Kidney removal after immunotherapy for metastatic kidney cancer
Tests kidney removal and stopping treatment in adults with kidney cancer responding well.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Post-immunotherapy Nephrectomy for Metastatic Kidney Cancer After Complete or Major Response to Systemic Therapy
Key facts
- Where
- Marseille, FranceSee the site
Where in France
- Institut Paoli-CalmettesMarseille, FranceTaking people
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- Institut Paoli-Calmettes
- Trial code
- NCT06882486
- Record updated
- 14 October 2026
- Original description
In the current era of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI), the role and timing of nephrectomy remains unknown, particularly in cases of residual kidney disease after a major response at metastatic sites. In these cases, the rationale for a delayed nephrectomy is that it might achieve a long-term response. This strategy could allow some patients to discontinue treatment and maintain tumor response. Furthermore, this approach might provide a potentially curative option for patients with metastases that are managed with and responding to ICI.Read full original descriptionShow less
Post-immunotherapy Nephrectomy for Metastatic Kidney Cancer After Complete or Major Response to Systemic Therapy
In the current era of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI), the role and timing of nephrectomy remains unknown, particularly in cases of residual kidney disease after a major response at metastatic sites. In these cases, the rationale for a delayed nephrectomy is that it might achieve a long-term response. This strategy could allow some patients to discontinue treatment and maintain tumor response. Furthermore, this approach might provide a potentially curative option for patients with metastases that are managed with and responding to ICI.
Regarding the results of our first retrospective cohort data (showing that two thirds of patients are free from recurrence without systemic treatment after nephrectomy), we designed a non-comparative randomized phase II trial assessing progression-free survival of patients with complete response or major partial response after ICI-based treatment, operated on delayed nephrectomy with discontinuation of systemic therapy (experimental arm) and in patients managed with continuation of systemic therapy without nephrectomy (control arm).
In a de-escalation approach, this strategy may have sense to allow patients with an excellent response to immunotherapy to stop systemic treatment with a curative objective and a substantial impact from a medico-economic point of view.
Inclusion: Patient aged ≥ 18 years; Diagnosed with synchronous metastatic kidney cancer; With primary tumor still in place (no primary cytoreductive nephrectomy); Having received systemic ICI immunotherapy-based combination therapy; In CR or mPR (defined as >75% response in metastatic lesions from baseline) according to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST, version 1.1), excluding the primary renal lesion; Signed consent to participate; Affiliated to the national social security scheme or beneficiaries of such a scheme.
Exclusion: Patients who have undergone prior cytoreductive nephrectomy; Patients with non-metastatic disease at diagnosis who have received ICI in a neo-adjuvant setting; Patients with contraindications to surgery or ineligible for nephrectomy; Patients considering nephrectomy for symptomatic disease, but without major response (CR or mPR) in metastatic disease; Patients with end-stage renal disease; Women who are or may become pregnant (without effective contraception) or who are breast-feeding; Person in an emergency situation or unable to give consent; An adult under legal protection (guardianship, curators or safeguard of justice),; Inability to undergo medical follow-up for geographical, social or psychological reasons; Patients not wishing to undergo nephrectomy.