A trial of irinotecan, cisplatin and mitomycin C for advanced kidney cancer

Cancer type:

Kidney cancer
Renal cell cancer

Status:

Results

Phase:

Phase 2

This trial looked at a combination of the chemotherapy drugs irinotecan, cisplatin and mitomycin C (IPM) for advanced kidney cancer. Advanced kidney cancer means the cancer has spread from where it first developed in the kidney.

More about this trial

Doctors often use biological therapy to treat advanced kidney cancer. It can work well for some people, but researchers are looking for other treatments that may help if the cancer continues to grow.

In this trial they wanted to find out if a combination of 3 chemotherapy drugs called irinotecan, cisplatin and mitomycin C (IPM) can help people with advanced kidney cancer.

The aims of the trial were to

  • See if kidney cancer responds to IPM chemotherapy
  • Find out if it helps people to live longer
  • Learn more about the side effects

Summary of results

The trial team found that using the combination of irinotecan, cisplatin and mitomycin C (IPM) did not improve the outlook for people with advanced kidney cancer. The team did not think it was any better than other treatments that are available.

In total 17 people took part in the trial. Everybody had IPM. On average people on the trial lived for 5 months. During the trial

  • 1 person’s cancer shrunk slightly (partial response Open a glossary item)
  • 13 people’s cancer continued to grow despite treatment (progressive disease)
  • 3 people died

The side effects from IPM were acceptable. The most common side effect was tiredness and weakness. Other side effects included infection and breathlessness (although the team though the breathlessness could also have been caused by the cancer).

So even though chemotherapy with IPM was well tolerated it did not improve the length of time people with advanced kidney cancer lived.

We have based this summary on information from the research team. As far as we are aware, the information they sent us has not been reviewed independently (peer reviewed Open a glossary item) or published in a medical journal yet. The figures we quote above were provided by the research team. We have not analysed the data ourselves.

Recruitment start:

Recruitment end:

How to join a clinical trial

Please note: In order to join a trial you will need to discuss it with your doctor, unless otherwise specified.

Please note - unless we state otherwise in the summary, you need to talk to your doctor about joining a trial.

Chief Investigator

Dr Jonathan Shamash

Supported by

Barts Health NHS Trust
Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre (ECMC)
Orchid Cancer Appeal

If you have questions about the trial please contact our cancer information nurses

Freephone 0808 800 4040

Last review date

CRUK internal database number:

Oracle - 2616

Please note - unless we state otherwise in the summary, you need to talk to your doctor about joining a trial.

Last reviewed:

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