Renal Cell Carcinoma Clinical Trials (May 2026): ~210 Recruiting Interventional Studies
Last updated: May 7, 2026
Current Clinical Trial Landscape
Active research areas in 2026:
- Immunotherapy combinations (119 trials): IO+TKI, IO+IO, triplet regimens
- TKI-based regimens (63 trials): cabozantinib, lenvatinib, axitinib, tivozanib combinations
- HIF-2 inhibitors (8 trials): belzutifan for VHL disease and clear cell RCC
- Novel agents: ADCs, bispecific antibodies, CAR-T (CD70-targeted), radiopharmaceuticals (177Lu-TLX250)
Already approved: Nivolumab + cabozantinib, pembrolizumab + lenvatinib, nivolumab + ipilimumab, belzutifan (VHL), axitinib + pembrolizumab
Recruiting Trials by Treatment Stage
First-Line (Treatment-Naive Advanced/Metastatic)
IO+TKI combinations are standard first-line. Trials explore triplets and novel combinations:
- IO+TKI optimization:
- NCT07011719 - Casdatifan + Cabozantinib vs Placebo + Cabozantinib in advanced ccRCC (Phase 3)
- NCT07239596 - SHR-8068 + Adebrelimab + anti-tumor drugs in advanced RCC (Phase 1b/2)
- IO de-escalation:
- NCT05078047 - IO every 3 months vs standard dosing in responding patients (Phase 3)
- NCT07175480 - PET/CT-directed treatment-free intervals for IMDC favorable/intermediate risk (Phase 2)
After IO Progression (Second-Line+)
A major unmet need — what to do after IO+TKI failure:
- HIF-2 inhibitor combinations:
- NCT07227402 - Belzutifan + Zanzalintinib (next-gen TKI) for recurrent RCC after adjuvant therapy (Phase 3)
- NCT06234605 - HC-7366 + Belzutifan in RCC (Phase 1/2)
- NCT07049926 - KEYMAKER-U03: Combination therapies for RCC recurrent after anti-PD-(L)1 (Phase 2)
- Novel combinations:
- NCT06730672 - Voronib + Everolimus after IO failure (Phase 2)
- NCT07469683 - SLC-3010 + Axitinib vs Axitinib monotherapy second-line ccRCC (Phase 2)
- NCT03592472 - RENAVIV: Pazopanib ± Abexinostat (HDACi) in advanced RCC (Phase 3)
- Radiopharmaceuticals:
- NCT07197580 - 177Lu-TLX250 (CAIX-targeted) in advanced relapsed/recurrent ccRCC (Phase 3)
Neoadjuvant / Perioperative
- NCT05738694 - Neoadjuvant Axitinib + PD-1 to improve DFS (Phase 3)
- NCT05969496 - Neoadjuvant Pembrolizumab + Axitinib for IVC tumor thrombus (Phase 2)
- NCT05319015 - Neoadjuvant Lenvatinib + Pembrolizumab for IVC tumor thrombus (Phase 2)
- NCT07386158 - Pucotenlimab + Vorolanib neoadjuvant for ccRCC (Phase 2)
- NCT07187778 - BLAZE: Belzutifan or Pembrolizumab vs combination neoadjuvant in ccRCC (Phase 2)
Adjuvant (After Surgery)
- NCT03288532 - RAMPART: Multi-arm adjuvant trial (Phase 3)
- NCT06661720 - Tivozanib + Pembrolizumab after surgery to remove all known sites (Phase 3)
- NCT06005818 - MRD-guided adjuvant therapy (Phase 2)
Oligometastatic / Radiation Approaches
- NCT06467097 - Systemic therapy ± radiotherapy in oligometastatic RCC (Phase 3)
- NCT06726421 - STROKER: Systemic therapy ± SBRT for oligometastatic kidney cancer (Phase 3)
- NCT06255223 - Multimodal radiotherapy for RCC progressed after IO (Phase 2)
Novel Approaches
- CAR-T / cellular therapy: NCT02830724 - CD70-targeting CAR-T for CD70-expressing cancers including RCC; NCT04897321 - B7-H3 CAR-T; NK cell therapies (NCT07410676 - EBNK-001 allogeneic NK cells)
- Radiopharmaceuticals: 177Lu-TLX250 targeting CAIX (carbonic anhydrase IX), highly expressed in ccRCC
- Neoantigen vaccines: NCT05269381 - Personalized neoantigen peptide vaccine + Pembrolizumab
- Cytoreductive surgery + IO: NCT04510597 - PROBE: IO+TKI ± nephrectomy in metastatic RCC (Phase 3)
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find kidney cancer clinical trials?
Paste your medical summary into ClinTrialFinder to get AI-matched renal cell carcinoma trials in minutes. The tool considers your histology (clear cell, papillary, chromophobe), IMDC risk group, prior therapies, and VHL status to find the most relevant trials.
What renal cell carcinoma trials are currently recruiting?
There are roughly 210 recruiting interventional trials for renal cell carcinoma in May 2026, including immunotherapy combinations (IO+TKI, IO+IO, triplets), TKI-based regimens (cabozantinib, lenvatinib, axitinib, tivozanib, zanzalintinib), HIF-2 inhibitors (belzutifan, casdatifan), CAR-T cell therapy (CD70-targeted), and radiopharmaceuticals (177Lu-TLX250).
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