Cancer and Blood Pressure Management, CARISMA Study

Cancer Therapy Risk-Reduction With Intensive Systolic BP Management (CARISMA) - a Phase II Study

This phase II trial studies how well intensive blood pressure management works in decreasing systolic blood pressure in patients with kidney or thyroid cancer that has spread to other places in the body (metastatic) who are starting anti-angiogenic tyrosine kinase inhibitor cancer therapy. This study is being done to find out if a systolic blood pressure to a target of less than 120 mmHg (intensive systolic blood pressure management) can be achieved, well tolerated, and beneficial as compared to the usual approach to a target of less than 140 mmHg while taking an anti-angiogenic tyrosine kinase inhibitor. This study may help doctors understand the best way to control blood pressure in kidney or thyroid cancer patients taking anti-angiogenic tyrosine kinase inhibitor.

Study Overview

• Status: Active, not recruiting
• Conditions: Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma; Chronic Kidney Disease; Stage IV Renal Cell Cancer AJCC v8; Cardiovascular Disorder; Metastatic Thyroid Gland Medullary Carcinoma; Stage IV Thyroid Gland Medullary Carcinoma AJCC v8; Stage IVA Thyroid Gland Medullary Carcinoma AJCC v8; Stage IVB Thyroid Gland Medullary Carcinoma AJCC v8; Stage IVC Thyroid Gland Medullary Carcinoma AJCC v8
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Quality-of-Life Assessment; Other: Questionnaire Administration; Other: Blood Pressure Measurement; Other: Clinical Management; Other: Best Practice

Detailed Description

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE:

I. To determine the feasibility of an intensive (systolic blood pressure [SBP] < 120 mmHg) "Intervention" versus standard care (SBP < 140 mmHg) "Non-Intervention" approach to blood pressure (BP) control in metastatic renal cell and thyroid cancer patients initiating anti-angiogenic tyrosine kinase inhibitors.

OUTLINE: Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 arms.

ARM A: Patients receive intensive systolic blood pressure management for 6 months. Patients receive increased blood pressure medication every 2 weeks while systolic blood pressure is 120 mmHg or higher. Patients also monitor blood pressure at home 1 day a week (4 times in 1 day) every 2 weeks and upload the recorded blood pressure readings to the provider and to a central blood pressure monitoring team. Patients with changes in blood pressure medications monitor blood pressure readings on 3 days in 1 week (4 times in 1 day).

ARM B: Patients receive standard blood pressure management for 6 months. Patients receive blood pressure medications per doctor's instruction. Patients also monitor blood pressure at home 1 day (4 times in 1 day) every 2 weeks and upload the recorded blood pressures to a central monitoring team.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 61
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Missouri
    • Creve Coeur, Missouri, United States, 63141
      • Siteman Cancer Center at West County Hospital
    • St Louis, Missouri, United States, 63110
      • Washington University School of Medicine
  • New York
    • The Bronx, New York, United States, 10461
      • Montefiore Medical Center-Einstein Campus
    • The Bronx, New York, United States, 10467
      • Montefiore Medical Center - Moses Campus
    • The Bronx, New York, United States, 10461
      • Montefiore Medical Center-Weiler Hospital
  • Pennsylvania
    • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, 19104
      • University of Pennsylvania/Abramson Cancer Center
    • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, 15232
      • University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (UPCI)
  • Texas
    • Dallas, Texas, United States, 75390
      • UT Southwestern/Simmons Cancer Center-Dallas
  • Wisconsin
    • Burlington, Wisconsin, United States, 53105
      • Aurora Cancer Care-Southern Lakes VLCC
    • Cudahy, Wisconsin, United States, 53110
      • Aurora Saint Luke's South Shore
    • Germantown, Wisconsin, United States, 53022
      • Aurora Health Care Germantown Health Center
    • Grafton, Wisconsin, United States, 53024
      • Aurora Cancer Care-Grafton
    • Green Bay, Wisconsin, United States, 54311
      • Aurora BayCare Medical Center
    • Kenosha, Wisconsin, United States, 53142
      • Aurora Cancer Care-Kenosha South
    • Marinette, Wisconsin, United States, 54143
      • Aurora Bay Area Medical Group-Marinette
    • Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States, 53209
      • Aurora Cancer Care-Milwaukee
    • Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States, 53215
      • Aurora Saint Luke's Medical Center
    • Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States, 53233
      • Aurora Sinai Medical Center
    • Oshkosh, Wisconsin, United States, 54904
      • Vince Lombardi Cancer Clinic - Oshkosh
    • Racine, Wisconsin, United States, 53406
      • Aurora Cancer Care-Racine
    • Sheboygan, Wisconsin, United States, 53081
      • Vince Lombardi Cancer Clinic-Sheboygan
    • Summit, Wisconsin, United States, 53066
      • Aurora Medical Center in Summit
    • Two Rivers, Wisconsin, United States, 54241
      • Vince Lombardi Cancer Clinic-Two Rivers
    • Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, United States, 53226
      • Aurora Cancer Care-Milwaukee West
    • West Allis, Wisconsin, United States, 53227
      • Aurora West Allis Medical Center

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

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

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• English speaking

• Patient must have histologically or cytologically-proven advanced metastatic renal cell cancer (mRCC) or medullary thyroid cancer initially treated with anti-angiogenic tyrosine kinase inhibitors (AA-TKIs) including: sunitinib, sorafenib, pazopanib, cabozantinib, lenvatinib, vandetanib, or axitinib)

  • NOTE: If patient has a severe sulfa allergy (e.g. Stevens Johnson reaction), then alternative non-sulfa medications can be considered in consultation with the C-BAC. Patient with a noted severe allergic reactions to medications listed in the algorithms is not necessarily excluded from this trial, as alternative medications could be considered in consultation with the C-BAC. Moreover, the patient treated with pre-existing medications that may interact with proposed BP medications is not necessarily excluded, as alternative medications exist. The clinical significance of any potential drug interactions can also be addressed with the C-BAC.
• Prior exposure to another AA-TKI is permissible. Concurrent or prior treatment with immunotherapy is also permissible

• Patient must have either clinical cardiovascular (CV) disease or evidence of increased CV risk as defined by one or more of the following:

  • Clinical CV disease (history of myocardial infarction [MI] acute coronary syndrome, coronary revascularization, carotid endarterectomy or stenting greater than 3 months prior to registration, peripheral artery disease, cerebrovascular accident greater than 3 months prior to registration, abdominal aortic aneurysm or heart failure [HF])
  • An American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) CV risk score of at least 10%
  • Chronic kidney disease (defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] between 30 and 60 ml/min per 1.73 m^2). Dialysis patients and patients with an eGFR < 30 ml/min/1.73m^2 will be excluded. eGFR will be calculated according to the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-Epi) equation

• Patient must have systolic blood pressure (SBP) >= 130 mmHg on two or more occasions according to any in-clinic visit in the 12 weeks prior to or during their initial 4 weeks of treatment with an AA-TKI. Patient who have a prior diagnosis of hypertension or on pre-existing anti-hypertensive medications are eligible for enrollment. However, patient must not be on more than 3 baseline blood pressure medications at time of entry

  • NOTE: If a patient has a single elevated SBP >= 130mmHg but not on repeat assessment, an additional SBP assessment should be performed to confirm ineligibility
• Patient must agree to comply with performing home blood pressure monitoring using an Omron7250 oscillometric monitor at home, or equivalent models
• Women of childbearing potential and sexually active males must be strongly advised to use accepted and effective methods of contraception or to abstain from sexual intercourse for the duration of their participation in the study
• Patient must have internet access through a computer, tablet, or smart phone to use EASEE-PRO and home BP monitoring. A valid phone number to receive text messages and email address are also necessary
• Leukocytes >= 3,000/mcL (obtained within 14 days prior to registration)
• Absolute neutrophil count >= 1,500/mcL (obtained within 14 days prior to registration)
• Platelets >= 100,000/mcL (obtained within 14 days prior to registration)
• Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase [SGOT])/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase [SGPT]) =< 2.5 x institutional upper limit of normal (ULN) (obtained within 14 days prior to registration)
• Patients with evidence of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, the HBV viral load must be undetectable on suppressive therapy, if indicated
• Patient with a history of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection must have been treated and cured. For patients with HCV infection who are currently on treatment, they are eligible if they have an undetectable HCV viral load
• Patient with treated brain metastases are eligible if follow-up brain imaging after central nervous system (CNS)-directed therapy shows no evidence of progression
• Patient with new or progressive brain metastases (active brain metastases) or leptomeningeal disease are eligible if the treating physician determines that immediate CNS specific treatment is not required and is unlikely to be required during the first cycle of therapy
• Patient with a prior or concurrent malignancy whose natural history or treatment does not have the potential to interfere with the safety or efficacy assessment of the investigational regimen are eligible for this trial
• Patient must have an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0-2

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patient must not have end-stage renal failure on dialysis, history of repeated hyperkalemia with a potassium > 5.5 mEq/l, or have a kidney transplant, or an eGFR < 30 ml/min/1.73 m^2
• Patient must not have coronary artery bypass grafting, MI acute coronary syndrome severe/unstable angina, stroke, transient ischemic attack, clinically significant bleeding requiring hospitalization or pulmonary embolism within 3 months prior to registration
• Patient must not have brain surgery or radiotherapy within 2 weeks prior to registration
• Patient must not have uncontrolled blood pressure defined by SBP > 160 mmHg on three or more antihypertensives prior to TKI initiation
• Patient with an arm circumference too large (> 50 cm) or small (< 17 cm) to allow accurate BP measurement with available devices will not be eligible
• Women must not be pregnant or breast-feeding due to the potential harm to an unborn fetus and possible risk for adverse events in nursing infants with some anti-hypertensives, including angiotensin receptor blockers. All females of childbearing potential must have a blood test or urine study within 14 days prior to registration to rule out pregnancy. A female of childbearing potential is defined as any woman, regardless of sexual orientation or whether they have undergone tubal ligation, who meets the following criteria: has achieved menarche at some point, has not undergone a hysterectomy or bilateral oophorectomy; or has not been naturally postmenopausal (amenorrhea following cancer therapy does not rule out childbearing potential) for at least 24 consecutive months (i.e., has had menses at any time in the preceding 24 consecutive months)

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
Experimental: Arm A (intensive systolic blood pressure management); Patients receive intensive systolic blood pressure management for 6 months. Patients receive increased blood pressure medication every 2 weeks while systolic blood pressure is 120 mmHg or higher. Patients also monitor blood pressure at home 1 day a week (4 times in 1 day) every 2 weeks, and upload the recorded blood pressure readings to the provider and to a central blood pressure monitoring team. Patients with changes in blood pressure medications monitor blood pressure readings on 3 days in 1 week (4 times in 1 day).	Other: Quality-of-Life Assessment; Ancillary studies; Other Names: Quality of Life Assessment; Other: Questionnaire Administration; Ancillary studies; Other: Blood Pressure Measurement; Undergo blood pressure measurement; Other: Clinical Management; Undergo intensive systolic BP management
Active Comparator: Arm B (usual blood pressure management); Patients receive standard blood pressure management for 6 months. Patients receive blood pressure medications per doctor's instruction. Patients also monitor blood pressure at home 1 day (4 times in 1 day) every 2 weeks, and upload the recorded blood pressures to a central monitoring team.	Other: Quality-of-Life Assessment; Ancillary studies; Other Names: Quality of Life Assessment; Other: Questionnaire Administration; Ancillary studies; Other: Best Practice; Receive usual blood pressure management; Other Names: standard of care; standard therapy

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Differences in systolic blood pressure (SBP) based on automated office BP measurements	Differences in SBP over the 6- month study period between intensive BP control (intervention) versus standard care (non-intervention group) will be compared using the "difference-indifference" method. All mixed effects models will be estimated using generalized estimating equations (GEE).	Up to 6 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Difference in SBP based on all automated home and office BP measurements	Based on all automated home and office BP measurements.	Up to 6 months
Study retention rates	Will compare the study retention rates between the intensive SBP versus standard care group, by constructing appropriate mixed-effect generalized linear models (e.g. a mixed effect log-linear model for fatigue and a logistic model for study retention) and using GEE for model estimation	Up to 6 months
Frequency of automated home SBP measurements > 180 mmHg or < 90 mmHg or diastolic (D)BP > 110 mmHg	The frequency of orthostatic hypotension as defined by > 20 mmHg decreases in office SBP with standing; or symptomatic hypotension, as defined by the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) criteria, in participants in the intervention and non-intervention group arms.	Up to 6 months
Differences in symptoms and health-related quality of life	Will compare the Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Fatigue between the intensive SBP versus standardlcCare group, by constructing appropriate mixed-effect generalized linear models (e.g. a mixed effect log-linear model for fatigue and a logistic model for study retention) and using GEE for model estimation.	Up to 6 months
Differences in patient-reported medication compliance	Will compare the medication compliance between the intensive SBP versus standard care group, by constructing appropriate mixed-effect generalized linear models (e.g. a mixed effect log-linear model for fatigue and a logistic model for study retention) and using GEE for model estimation.	Up to 6 months
Patient-rated adverse events associated with hypertension, hypotension and anti-hypertensive medications		Up to 6 months
Participant satisfaction with BP care	The participant satisfaction with BP care (including the C-BAC and the related technologies) and BP medications will be evaluated through questionnaires evaluated on a Likert scale and via open ended discussions with focus groups.	Up to 6 months
Provider satisfaction with BP care	The provider satisfaction with BP care (including the C-BAC and the related technologies) and BP medications will be evaluated through questionnaires evaluated on a Likert scale and via open ended discussions with focus groups.	Up to 6 months

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Incidence of significant cardiovascular (CV) events	Will determine the rates of adverse cardiovascular events in each group. These include the incidence of significant CV events including stroke, acute coronary syndrome/myocardial infarction or hospitalization for heart failure; the suspension of anti-angiogenic tyrosine kinase inhibitors therapy due to toxicity; or all-cause death.	Up to 6 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group
• Collaborators: National Cancer Institute (NCI)
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Bonnie Ky, ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Narayan V, Liu T, Song Y, Mitchell J, Sicks J, Gareen I, Sun L, Denduluri S, Fisher C, Manikowski J, Wojtowicz M, Vadakara J, Haas N, Margulies KB, Ky B. Early Increases in Blood Pressure and Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events in Patients With Renal Cell Carcinoma and Thyroid Cancer Treated With VEGFR TKIs. J Natl Compr Canc Netw. 2023 Oct;21(10):1039-1049.e10. doi: 10.6004/jnccn.2023.7047.
• Ky B, Liu T, Margulies KB, Mitchell JD, Haas NB, Gareen IF, Thangarajah M, Sicks JD, Domenico C, Narayan VK, Smith AM, Wilcox NS, Mittal K, Rhee JW, Armenian SH, Saphner T, Paul AK, Gartrell BA, Zaha VG, Anari F, Wong RL, Townsend RR, Wagner LI. Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial of Intensive Systolic Blood Pressure Control in Patients With Renal Cell or Thyroid Cancer Receiving VEGFR Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors: ECOG-ACRIN EAQ191. Hypertension. 2026 Jul;83(7):e26016. doi: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.125.26016. Epub 2026 May 20.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): October 29, 2020
• Primary Completion (Estimated): August 31, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): August 31, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 7, 2020
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 9, 2020
• First Posted (Actual): July 10, 2020

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): July 17, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 16, 2026
• Last Verified: July 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Urogenital Diseases; Pathologic Processes; Urogenital Neoplasms; Neoplasms by Site; Neoplasms; Male Urogenital Diseases; Kidney Diseases; Urologic Diseases; Female Urogenital Diseases; Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications; Chronic Disease; Disease Attributes; Neoplasms by Histologic Type; Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial; Adenocarcinoma; Renal Insufficiency; Urologic Neoplasms; Carcinoma; Neuroectodermal Tumors; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal; Neoplasms, Nerve Tissue; Kidney Neoplasms; Neuroendocrine Tumors; Neoplasms, Ductal, Lobular, and Medullary; Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Cardiovascular Diseases; Carcinoma, Renal Cell; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic; Carcinoma, Medullary; Health Services Administration; Health Care Quality, Access, and Evaluation; Quality of Health Care; Quality Indicators, Health Care; Guidelines as Topic; Quality Assurance, Health Care; Standard of Care; Practice Guidelines as Topic
• Other Study ID Numbers: EAQ191 (Other Identifier: CTEP); UG1CA189828 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract); NCI-2020-00900 (Registry Identifier: CTRP (Clinical Trial Reporting Program)); ECOG-ACRIN-EAQ191 (Other Identifier: DCP)

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No