removal of the kidney tumour (known as nephrectomy) is of benefit in patients whose tumour has already spread to other organs (known as metastasis). In the past the standard treatment for many patients with kidney cancer that had spread to other organs was a drug called Interferon. In some patients who were treated with Interferon removing the kidney containing the tumour was shown to improve the length of time patients survived. New drugs (like Sunitnib) are now available for the treatment of kidney cancer which have been shown to be much more effective than Interferon and we do not know if removing the kidney is still of benefit to patients. If nephrectomy is no longer needed this would avoid a major operation. The purpose of this study is to see if nephrectomy is of benefit in patients receiving Sunitinib who have a tumour in their kidney with metastasis at the time of diagnosis.
Ethics approval(s)West of Scotland REC 1, Glasgow, 20/12/2010 (re-issued 18/01/2011), ref: 10/S0703/66
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedMetastatic renal cell carcinoma, clear cell carcinoma (the most common type of renal cell carcinoma).
InterventionTreatment Arms:
Arm A: Nephrectomy followed by Sunitinib
Arm B: Sunitinib alone

Sunitinib will be administered orally daily for 4 weeks followed by a 2 week rest (4/2 schedule). A cycle is considered 6 weeks. Sunitinib starting dose is 50 mg daily with provision for dose reduction based on tolerability. Patients will be treated until disease progression, occurrence of unacceptable toxicity or withdrawal.

For patients randomised to Arm A (nephrectomy plus Sunitinib):
1. The time between randomisation and nephrectomy should not exceed 28 days.
2. Treatment with Sunitinib will be started, as far as possible, between the 3rd week and the end of the 6th week following nephrectomy.

For patients randomised to Arm B (Sunitinib alone):
1. Sunitinib will be started within the 21 days following randomisation.
2. Sunitinib will be administered in 28 day cycles separated by 2 weeks off (4/2 schedule)
Intervention typeDrug
Pharmaceutical study type(s)
PhasePhase III
Drug / device / biological / vaccine name(s)Sunitinib
Primary outcome measureTo evaluate the importance of initial nephrectomy for the subsequent survival of patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma treated with sunitinib. This is calculated by the time between the date of randomisation and the date of death, irrespective of cause of death.
Secondary outcome measures1. Tumour response
2. Progression free survival- Progression-free survival is calculated by the time between the date of randomisation and the date of progression or the date of initiating second-line treatment. Patients who have died from other causes are recorded on the date of death. Patients who are alive and progression-free when last heard of are recorded on the date of the last visit.
3. The percentage of patients who cannot start Sunitinib treatment within 6 weeks postoperatively on Arm A (nephrectomy + Sunitinib)
4. The need to perform nephrectomy in Arm B (Sunitinib alone)
5. Postoperative morbidity is evaluated using the Clavien scales
6. Postoperative mortality is evaluated by the percentage of deaths within the 30 days following nephrectomy.
7. Tolerability, particularly changes in renal function over time is evaluated by the NCI-CTC v3 scales
Overall study start date01/08/2009
Completion date26/05/2015

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupAdult
Lower age limit18 Years
SexBoth
Target number of participants1134
Total final enrolment450
Key inclusion criteria1. Age ≥ 18 years
2. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Status 0 - 1
3. Biopsy (primary tumour or metastases) confirming the diagnosis of clear cell carcinoma alone or preponderant
4. Documented metastatic disease
5. Absence of prior systemic treatment for kidney cancer including anti angiogenic (AA)
6. Tumour amenable to nephrectomy (partial or total) in the opinion of the patient’s urologist. Patients presenting with an inferior vena cava thrombosis can be included.
7. Patients for which the indication of Sunitinib is considered according to the recommendations rules given by national health authorities of participating countries. The prescription of Sunitinib in the circumstances of the study is considered as a standard treatment
8. Platelets 100 x 109/L, haemoglobin > 9 g/dl, neutrophils >1.5 x 109/L
9. Bilirubin < 2 mg/dL, aspartate transaminase (ASAT) and alanine transaminase (ALAT), 2.5 times the upper normal limit (UNL) or 5 times UNL for patients with liver metastases
10. Patients of child bearing age should use contraceptive methods
11. Patient able to follow the procedures outlined in the protocol as far as the planning of visits and examinations are concerned
12. Life expectancy ≥ 3 months
13. Written informed consent
Key exclusion criteria1. Prior systemic treatment for kidney cancer (including anti angiogenic)
2. Bilateral kidney cancer
3. Pregnant or breast feeding women
4. Acute coronary syndrome or episode of myocardial infarction or severe or unstable angina within the last 6 months as well as severe diabetes with severe peripheral arteriopathy or deep phlebitis or arterial thrombosis within the last 3 months
5. Anticoagulant therapy in treatment dose
6. Medical, general or psychiatric difficulties which, in the opinion of the Investigator, would make it inappropriate for trial entry
7. Brain metastases
8. Previous history of gastric disease or of malabsorption compromising the absorption of Sunitinib
9. Experimental treatment within the 28 days preceding inclusion
10. Other cancer within the previous 5 years [except for insitu skin carcinoma and treated localised prostate cancer with undetectable Prostate-specific antigen (PSA)]
Date of first enrolment26/05/2011
Date of final enrolment25/08/2014

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • France
  • Greece
  • Norway
  • Poland
  • United Kingdom

Study participating centre

Hopital Europeen Georges Pompidou (HEGP)
Paris
75908
France

Sponsor information

NHS Greater Glagsow and Clyde (UK)
Hospital/treatment centre

c/o Dr Nathaniel Brittain
Research and Development Central Office
The Tennent Institute, 1st Floor
Western Infirmary
38 Church Street
Glasgow
G11 6NT
Scotland
United Kingdom

Website http://www.nhsggc.org.uk/content/
ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/05kdz4d87

Funders

Funder type

Charity

Cancer Research UK's CTAAC Committee (UK)

No information available

National Cancer Research Network (NCRN) (UK)

No information available

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date02/08/2018
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareNo
IPD sharing plan summaryNot provided at time of registration
Publication and dissemination planNot provided at time of registration
IPD sharing planNot provided at time of registration

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Results article results 02/08/2018 10/04/2019 Yes No
Plain English results 14/10/2020 No Yes

Editorial Notes

25/10/2022: Internal review.
14/10/2020: Cancer Research UK lay results summary link added to Results (plain English).
16/01/2020: The following changes have been made:
1. The intention to publish date has been added.
2. The total final enrolment number has been added.
10/04/2019: Publication reference added.
09/08/2017: No publications found in PubMed, verifying study status with principal investigator.