
Around 1 in 5 people diagnosed with cancer in the UK take part in a clinical trial.
Please note - this trial is no longer recruiting patients. We hope to add results when they are available.
A trial of belzutifan for kidney cancer that has grown into the nearby tissue or spread to another part of the body. It is for people who have a type of kidney cancer called renal cell cancer.
Belzutifan is a . It works by blocking a substance that cancer cells need to divide and grow. Researchers want to find out whether belzutifan might help people with renal cell cancer.
In this trial half the people take a small dose of belzutifan. And the other half take a larger dose.
The aims of the trial are to find out:
The following bullet points are a summary of the entry conditions for this trial. Talk to your doctor or the trial team if you are unsure about any of these. They will be able to advise you.
Who can take part
You may be able to join this trial if all of the following apply. You:
Who can’t take part
Cancer related
You cannot join this trial if any of these apply. You:
Medical conditions
You cannot join this trial if any of these apply. You:
Other
You cannot join this trial if any of these apply. You:
This is an international phase 2 trial. The team need 150 people worldwide to take part with a target of 15 people from the UK.
This is a randomised trial. A computer puts you into 1 of 2 treatment groups. Neither you nor your doctor can choose which group you go into. The groups are:
You and your doctor will know which dose you are taking. Belzutifan is a tablet. You take it once a day every day. Your doctor will tell you how many to take. You continue taking belzutifan as long as it is helping and the side effects aren’t too bad.
You should not eat, drink or take certain medications while taking belzutifan. This includes:
Your doctor will tell more about this before you start taking belzutifan.
You have a patient card that says you are in the trial. You should carry it with always. It contains important information about the trial.
Sample for research
You give extra blood samples as part of the trial. Where possible the team take these when you have routine blood tests.
The team ask for a tissue sample () when you join the trial. They might use tissue from a previous sample if it isn’t safe to take a new one.
They will use these samples to:
The team will ask if you are willing to have these samples stored for future research. You don’t have to agree to this. You can still take part in the trial.
You see the doctor for tests before taking part. These tests include:
During your treatment you see the doctor:
This is to see how you are and for blood tests.
A month after finishing treatment you see the doctor for the same tests you had before starting treatment. Your doctor will then tell how often they want to see you. This could be either every 8 weeks or every 12 weeks.
You have a scan at week 9 and then:
The trial team monitor you during treatment and afterwards. Contact your advice line or tell your doctor or nurse if any side effects are bad or not getting better.
Belzutifan is a new drug and there might side effects that we don’t know about yet. The most common side effects of belzutifan we know of are:
Your doctor or a member of the trial team will talk to you about the possible side effects before you agree to take part.
Please note: In order to join a trial you will need to discuss it with your doctor, unless otherwise specified.
Mark Tuthill
Merck, Sharp & Dohme
If you have questions about the trial please contact our cancer information nurses
Freephone 0808 800 4040
Around 1 in 5 people diagnosed with cancer in the UK take part in a clinical trial.