Pembrolizumab Plus Belzutifan With or Without Lenvatinib in Localized Renal Cell Carcinoma (Moonlanding)

A Randomized Phase 2 Trial of Neoadjuvant Pembrolizumab Plus Belzutifan With or Without Lenvatinib in Patients With Localized Renal Cell Carcinoma

This study is designed to evaluate the efficacy of belzutifan in combination with pembrolizumab with or without lenvatinib in the neoadjuvant setting, followed by adjuvant pembrolizumab versus adjuvant pembrolizumab alone, as treatment for participants with intermediate-high and high risk clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC).

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Renal Cell Carcinoma
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Neoadjuvant Pembrolizumab; Drug: Belzutifan; Drug: Lenvatinb

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 150
• Phase: Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Cristina Suárez, Dr; Phone Number: +34 932543450; Email: csuarez@vhio.net

Study Locations

• Spain
  • Andalusia
    • Córdoba, Andalusia, Spain, 14004
      • Hospital Universitario Reina Sofia
      • Contact: Mª José Méndez, Dr; Phone Number: +34 957010380; Email: mjosemv@yahoo.es
      • Principal Investigator: Mª José Méndez, Dr
  • Aragon
    • Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain, 50009
      • Hospital Clínico Universitario Lozano Blesa
      • Contact: Julio Lambea, Dr; Phone Number: +34 976765769; Email: juliolambea@yahoo.es
      • Principal Investigator: Julio Lambea, Dr
  • Cantabria
    • Santander, Cantabria, Spain, 39008
      • Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla
      • Contact: Ignacio Durán, Dr; Phone Number: +34 942315515; Email: ignaciojose.duran@scsalud.es
      • Principal Investigator: Ignacio Durán, Dr
  • Catalonia
    • Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, 08036
      • Hospital Clinic de Barcelona
      • Contact: Oscar Reig, Dr; Phone Number: +34 932275402; Email: oreig@clinic.cat
      • Principal Investigator: Oscar Reig, Dr
    • Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, 08035
      • Hospital Universitari Vall D Hebron
      • Contact: Cristina Suárez, Dr; Phone Number: +34 932543450; Email: csuarez@vhio.net
      • Principal Investigator: Cristina Suárez, Dr
    • L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Catalonia, Spain, 08908
      • Institut Catala d'Oncologia
      • Contact: Mayra Lizbeth Orrillo, Dr; Phone Number: +34 932607136; Email: mayralizbethorrillo@iconcologia.net
      • Principal Investigator: Mayra Lizbeth Orrillo, Dr
    • Sabadell, Catalonia, Spain, 08208
      • Parc Tauli Hospital Universitari
      • Contact: Enrique Gallardo, Dr; Phone Number: +34 937240084; Email: egallardo@tauli.cat
      • Principal Investigator: Enrique Gallardo, Dr
  • Galicia
    • Lugo, Galicia, Spain, 27003
      • Hospital Universitario Lucus Augusti
      • Contact: Sergio Vazquez, Dr; Phone Number: +34 982296459; Email: Sergio.Vazquez.Estevez@sergas.es
      • Principal Investigator: Sergio Vazquez, Dr
    • Ourense, Galicia, Spain, 32005
      • Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Ourense
      • Contact: Ovidio Fernandez, Dr; Phone Number: +34 986217450; Email: ovidiofernandezcalvo@yahoo.es
      • Principal Investigator: Ovidio Fernandez, Dr
  • Madrid
    • Madrid, Madrid, Spain, 28041
      • Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre
      • Contact: Guillermo de Velasco, Dr; Phone Number: +34 913908547; Email: gdvelasco.gdv@gmail.com
      • Principal Investigator: Guillermo de Velasco, Dr
    • Madrid, Madrid, Spain, 28034
      • Hospital Universitario Ramon y Cajal
      • Contact: Javier Molina, Dr; Phone Number: +34 913368897; Email: javier.molinace@gmail.com
      • Principal Investigator: Javier Molina, Dr
  • Navarre
    • Pamplona, Navarre, Spain, 31008
      • Hospital Universitario de Navarra
      • Contact: Nuria Lainez, Dr; Phone Number: +34 848422222; Email: Nuria.lainez.milagro@cfnavarra.es
      • Principal Investigator: Nuria Lainez, Dr
  • Principality of Asturias
    • Oviedo, Principality of Asturias, Spain, 33011
      • Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias
      • Contact: Carlos Alvarez, Dr; Phone Number: +34 985108000; Email: carlos.alvfer@gmail.com
      • Principal Investigator: Carlos Alvarez, Dr
  • Valencia
    • Valencia, Valencia, Spain, 46026
      • Hospital Universitario y Politecnico La Fe
      • Contact: Regina Girones, Dr; Phone Number: +34 961244674; Email: girones_reg@gva.es
      • Principal Investigator: Regina Girones, Dr.

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male/female participants who are at least 18 years of age on the day of signing informed consent.

  2. Willing to provide written informed consent. They may also provide consent for Future Biomedical Research; however, the participant may participate in the main trial without participating in the Future Biomedical Research.

  3. Histologically confirmed diagnosis of RCC with a clear cell component with or without sarcomatoid features. Diagnosis is to be made by the investigator and does not require central histology review.

  4. Tumours must be T2 with grade 4, T3, T4, or any T with N1, M0 on radiographic imaging using TNM staging (8th edition)

  1. T2 is defined as a tumour >7cm but limited to the kidney; grade 4 is per the International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP) grading.
  2. T3 is defined as tumour extension into major veins or perinephric tissues, but not into ipsilateral adrenal gland or beyond Gerota's fascia.
  3. T4 is defined as a tumour involving the ipsilateral adrenal gland or invading beyond Gerota's fascia.

  4. N1 is defined as metastatic involvement of regional lymph nodes. 5. Archival tumour tissue sample or newly obtained core, incisional, or excisional biopsy of a tumour lesion not previously irradiated has been provided. Formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded (FFPE) tissue blocks are preferred to slides. Newly obtained biopsies are preferred to archived tissue.

     6. Have an Eastern Cooperation Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Status of 0 to 1.

     Evaluation of ECOG is to be performed within 14 days prior to the first dose of study intervention.

     7. Have been considered suitable for curative intent surgery (partial or total nephrectomy), as evaluated by a surgeon. 8. Have adequately controlled blood pressure (BP) with or without antihypertensive medications, defined as BP ≤150/90 mm Hg.

     9. Have adequate organ function as defined in the following table (Table 7). Specimens must be collected within 14 days prior to the start of study intervention.

     10.Participants agree to the contraception guidelines outlined in section 5.1.3.2.

     11.Participants who are HBsAg positive are eligible if they have received hepatitis B virus (HBV) anti-viral therapy for at least 4 weeks and have undetectable HBV viral load prior to randomization.

     Note: Participants should remain on anti-viral therapy throughout study intervention and follow local guidelines for HBV anti-viral therapy post completion of study intervention.

     Hepatitis B screening tests are not required unless:

     Known history of HBV infection As mandated by local health authority 12.Participants with a history of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are eligible if HCV viral load is undetectable at screening.

     Note: Participants must have completed curative anti-viral therapy at least 4 weeks prior to randomization.

     Hepatitis C screening tests are not required unless:

     Known history of HCV infection As mandated by local health authority 13.HIV-infected participants must have well-controlled HIV on antiretroviral therapy (ART), defined as:

  1. Participants on ART must have a CD4+ T-cell count ≥350 cells/mm3 at the time of screening.
  2. Participants on ART must have achieved and maintained virologic suppression defined as confirmed HIV RNA level below 50 or the lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) (below the limit of detection) using the locally available assay at the time of screening and for at least 12 weeks before screening
  3. It is advised that participants must not have had any AIDS-defining opportunistic infections within the past 12 months.
  4. Participants on ART must have been on a stable regimen, without changes in drugs or dose modification, for at least 4 weeks before study entry (Day 1) and agree to continue ART throughout the stud

Exclusion Criteria:

• 1. Has evidence of metastatic disease on screening imaging. 2. Has received prior therapy with an anti-PD-1, anti-PD-L1, or anti-PD-L2 agent or with an agent directed to another stimulatory or co-inhibitory T-cell receptor (e.g., CTLA-4, OX-40, CD137).

  3. Has received prior systemic anti-cancer therapy including investigational agents within 3 years prior to randomization.

  4. Known additional malignancy that is progressing or has required active treatment within the past 3 years. Note: Participants with basal cell carcinoma of the skin, squamous cell carcinoma of the skin or carcinoma in situ, excluding carcinoma in situ of the bladder, that have undergone potentially curative therapy are not excluded.

Participants with low-risk early-stage prostate cancer either treated with definitive intent or untreated in active surveillance with stable disease are not excluded.

5. Has received a live vaccine or live-attenuated vaccine within 30 days before the first dose of study intervention. Administration of killed vaccines is allowed. COVID-19 and influenza vaccinations are allowed provided they are not live vaccines 6. Has received an investigational agent or has used an investigational device within 4 weeks prior to study intervention administration.

7. Has a diagnosis of immunodeficiency or is receiving chronic systemic steroid therapy (in dosing exceeding 10 mg daily of prednisone equivalent) or any other form of immunosuppressive therapy within 7 days prior to the first dose of study drug 8. Has severe hypersensitivity (≥Grade 3) to pembrolizumab and/or any of its excipients, and/or lenvatinib, and/or belzutifan.

9. Has active autoimmune disease that has required immunosuppressive systemic treatment in the past 2 years except replacement therapy (e.g., thyroxine, insulin, or physiologic corticosteroid).

10.Has a history of (non-infectious) pneumonitis/interstitial lung disease that required steroids or has current pneumonitis/interstitial lung disease11.Has any of the following:

1. A pulse oximeter reading <92% at rest, or
2. Requires intermittent supplemental oxygen, or
3. Requires chronic supplemental oxygen. 12.Has an active infection requiring systemic intravenous therapy. 13.Has moderate to severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh B or C). 14.Concurrent active Hepatitis B (defined as HBsAg positive and/or detectable HBV DNA) and Hepatitis C virus (defined as anti-HCV Ab positive and detectable HCV RNA) infection.

Note: Hepatitis B and C screening tests are not required unless:

1. Known history of HBV and HCV infection
2. As mandated by local health authority

15.Has urine protein ≥1 g/24 hours.

1. Note: Participants with proteinuria ≥2+ (≥100 mg/dL) on urine dipstick testing (urinalysis) will undergo 24-hour urine collection for quantitative assessment of proteinuria.

2. Note: Urine dipstick is the preferred method for testing urinary protein, however, urinalysis may be used if the use of urine dipsticks is not feasible.

   16.Has had major surgery within 3 weeks prior to first dose of study interventions.

   Note: Adequate wound healing after major surgery must be assessed clinically, independent of time elapsed for eligibility 17.Has a history or current evidence of any condition, therapy, or laboratory abnormality or other circumstance that might confound the results of the study, interfere with the participant's participation for the full duration of the study, such that it is not in the best interest of the participant to participate, in the opinion of the treating investigator.

   18.Has known psychiatric or substance abuse disorders that would interfere with cooperation with the requirements of the trial.

   19.Is pregnant or breastfeeding or expecting to conceive or father children within the projected duration of the study, starting with the screening visit through 120 days after the last dose of trial treatment.

   20.Has had an allogenic tissue/solid organ transplant. 21.Has preexisting ≥Grade 3 gastrointestinal or non-gastrointestinal fistula22.Has a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) below the institutional (or local laboratory) normal range, as determined by multigated acquisition (MUGA) or echocardiogram (ECHO).

   23.Prolongation of QTcF interval to >480 ms. 24.Has clinically significant cardiovascular disease within 12 months from first dose of study intervention, including New York Heart Association Class III or IV congestive heart failure, unstable angina, myocardial infarction, cerebral vascular accident, or cardiac arrhythmia associated with hemodynamic instability. Note: Medically controlled arrhythmia would be permitted.

   25.Active hemoptysis (bright red blood of at least 0.5 teaspoon) within 3 weeks prior to the first dose of study drug.

   26.Gastrointestinal malabsorption or any other condition that might affect the absorption of lenvatinib 27.Is currently receiving either strong (phenobarbital, enzalutamide, phenytoin, rifampicin, rifabutin, rifapentine, carbamazepine, nevirapine and St John's Wort)

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Cohort A; Neoadjuvant therapy with Pembrolizumab (400mg q6w) + Lenvatinib (20mg daily for 12w) + Belzutifan (120mg daily for 12w). Followed by nephrectomy and pembrolizumab (400mg q6w for 9 months)	Drug: Neoadjuvant Pembrolizumab; 400mg q6w of Pembrolizumab will be administered before nephrectomy in cohorts A and B; Drug: Belzutifan; 120mg daily for 12w of Belzutifan will be administered before nephrectomy in Cohorts A and B; Drug: Lenvatinb; 20mg daily for 12 weeks of lenvatinib will be administered before nephrectomy in Cohort A
Experimental: Cohort B; Neoadjuvant therapy with Pembrolizumab (400mg q6w) + Belzutifan (120mg daily for 12w). Followed by nephrectomy and pembrolizumab (400mg q6w for 9 months)	Drug: Neoadjuvant Pembrolizumab; 400mg q6w of Pembrolizumab will be administered before nephrectomy in cohorts A and B; Drug: Belzutifan; 120mg daily for 12w of Belzutifan will be administered before nephrectomy in Cohorts A and B
Active Comparator: Cohort C; Nephrectomy folloewd by pembrolizumab (400mg q6w for 12 months)	Drug: Neoadjuvant Pembrolizumab; 400mg q6w of Pembrolizumab will be administered before nephrectomy in cohorts A and B

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Response Rate	Radiographic response defined as a decrease of initial tumour size ≥30% from baseline to week 12 CT scan	At 12 weeks from start of treatment

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Cristina Suárez, Dr, Hospital Vall d'Hebron

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): June 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): January 1, 2028
• Study Completion (Estimated): June 1, 2031

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 11, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 11, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): May 18, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 20, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 18, 2026
• Last Verified: November 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Urogenital Diseases; Urogenital Neoplasms; Neoplasms by Site; Neoplasms; Male Urogenital Diseases; Kidney Diseases; Urologic Diseases; Female Urogenital Diseases; Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications; Neoplasms by Histologic Type; Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial; Adenocarcinoma; Urologic Neoplasms; Carcinoma; Kidney Neoplasms; Carcinoma, Renal Cell; belzutifan
• Other Study ID Numbers: VHIO24002; 2024-519673-18-00 (Ctis)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

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