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Updated June 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov

RECRUITINGPhase 3INTERVENTIONAL

CARE1 Pragmatic Clinical Trial

First Line Randomised Study Platform to Optimize Treatment in Patients With Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma

CARE1 Pragmatic Clinical Trial (NCT06364631) is a Phase 3 interventional studying Metastatic Kidney Cancer and Metastatic Kidney Carcinoma, sponsored by Gustave Roussy, Cancer Campus, Grand Paris. RECRUITING as of the most recent ClinicalTrials.gov update. Talk to your doctor before contacting the trial site.

Important: This information is not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.

About This Trial

Systemic therapy for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) relies on 2 classes of agents: anti-angiogenic targeted therapy (Vascular endothelial growth factor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor- VEGFR TKI) and immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI), targeting either PD1/PDL1 axis or CTLA4. Combination therapy is SOC for clear cell RCC in all guidelines with either ICI-ICI or ICI-VEGFR TKI. However, no head-to-head comparison have been performed between the 2 approaches and patients are treated based on physician decision without clinical /biomarker factors to guide treatment selection. PDL1 staining is, to date, the biomarker that has demonstrated its ability to enrich for overall survival benefit favoring ICI-ICI strategy in PDL1(+) and ICI-VEGFR TKI in PDL1(-) patients. Study design has been developed to demonstrate that ICI-ICI is superior to ICI-VEGFR TKI in prolonging Overall Survival (OS) for PDL1(+) patients and to demonstrate that ICI-VEGFR TKI is superior to ICI-ICI in prolonging Progression Free Survival (PFS) and OS for PDL1(-) patients.

What Stage of Research Is This?

Phase 3 trials confirm efficacy and safety in large patient groups (often 300–3,000+) and form the evidence base for an FDA approval submission. For Metastatic Kidney Cancer, Phase 3 studies typically randomize participants between the investigational treatment and either a placebo or current standard of care. A successful Phase 3 result is the threshold most treatments need to clear before regulatory approval.

This trial is currently recruiting participants. The sponsor has registered the study with ClinicalTrials.gov as actively enrolling, which means new applicants who meet the eligibility criteria can be considered for screening. Trial status can change between updates — confirm current recruiting status with the study contact before traveling for a screening visit.

A target enrollment of 1,250 participants makes this a sizable late-stage trial. Studies in this range typically have enough power to detect clinically meaningful differences from a comparator and to characterize less-common side effects.

Who May Be Eligible (Plain English)

Who May Qualify: 1. diagnosed by tissue sample (biopsy-confirmed) metastatic (AJCC Stage IV) renal cell carcinoma with a clear-cell component. 2. Intermediate- or poor-risk mRCC as defined by IMDC classification. 3. Adult male or female patients (≥ 18 years of age at inclusion). 4. Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) ≥70%. 5. Adequate organ and marrow function, according to investigator assessment and 1. Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 1000/μL (≥ 1.5 GI/L) 2. platelet count at least 100,000/μL (≥ 100 GI/L) 3. blood count (hemoglobin) at least 8 g/dL (≥ 80 g/L) 4. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) ≤ 5 x ULN. 5. Calculated kidney function (creatinine clearance) at least 30 mL/min (≥ 0.67 mL/sec) using the CKD- EPI equation 6. Patient should understand, sign, and date the written willing to sign a consent form form prior to any protocol-specific procedures performed. 7. Patient should be able and willing to comply with study visits and procedures as per protocol 8. Patients must be affiliated to a social security system or beneficiary of the same 9. Female patients must either be of non-reproductive potential or must have a negative serum pregnancy test within 14 days prior to the administration of study drug. Childbearing potential women must have agreed to use one barrier method of contraception, such as condom, plus an additional highly effective method of contraception during treatment on this trial and for up to 5 months after the last dose of study treatment. 10. Fertile men with a female partner of childbearing potential must agree to use one barrier method of contraception, such as condom, during treatment on this trial and for up to 4 months after the last dose of treatment. Their women of childbearing potential partner must agree to use a highly effective method of contraception during the same period. 11. Female subjects of childbearing potential must not be pregnant at screening. ...See full criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov Always talk to your doctor about whether this trial is right for you.

These are translations of the protocol\'s inclusion and exclusion criteria, simplified for patients and caregivers. The original clinical text appears below. Eligibility is ultimately confirmed by the trial site\'s screening process — this summary is a starting point for a conversation with your doctor, not a final determination.

Original Eligibility Criteria

View original clinical language
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Histologically confirmed metastatic (AJCC Stage IV) renal cell carcinoma with a clear-cell component. 2. Intermediate- or poor-risk mRCC as defined by IMDC classification. 3. Adult male or female patients (≥ 18 years of age at inclusion). 4. Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) ≥70%. 5. Adequate organ and marrow function, according to investigator assessment and 1. Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 1000/μL (≥ 1.5 GI/L) 2. Platelets ≥ 100,000/μL (≥ 100 GI/L) 3. Hemoglobin ≥ 8 g/dL (≥ 80 g/L) 4. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) ≤ 5 x ULN. 5. Calculated creatinine clearance ≥ 30 mL/min (≥ 0.67 mL/sec) using the CKD- EPI equation 6. Patient should understand, sign, and date the written informed consent form prior to any protocol-specific procedures performed. 7. Patient should be able and willing to comply with study visits and procedures as per protocol 8. Patients must be affiliated to a social security system or beneficiary of the same 9. Female patients must either be of non-reproductive potential or must have a negative serum pregnancy test within 14 days prior to the administration of study drug. Childbearing potential women must have agreed to use one barrier method of contraception, such as condom, plus an additional highly effective method of contraception during treatment on this trial and for up to 5 months after the last dose of study treatment. 10. Fertile men with a female partner of childbearing potential must agree to use one barrier method of contraception, such as condom, during treatment on this trial and for up to 4 months after the last dose of treatment. Their women of childbearing potential partner must agree to use a highly effective method of contraception during the same period. 11. Female subjects of childbearing potential must not be pregnant at screening. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Prior systemic anticancer therapy for mRCC including investigational agents. Note: One prior systemic adjuvant therapy is allowed for completely resected RCC and if recurrence occurred at least 6 months after the last dose of adjuvant therapy. 2. Uncontrolled brain metastases (adequately treated with radiotherapy and/or radiosurgery prior to randomization are eligible). Subjects who are neurologically symptomatic as a result of their CNS metastasis or are receiving systemic corticosteroid treatment (prednisone equivalent \> 10 mg/day) at the planned time of randomization are not eligible. 3. Concomitant oral anti-vitamin K anticoagulation. An exception is the use of LMWH or direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC), if considered safe by investigator assessment. 4. The subject has uncontrolled, significant intercurrent or recent illness such as the following conditions: a. Cardiovascular disorders: i. Congestive heart failure (CHF) class III or IV as defined by the New York Heart Association, unstable angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, serious cardiac arrhythmias (e.g., ventricular flutter, ventricular fibrillation, Torsades de pointes). ii. Uncontrolled hypertension despite optimal antihypertensive treatment. iii. Stroke, or other symptomatic ischemic event or severe thromboembolic event (e.g., symptomatic pulmonary embolism \[PE\], incidental PE is acceptable if deemed safe by the investigator) within 3 months before randomization. b. Active GI bleeding or symptomatic Gastrointestinal (GI) tract obstruction c. Clinically significant bleeding including uncontrolled hematuria, hematemesis, or hemoptysis d. Autoimmune disease that has been symptomatic or required immunosuppressive systemic treatment within the past two years from the date of randomization. Note: Patients with a history of Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis are always excluded e. Any condition requiring systemic treatment with either corticosteroids (\> 10 mg daily prednisone equivalent) or other immunosuppressive medications within 14 days of randomization. Note: Inhaled, intranasal, intra-articular, or topical steroids are permitted. Adrenal replacement steroid doses \> 10 mg daily prednisone equivalent are permitted. Transient short-term use of systemic corticosteroids for allergic conditions (e.g., contrast allergy) is also allowed. f. Active infection requiring systemic treatment. g. Major surgery (e.g., nephrectomy, GI surgery, removal of brain metastasis) within 4 weeks prior to randomization or serious non-healing wound/ulcer/bone fracture. 5. Pregnant or breastfeeding females. 6. Any other active malignancy at time of randomization or diagnosis of another malignancy within 3 years prior to randomization that requires active treatment, except for locally curable cancers that have been apparently cured. 7. Hypersensitivity to any of the active substances or to any of the excipients administered during the study 8. Use of live vaccines within 28 days before randomization 9. Persons deprived of their freedom or under guardianship, or for whom it would be impossible to undergo the medical follow-up required by the trial, for geographic, social or psychological reasons.

Treatments Being Tested

DRUG

Nivolumab

Briefly, nivolumab is administered as an approximately 30-minute (240mg every 2 weeks) or 60-minute (480mg every 4 weeks) IV infusion. Nivolumab is to be administered first. The nivolumab infusion must be promptly followed by a saline flush to clear the line of nivolumab before starting the ipilimumab infusion.

DRUG

Ipilimumab

The second infusion will always be ipilimumab and will start at least 30 minutes after completion of the nivolumab infusion. Ipilimumab is to be administered as an approximately 30-minute IV infusion. When administered together, nivolumab and ipilimumab will be administered on Day 1 of each 21-day cycle.

DRUG

Pembrolizumab

Pembrolizumab is to be administered as an approximately 30-minute IV infusion.

DRUG

Cabozantinib

Cabozantinib is a medication that is taken orally every day, once a day away from meals at the initial dose of 40 mg/day.

DRUG

Axitinib

Axitinib is a medication that is taken orally every day, 2 times a day continuously, at the starting dose of 5mg x2/day.

DRUG

Lenvatinib

Lenvatinib is a medication that is taken orally every day, once a day at the initial dose of 20mg/day.

Locations (20)

Trial sites listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for this study. Site activation status can vary — confirm with the specific site before traveling for a screening visit.

Medical University of Vienna
Vienna, Austria
Masarykův onkologický ústav, Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute (MOU)
Brno, Czechia
Fakultní nemocnice Hradec Králová, University Hospital Hradec Kralove (FNHK)
Hradec Králové, Czechia
Fakultní nemocnice Olomouc, University Hospital Olomouc (FNOL)
Olomouc, Czechia
Fakultní nemocnice v Motole, University Hospital Motol (MOTOL)
Prague, Czechia
Institut de Cancérologie de l'Ouest - Angers
Angers, France
CHU Angers
Angers, France
Institut Sainte Catherine
Avignon, France
CH de la Côte Basque
Bayonne, France
Hôpital Jean Minjoz
Besançon, France
CHU de Bordeaux Hôpital Saint-André
Bordeaux, France
Centre François Baclesse
Caen, France
CH Châlon Sur Saône
Chalon-sur-Saône, France
Centre Jean Perrin
Clermont-Ferrand, France
Hôpital Henri Mondor
Créteil, France
Centre Georges-François Leclerc
Dijon, France
CHU Grenoble
Grenoble, France
CHD Vendée
La Roche-sur-Yon, France
Centre Oscar Lambret
Lille, France
Polyclinique de Limoges
Limoges, France

How to Talk to Your Doctor About This Trial

Bring the printable summary of this trial — including the NCT ID (NCT06364631), the sponsor (Gustave Roussy, Cancer Campus, Grand Paris), and the key eligibility criteria — to your next appointment. Your doctor can review the inclusion and exclusion criteria against your medical history, lab values, and current treatments to assess whether you are likely to qualify. They can also help you weigh whether trial participation makes sense alongside your existing care plan.

Useful questions to walk through together: What does the trial protocol require beyond standard care? How long is the active treatment phase, and how long is follow-up? Are there study visits at sites I can reach? Who pays for the trial-specific procedures, and who pays for standard-of-care portions? See our 25 questions to ask about clinical trials guide for a more complete checklist.

Authoritative Sources

The official record for this trial lives on ClinicalTrials.gov — the federal registry maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. For background on how this trial fits into the FDA approval pathway, see the FDA drug approval process. For oncology-specific guidance for patients considering trials, the National Cancer Institute publishes patient-oriented overviews. International trial registries are aggregated by the WHO ICTRP.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the NCT06364631 clinical trial studying?

Systemic therapy for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) relies on 2 classes of agents: anti-angiogenic targeted therapy (Vascular endothelial growth factor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor- VEGFR TKI) and immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI), targeting either PD1/PDL1 axis or CTLA4. Combination therapy is SOC for clear cell RCC in all guidelines with either ICI-ICI or ICI-VEGFR TKI. However, no head-to-head comparison have been performed between the 2 approaches and patients are treated based on physician decision without clinical /biomarker factors to guide treatment selection. PDL1 staining is, to date, the b… The full protocol is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and includes the primary outcome measures, eligibility criteria, and study endpoints.

Who can participate in NCT06364631?

Eligibility for this trial depends on the specific inclusion and exclusion criteria set by the sponsor. The plain-English summary above translates the most important criteria into accessible language; the official clinical text is preserved in the collapsible section underneath. Whether you fit any specific trial is a medical decision your doctor needs to confirm — bring the trial information to your treating physician for a full review against your medical history.

How do I contact the trial site for NCT06364631?

Contact information registered with ClinicalTrials.gov is shown in the sidebar of this page. Before reaching out, confirm with your treating physician that this trial is appropriate for your situation. The trial site will then walk you through the screening process to determine final eligibility.

Is participating in a clinical trial safe?

Clinical trials in the United States are regulated by the FDA and overseen by Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) that review the protocol for safety. Risk varies by trial — Phase 1 studies test new treatments in humans for the first time, while Phase 3 trials use treatments that have already passed earlier safety screening. The informed consent document for any specific trial details the known risks and what to expect. Discuss those risks with your physician before deciding whether to participate.

Where can I verify the data on this page?

Every detail on this page comes directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API. Click "View on ClinicalTrials.gov" in the sidebar to see the official, unmodified record. The federal record is always authoritative; this page is a structured presentation with a plain-English eligibility translation. For background on how clinical trials are regulated, see the FDA drug approval process documentation.

How This Page Is Built

Every field on this page is pulled directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 — no estimates, no proxies. The plain-English eligibility translation is generated from the original protocol text and reviewed for fidelity to the underlying clinical criteria. The original clinical text remains visible in the collapsible section above so users and clinicians can verify the translation. Read the full methodology for the data pipeline and known limitations.

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 record for NCT06364631. Maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. Public domain. Cite as: "TrialFinderData. NCT06364631. Data: ClinicalTrials.gov."

Medical disclaimer: This page is informational, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.

Last updated 2026-06-26 · Data from ClinicalTrials.gov.