Alternative Schedule Sunitinib in Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma: Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing (ASSET)

The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of a sunitinib administration schedule 2/1 (2 weeks of treatment followed by 1 week without) compared to a schedule 4/2 (4 weeks of treatment followed by 2 weeks without) on cardiopulmonary function in subjects with renal cell carcinoma. Subjects will be randomized 1:1 to one of two arms: 4/2 schedule of sunitinib administration or 2/1 schedule of sunitinib administration. Cardiopulmonary function will be assessed at baseline, week 4 (4/2 schedule only), week 5 (2/1 schedule only) and week 12. The investigators hypothesize that schedule 2/1 of sunitinib is not only better tolerated but will be associated with less fatigue and functional cardiovascular/muscular toxicity than the 4/2 schedule.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Carcinoma, Renal Cell
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Sunitinib; Drug: Sunitinib

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 7
• Phase: Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • North Carolina
    • Durham, North Carolina, United States, 27705
      • Duke Cancer Institute

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age ≥ 18 years.
2. Histologically confirmed renal cell carcinoma (RCC)

3. One of the two following populations:

   1. High risk for recurrence of RCC after nephrectomy, in the opinion of the investigator, OR
   2. Locally advanced, unresectable or metastatic disease, in the opinion of the investigator, and good or intermediate risk by IDMC Heng Criteria (see Appendix I).
4. Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) ≥ 80 (see Appendix A)
5. Good or intermediate risk by IDMC Heng Criteria (see Appendix I).4
6. Appropriate for treatment with sunitinib in the opinion of the treating physician.
7. Able to swallow sunitinib and comply with study requirements.
8. Able to walk and jog on a treadmill, in the opinion of the treating physician.

9. Must be able to complete an acceptable cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) at baseline (see Section 8.2), defined as at least one of the following:

   • Achieving a plateau in oxygen consumption concurrent with an increase in power output;
   • Respiratory exchange ratio ≥ 1.1 (RER);
   • Volitional exhaustion with a rating of perceived exertion ≥17 (RPE).

10. Subjects must have normal organ and marrow function as defined below:

    • Absolute neutrophil count ≥1,200/µL
    • Hemoglobin ≥9 g/dL
    • Platelets ≥75,000/µL
    • Total bilirubin ≤1.5 x institutional upper limit of normal
    • AST(SGOT)/ALT(SGPT) <2.5 x institutional upper limit of normal
    • Urine protein creatinine (UPC) ratio of <1 (see Appendix G schedule of events footnote)
    • Creatinine ≤2.0 OR creatinine clearance >30 mL/min/1.73 m2 for subjects with creatinine levels above institutional normal (see Appendix H).
    • Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥lower limit of institutional normal as assessed by echocardiography.
11. For the sixteen patients who elect to participate in the optional technology portion involving electronic step counts and blood pressure monitoring, the patient must have a Bluetooth-enabled smart phone, which is compatible with the wireless health monitors.
12. For women of childbearing potential (WOCBP) must have a negative serum pregnancy test prior to the start of the study. Women of childbearing potential (WOCBP) must agree to follow instructions for method(s) of contraception for the duration of the study. Medically acceptable contraceptives include: (1) surgical sterilization (such as a tubal ligation or hysterectomy), (2) approved hormonal contraceptives (such as birth control pills, patches, implants or injections), (3) barrier methods (such as a condom or diaphragm) used with a spermicide, or (4) an intrauterine device (IUD). Contraceptive measures such as Plan B (TM), sold for emergency use after unprotected sex, are not acceptable methods for routine use. If you do become pregnant during this study or if you have unprotected sex, you must inform your study physician immediately.
13. For men who are sexually active, must agree to use a two medically acceptable forms of birth control (one of which must include a condom as a barrier method of contraception) in order to be in this study. Medically acceptable contraceptives include: (1) surgical sterilization (such as a vasectomy), or (2) a condom used with a spermicide. Contraceptive measures such as Plan B (TM), sold for emergency use after unprotected sex, are not acceptable methods for routine use. Men must also agree to inform their partner of the potential for harm to an unborn child. She should know that if pregnancy occurs, the subject will need to report it to the study doctor, and she should promptly notify her doctor. The study doctor will ask if the subject's partner is willing to provide updates on the progress of the pregnancy and its outcome. If the subject's partner agrees, this information will be provided to Pfizer, Inc. for safety monitoring follow-up.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Any prior anti-VEGF therapies (i.e., sunitinib, sorafenib, pazopanib, axitinib, cabozantinib, bevacizumab, etc.), including in the adjuvant or neoadjuvant setting.
2. Prior systemic therapy for advanced RCC; however, treatment with immunotherapy (i.e., high-dose bolus IL-2, ipilimumab + nivolumab, etc.) is allowed.
3. Subjects who are receiving any other investigational agents.
4. Subjects who are receiving strong CYP3A4 inhibitors or CYP3A4 inducers (see Section 5.3.2.2).
5. Radiotherapy within 2 weeks prior to taking the first dose of study drug, or those who have not recovered from adverse events due to agents administered more than 2 weeks earlier.
6. Central nervous system (CNS) metastases at baseline, with the exception of those subjects who have previously treated CNS metastases (surgery ± radiotherapy, radiosurgery, or gamma knife) and who meet both of the following criteria: a) are asymptomatic, and b) have no requirement for steroids or enzyme-inducing anticonvulsants in the prior 28 days.

7. Clinically significant gastrointestinal abnormalities that may increase the risk for gastrointestinal bleeding including, but not limited to:

   • Active peptic ulcer disease
   • Known intraluminal metastatic lesion(s) with risk of bleeding
   • Inflammatory bowel disease (e.g., ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease) or other gastrointestinal conditions with increased risk of perforation
   • History of abdominal fistula, gastrointestinal perforation, or intra-abdominal abscess within 28 days prior to beginning study treatment

8. History of any one or more of the following cardiovascular conditions within the past 6 months:

   • Cardiac angioplasty or stenting
   • Myocardial infarction
   • Unstable angina
   • Coronary artery bypass graft surgery
   • Symptomatic peripheral vascular disease
   • Class III or IV congestive heart failure, as defined by the New York Heart Association (NYHA) (see Appendix J)

9. Absolute contraindications to cardiopulmonary exercise testing and/or aerobic training, as determined by the attending oncologist:

   Absolute Contraindications

   • Uncontrolled arrhythmia causing symptoms or hemodynamic compromise
   • Recurrent syncope
   • Active endocarditis
   • Acute myocarditis or pericarditis
   • Symptomatic severe aortic stenosis
   • Uncontrolled heart failure
   • Suspected dissecting aneurysm
   • Uncontrolled asthma
   • Pulmonary edema
   • Room air desaturation at rest <85%
   • Respiratory failure
   • Acute non-cardiopulmonary disorders that may affect exercise performance or be aggravated by exercise (i.e., infection, renal failure, thyrotoxicosis)
   • Mental impairment leading to inability to cooperate.
10. Poorly controlled hypertension [defined as systolic blood pressure (SBP) of >150 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of >90 mmHg].
11. History of cerebrovascular accident including transient ischemic attack (TIA), pulmonary embolism, or untreated deep venous thrombosis (DVT) within the past 6 months.
12. Major surgery or trauma within 28 days prior to first dose of investigational product and/or presence of any non-healing wound, fracture, or ulcer (procedures such as catheter placement are not considered to be major surgery).
13. Osseous metastatic disease with unacceptable risk of impending fracture due to study assessments, in the opinion of the investigator
14. Evidence of active bleeding or bleeding diathesis.
15. Known endobronchial lesions and/or lesions infiltrating major pulmonary vessels that increase the risk of pulmonary hemorrhage.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Schedule 4/2	Drug: Sunitinib; Patients randomized to sunitinib schedule 4/2 will receive sunitinib at 50 mg daily for 4 weeks on, followed by 2 weeks off, per standard of care. Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing (CPET) will be performed at baseline, 4 weeks and 12 weeks.; Other Names: Sutent; Drug: Sunitinib; Patients randomized to sunitinib schedule 2/1 will receive sunitinib 50 mg daily for 2 weeks on, followed by 1 week off. Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing (CPET) will be performed at baseline, 5 weeks and 12 weeks.; Other Names: Sutent
Experimental: Schedule 2/1	Drug: Sunitinib; Patients randomized to sunitinib schedule 4/2 will receive sunitinib at 50 mg daily for 4 weeks on, followed by 2 weeks off, per standard of care. Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing (CPET) will be performed at baseline, 4 weeks and 12 weeks.; Other Names: Sutent; Drug: Sunitinib; Patients randomized to sunitinib schedule 2/1 will receive sunitinib 50 mg daily for 2 weeks on, followed by 1 week off. Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing (CPET) will be performed at baseline, 5 weeks and 12 weeks.; Other Names: Sutent

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Relative VO2 Peak From Baseline to Week 12 in the 4/2 and 2/1 Sunitinib Administration Schedules	Exercise Capacity will be assessed using Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing (CPET) to determine VO2peak. Higher VO2 peak measured in mg/ml/min indicates better cardiac function. Mean change in cardiac functions will be assessed by the difference in Relative Peak VO2 from baseline to 12 weeks in both the arms.	Baseline, week 12

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Difference Between Rest Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction (LVEF) and Cardiac Function by 2-D Echocardiography (2DE) From Baseline to Week 12 in the 4/2 and 2/1 Sunitinib Administration Schedules	Mean change in cardiac functions will be assessed by the difference in LVEF measured by 2D-Echo from baseline to 12 weeks in both the arms. Higher LVEF measured in percentage indicates better cardiac function.	Baseline, week 12
Change in Difference Between Rest and Stress Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction (LVEF) and Cardiac Function by 3-D Echocardiography (3DE) From Baseline to Week 12 in the 4/2 and 2/1 Sunitinib Administration Schedules [Time Frame: Baseline, Week 12]		Baseline, week 12
Change in One Repetition Maximum (1RM) in Upper and Lower Extremity Muscular Strength From Baseline to Week 12 in the 4/2 and 2/1 Sunitinib Administration Schedules	Mean change in upper and lower extremity maximal muscular strength as measured by the voluntary one-repetition max (1-RM) between week 12 and baseline. A 1-RM is defined as the greatest resistance that can be moved through the full range of motion in a controlled manner. This assessment included following exercises: leg press, chest press, and row. The heaviest weight lifted while adhering to the strict technique and form will be used to score the assessment.	Baseline, week 12
Change in Muscular Endurance in Upper and Lower Extremity Muscular Strength From Baseline to Week 12 in the 4/2 and 2/1 Sunitinib Administration Schedules	Mean change in upper and lower extremity maximal muscular strength as measured by the muscular endurance which is 70% of 1-RM between week 12 and baseline. Muscular Endurance of the upper and lower body will be assessed as the number of repetitions to fatigue at 70% of the 1-RM. The same exercises and methods will be used as in the 1-RM determination.	Baseline, week 12
Change in Muscle Cross-sectional Area (CSA) of the Major Muscles Near Lumbar3 (CT Scans and Slice-O-Matic® Software) From Baseline to Week 12 in the 4/2 and 2/1 Sunitinib Administration Schedules [Time Frame: Baseline, Week 12]		Baseline, week 12
Change in Time Taken to Complete the 5-repititionChair-stand Test From Baseline to Week 12 in the 4/2 and 2/1 Sunitinib Administration Schedules	The 5-repetition Chair-Stand Test measures the time taken to complete 5 repetitions of the sit-to-stand maneuver performed on a chair. Standardized instructions are: "By the count of 3, please stand up and sit down as quickly as possible for 5 times. Place your hands on your lap, and do not use them throughout the procedure. Lean your back against the chair's backrest at the end of every repetition." Note: Timing will start when the subject's back left the backrest and will be stopped once the back touched the backrest.	Baseline, week 12
Change in Time Taken to Complete the Timed up and Go Test From Baseline to Week 12 in the 4/2 and 2/1 Sunitinib Administration Schedules	Timed Up and Go (TUG) test assesses a person's mobility. TUG measures the time that a person takes to rise from a chair, walk three meters, turn around, walk back to the chair, and sit down. Scores of 10 seconds or less indicate normal mobility, 11 - 20 seconds are within normal limits for frail, elderly, and disabled subjects, and greater than 20 seconds suggests that further examination is required.	Baseline, week 12
Change in Distance Walked During the 6 Minute Walk Test From Baseline to Week 12 in the 4/2 and 2/1 Sunitinib Administration Schedules	Subjects will be instructed to cover the longest distance possible in 6 minutes under the supervision of an exercise physiologist or trained designee. The walked distance will be determined in a measured corridor between 2 cones that were placed 30 meters apart	Baseline, week 12
Change in Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue (FACIT-Fatigue) Scale Score From Baseline to Week 12 in the 4/2 and 2/1 Sunitinib Administration Schedules	Mean change in PRO: FACIT-Fatigue (FACIT-F, range 0 to 52) aggregate score between week 12 and baseline. Higher scores indicate better quality of life.	Baseline, week 12
Change in Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - Kidney Symptom Index - 19 (FKSI-19) Score From Baseline to Week 12 in the 4/2 and 2/1 Sunitinib Administration Schedules	Mean change in PRO: FKSI- 19 (FKSI-19 Range 0 to 76) aggregate score between week 12 and baseline. Higher scores indicate better quality of life.	Baseline, week 12
Change in Hospital Anxiety and Depression Survey (HADS) Score From Baseline to Week 12 in the 4/2 and 2/1 Sunitinib Administration Schedules	Mean change in PRO: HADS (HADS, range 0 to 21) aggregate score between week 12 and baseline. The HADS score has 2- subscales: Depression and Anxiety. Each sub-scale ranges from 0, 21. Higher scores indicate higher levels of depression and anxiety.	Baseline, week 12
Change in Leisure Activity Score From the Godin-Leisure Questionnaire From Baseline to Week 12 in the 4/2 and 2/1 Sunitinib Administration Schedules	Mean change in PRO: Godin-Leisure questionnaire aggregate score between week 12 and baseline. This represents the activity level of a participant. There are no standard reference range for this assessment. Higher scores indicate higher physical activity.	Baseline, week 12

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Duke University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Michael Harrison, MD, Duke University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): September 27, 2017
• Primary Completion (Actual): October 8, 2019
• Study Completion (Actual): October 8, 2019

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 6, 2017
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 6, 2017
• First Posted (Actual): April 11, 2017

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): October 8, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 23, 2024
• Last Verified: September 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: sunitinib; Sutent; metastatic renal cell carcinoma; cardiopulmonary function
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Neoplasms by Histologic Type; Neoplasms; Urologic Neoplasms; Urogenital Neoplasms; Neoplasms by Site; Kidney Diseases; Urologic Diseases; Adenocarcinoma; Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial; Kidney Neoplasms; Female Urogenital Diseases; Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications; Urogenital Diseases; Male Urogenital Diseases; Carcinoma, Renal Cell; Carcinoma; Physiological Effects of Drugs; Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action; Enzyme Inhibitors; Antineoplastic Agents; Angiogenesis Inhibitors; Angiogenesis Modulating Agents; Growth Substances; Growth Inhibitors; Protein Kinase Inhibitors; Sunitinib
• Other Study ID Numbers: Pro00072588

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: Yes
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No