Lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab versus sunitinib in first-line treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma: Final prespecified overall survival analysis of CLEAR, a phase III study Journal Article


Authors: Motzer, R. J.; Porta, C.; Eto, M.; Powles, T.; Grünwald, V.; Hutson, T. E.; Alekseev, B.; Rha, S. Y.; Merchan, J.; Goh, J. C.; Lalani, A. K. A.; De Giorgi, U.; Melichar, B.; Hong, S. H.; Gurney, H.; Méndez-Vidal, M. J.; Kopyltsov, E.; Tjulandin, S.; Gordoa, T. A.; Kozlov, V.; Alyasova, A.; Winquist, E.; Maroto, P.; Kim, M.; Peer, A.; Procopio, G.; Takagi, T.; Wong, S.; Bedke, J.; Schmidinger, M.; Rodriguez-Lopez, K.; Burgents, J.; He, C.; Okpara, C. E.; McKenzie, J.; Choueiri, T. K.; for the CLEAR Trial Investigators
Article Title: Lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab versus sunitinib in first-line treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma: Final prespecified overall survival analysis of CLEAR, a phase III study
Abstract: Clinical trials frequently include multiple end points that mature at different times. The initial report, typically based on the primary end point, may be published when key planned co-primary or secondary analyses are not yet available. Clinical trial updates provide an opportunity to disseminate additional results from studies, published in JCO or elsewhere, for which the primary end point has already been reported.We present the final prespecified overall survival (OS) analysis of the open-label, phase III CLEAR study in treatment-naïve patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (aRCC). With an additional follow-up of 23 months from the primary analysis, we report results from the lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab versus sunitinib comparison of CLEAR. Treatment-naïve patients with aRCC were randomly assigned to receive lenvatinib (20 mg orally once daily in 21-day cycles) plus pembrolizumab (200 mg intravenously once every 3 weeks) or sunitinib (50 mg orally once daily [4 weeks on/2 weeks off]). At this data cutoff date (July 31, 2022), the OS hazard ratio (HR) was 0.79 (95% CI, 0.63 to 0.99). The median OS (95% CI) was 53.7 months (95% CI, 48.7 to not estimable [NE]) with lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab versus 54.3 months (95% CI, 40.9 to NE) with sunitinib; 36-month OS rates (95% CI) were 66.4% (95% CI, 61.1 to 71.2) and 60.2% (95% CI, 54.6 to 65.2), respectively. The median progression-free survival (95% CI) was 23.9 months (95% CI, 20.8 to 27.7) with lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab and 9.2 months (95% CI, 6.0 to 11.0) with sunitinib (HR, 0.47 [95% CI, 0.38 to 0.57]). Objective response rate also favored the combination over sunitinib (71.3% v 36.7%; relative risk 1.94 [95% CI, 1.67 to 2.26]). Treatment-emergent adverse events occurred in >90% of patients who received either treatment. In conclusion, lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab achieved consistent, durable benefit with a manageable safety profile in treatment-naïve patients with aRCC. © American Society of Clinical Oncology.
Keywords: controlled study; survival analysis; clinical trial; sunitinib; antineoplastic agent; randomized controlled trial; antineoplastic combined chemotherapy protocols; pathology; renal cell carcinoma; kidney neoplasms; monoclonal antibody; kidney tumor; carcinoma, renal cell; phase 3 clinical trial; quinolines; quinoline derivative; antibodies, monoclonal, humanized; phenylurea compounds; lenvatinib; carbanilamide derivative; humans; human; pembrolizumab
Journal Title: Journal of Clinical Oncology
Volume: 42
Issue: 11
ISSN: 0732-183X
Publisher: American Society of Clinical Oncology  
Date Published: 2024-04-10
Start Page: 1222
End Page: 1228
Language: English
DOI: 10.1200/jco.23.01569
PUBMED: 38227898
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC11095851
DOI/URL:
Notes: The MSK Cancer Center Support Grant (P30 CA008748) is acknowledged in the PDF. Corresponding MSK author is Robert J. Motzer -- Source: Scopus
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  1. Robert Motzer
    1243 Motzer