Skip to main content
TTrialFinderData
TrialFinderData is for informational purposes only and does not provide medical advice. Always talk to your doctor.

Updated May 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov

RECRUITINGPhase 2INTERVENTIONAL

Neoadjuvant Zanzalintinib Plus Nivolumab in Patients With Locally Advanced and/or Inoperable Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma With or Without Non-measurable Metastasis

A Phase II, Open-label, Single-arm Study of nEoadjuvant Zanzalintinib (XL092) Plus nivoLumab in Patients With lOcally Advanced and/or inopeRable clEar Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma With or Without Non-measurable Metastasis (EXPLORE-RCC)

Neoadjuvant Zanzalintinib Plus Nivolumab in Patients With Locally Advanced and/or Inoperable Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma With or Without Non-measurable Metastasis (NCT06794229) is a Phase 2 interventional studying Locally Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma, sponsored by Qian Qin. 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

All subjects will receive zanzalintinib 100mg orally (PO) once daily plus nivolumab standard of care dosing (i.e., 240mg IV every 2 weeks or 480mg IV every 4 weeks) for a total of 12 weeks, followed by restaging scan/evaluation for surgical operability and an adaptive approach that includes (1) surgical resection if the participant is eligible for surgery (Cohort A), (2) up to 48 weeks total (from Cycle 1 Day 1) of zanzalintinib plus nivolumab if the participant has partial response or stable disease but remains inoperable (Cohort B1), or (3) stopping protocol mandated treatment to receive standard of care systemic therapy and continue follow up per protocol if the participant has disease progression (Cohort B2).

What Stage of Research Is This?

Phase 2 trials evaluate whether a treatment actually works against Locally Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma and continue monitoring side effects. Phase 2 enrolls larger groups (typically 100–300 patients) and produces the first real efficacy signal. A successful Phase 2 readout is what unlocks the much larger Phase 3 confirmatory trials needed for FDA 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.

Target enrollment of 69 participants puts this in the typical range for a Phase 2-style efficacy study or a moderate Phase 3 trial in a focused Locally Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma subpopulation. At this scale, the study has enough statistical power to detect a clear treatment effect but is not the largest cohort in the field.

Who May Be Eligible (Plain English)

Who May Qualify: 1. Written willing to sign a consent form and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) authorization for release of personal health information prior to registration. NOTE: HIPAA authorization may be included in the willing to sign a consent form or obtained separately. 2. Age ≥ 18 years at the time of consent. 3. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Status of ≤ 1 within 30 days prior to registration. 4. diagnosed by tissue sample (biopsy-confirmed) (i.e., tissue from primary kidney tumor of interest) diagnosis of clear cell renal cell carcinoma with or without sarcomatoid features. NOTE: biopsy should be performed at least 5 days before the first dose of study treatment and must be completely healed before dosing. 5. Locally advanced (cT3/T4, N0-1) OR deemed surgically inoperable (per surgeon discretion based on factors including but not limited to surgical challenge and/or medical co-morbidities, such as renal functional reserve). Satisfying either of the criteria allows for enrollment. 6. Non-measurable soft tissue metastasis with longest diameter \< 10mm or pathological lymph nodes \< 15 mm in short axis are allowed. 7. Recovery to baseline or Grade ≤ 1 severity (CTCAE v5) from adverse events (AEs) related to any prior treatments, unless AE(s) are clinically nonsignificant and/or stable on supportive therapy (eg, physiological replacement of corticosteroid). Low-grade or controlled toxicities such as alopecia, Grade ≤ 2 hypomagnesemia, Grade ≤ 2 neuropathy are permitted). 8. Adequate organ and marrow function, based upon meeting all the following laboratory criteria within 30 days before first dose of study treatment: - Platelets (Plt): ≥ 100,000 /mm3; without transfusion within 2 weeks of screening laboratory sample collection - Absolute Neutrophil Count (ANC): ≥ 1500 K/mm3; without granulocyte colony-stimulating factor support within 2 weeks of screening laboratory sample collection ...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. Written informed consent and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) authorization for release of personal health information prior to registration. NOTE: HIPAA authorization may be included in the informed consent or obtained separately. 2. Age ≥ 18 years at the time of consent. 3. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Status of ≤ 1 within 30 days prior to registration. 4. Histologically confirmed (i.e., tissue from primary kidney tumor of interest) diagnosis of clear cell renal cell carcinoma with or without sarcomatoid features. NOTE: biopsy should be performed at least 5 days before the first dose of study treatment and must be completely healed before dosing. 5. Locally advanced (cT3/T4, N0-1) OR deemed surgically inoperable (per surgeon discretion based on factors including but not limited to surgical challenge and/or medical co-morbidities, such as renal functional reserve). Satisfying either of the criteria allows for enrollment. 6. Non-measurable soft tissue metastasis with longest diameter \< 10mm or pathological lymph nodes \< 15 mm in short axis are allowed. 7. Recovery to baseline or Grade ≤ 1 severity (CTCAE v5) from adverse events (AEs) related to any prior treatments, unless AE(s) are clinically nonsignificant and/or stable on supportive therapy (eg, physiological replacement of corticosteroid). Low-grade or controlled toxicities such as alopecia, Grade ≤ 2 hypomagnesemia, Grade ≤ 2 neuropathy are permitted). 8. Adequate organ and marrow function, based upon meeting all the following laboratory criteria within 30 days before first dose of study treatment: * Platelets (Plt): ≥ 100,000 /mm3; without transfusion within 2 weeks of screening laboratory sample collection * Absolute Neutrophil Count (ANC): ≥ 1500 K/mm3; without granulocyte colony-stimulating factor support within 2 weeks of screening laboratory sample collection * Hemoglobin (Hgb): ≥ 9 g/dL; without transfusion within 2 weeks of screening laboratory sample collection * Creatinine OR Calculated creatinine clearance: ≤ 1.5 x ULN OR ≥ 40 mL/min * Urine protein-to-creatinine ratio (UPCR): ≤ 1.5 mg/mg (≤ 169.8 mg/mmol) creatinine * Total bilirubin: ≤ 1.5 × upper limit of normal (ULN); for subjects with Gilbert's disease ≤ 3 x ULN * Aspartate aminotransferase (AST): ≤ 3× ULN * Alanine aminotransferase (ALT): ≤ 3 × ULN * Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP): ≤ 3 × ULN 9. Females of childbearing potential must have a negative urine or serum pregnancy test within 48 hours of Cycle 1 Day 1. If a urine test is done and it is positive or cannot be confirmed as negative, a serum pregnancy test will be required. Female subjects are considered to be of childbearing potential unless one of the following criteria is met: permanent sterilization (hysterectomy, bilateral salpingectomy, or bilateral oophorectomy) or documented postmenopausal status (defined as 12 months of amenorrhea in a woman \> 45 years-of-age in the absence of other biological or physiological causes. For females \< 55 years old, confirmation of menopausal status is per institutional standards. NOTE: documentation may include review of medical records, medical examination, or medical history interview by study site staff. 10. Females of childbearing potential who are sexually active with a male able to father a child must be willing to abstain from penile-vaginal intercourse or must use an effective method(s) of contraception. Males able to father a child who are sexually active with a female of childbearing potential must be willing to abstain from penile-vaginal intercourse or use an effective method(s) of contraception. 11. As determined by the enrolling physician or protocol designee, ability of the subject to understand and comply with study procedures for the entire length of the study. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Non-clear cell histology. 2. Measurable metastatic disease per RECIST 1.1 criteria and other non-measurable lesions including bone metastasis, leptomeningeal disease, lymphangitic involvement of lung or skin, pathologically confirmed-malignant ascites/pleural/pericardial effusion. 3. Prior systemic therapy, including zanzalintinib, nivolumab and other vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (VEGFR-TKIs)/immune checkpoint inhibitors(IOs), for the treatment of renal cell carcinoma. 4. Prior surgery and/or radiation to the primary renal cell carcinoma tumor of interest. NOTE: prior surgery and/or radiation to other areas of the kidney (i.e., prior small kidney tumor resection or radiation) is allowed if \> 4 weeks before first dose of study treatment. 5. Concomitant anticoagulation with oral anticoagulants (eg, warfarin, direct thrombin inhibitors) and platelet inhibitors (eg, clopidogrel). NOTE: For prohibited anticoagulants, subjects must have discontinued the anticoagulant within 3 days or 5 half-lives prior to first dose of study treatment, whichever is longer. Allowed anticoagulants are the following: * Prophylactic use of low-dose aspirin for cardio-protection (per local applicable guidelines) and low-dose low molecular weight heparins (LMWH). * Therapeutic doses of LMWH or anticoagulation with direct factor Xa inhibitors rivaroxaban, edoxaban, or apixaban in subjects without known brain metastases who are on a stable dose of the anticoagulant for at least 1 week before first dose of study treatment without clinically significant hemorrhagic complications from the anticoagulation regimen. 6. Use of any complementary medications (eg, herbal supplements or traditional Chinese medicines) to treat the disease under study within 2 weeks before first dose of study treatment. 7. The subject has uncontrolled, significant intercurrent or recent illness including, but not limited to, the following conditions: * Unstable or deteriorating cardiovascular disorders: * Congestive heart failure New York Heart Association Class 3 or 4, class 2 or higher, unstable angina pectoris, new-onset angina, serious cardiac arrhythmias (eg, ventricular flutter, ventricular fibrillation, Torsades de pointes) * Uncontrolled hypertension defined as sustained blood pressure (BP) \> 140 mm Hg systolic or \> 90 mm Hg diastolic despite optimal antihypertensive treatment * Stroke (including transient ischemic attack \[TIA\]), myocardial infarction, or other clinically significant arterial thrombotic and/or ischemic event within 6 months before first dose of study treatment * Pulmonary embolism (PE) or deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or prior clinically significant venous or non-CVA/TIA arterial thromboembolic events within 3 months before to first dose of study treatment NOTE: Subjects with a diagnosis of DVT within 6 months are allowed if asymptomatic and stable at screening and are on stable dose of the anticoagulant for at least 1 week before first dose of study treatment without clinically significant hemorrhagic complications from the anticoagulation regimen. NOTE: Subjects who don't require prior anticoagulation therapy may be eligible but must be discussed and approved by the Principal Investigator. * Prior history of myocarditis * Gastrointestinal (GI) disorders including those associated with a high risk of perforation or fistula formation: * Tumors invading the GI-tract from external viscera * Active peptic ulcer disease, inflammatory bowel disease, diverticulitis, cholecystitis, symptomatic cholangitis or appendicitis, or acute pancreatitis * Acute obstruction of the bowel, gastric outlet, or pancreatic or biliary duct within 6 months before first dose unless cause of obstruction is definitively managed and subject is asymptomatic * Abdominal fistula, GI perforation, bowel obstruction, or intra-abdominal abscess within 6 months before first dose. Note: Complete healing of an intra-abdominal abscess must be confirmed before first dose of study treatment. * Known gastric or esophageal varices * Ascites, pleural effusion, or pericardial fluid requiring drainage in last 4 weeks 8. Clinically significant hematuria, hematemesis, or hemoptysis of \> 0.5 teaspoon (2.5 ml) of red blood, or other history of significant bleeding (eg, pulmonary hemorrhage) within 12 weeks before first dose of study treatment. 9. Symptomatic cavitating pulmonary lesion(s) or endobronchial disease (asymptomatic or radiated lesions allowed). 10. Lesions invading a major blood vessel. NOTE: Subjects with intravascular tumor extension (eg, tumor thrombus in renal vein or inferior vena cava) are eligible. 11. Active infection requiring systemic treatment. NOTE: Prophylactic antimicrobial treatments (antibiotics, antimycotic, antiviral) are allowed. 12. Known infection with acute or chronic hepatitis B or C. 13. Known human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related illness except for subjects meeting all the following criteria: (1) on stable anti-retroviral therapy (ART); (2) CD4+ T cell count ≥ 200/µL; and (3) an undetectable viral load. NOTE: To be eligible, subjects taking CYP inhibitors (eg, zidovudine, ritonavir, cobicistat, didanosine) or CYP3 inducers (efavirenz) must change to a different regimen not including these drugs at least 7 days prior to initiation of study treatment. ART must have been received for at least 4 weeks prior to the first dose. NOTE: CD4+ T cell counts, and viral load are monitored per standard of care by the local health care provider. 14. Serious non-healing wound/ulcer/bone fracture. 15. Malabsorption syndrome. 16. Pharmacologically uncompensated, symptomatic hypothyroidism. 17. Moderate to severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh B or C). 18. Requirement for hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis. 19. History of solid organ or allogeneic stem cell transplant. 20. Major surgery (as defined in Appendix A) within 8 weeks prior to first dose of study treatment. Prior laparoscopic surgeries (ie nephrectomy) within 4 weeks prior to first dose of study treatment. Minor surgery (eg, simple excision, tooth extraction) within 5 days before first dose of study treatment. Complete wound healing from major or minor surgery must have occurred at least prior to first dose of study treatment. NOTE: Tumor biopsies should be performed at least 5 days before the first dose of study treatment. Subjects with clinically relevant ongoing complications from prior surgical procedures, including biopsies, are not eligible. 21. QTc calculated by the Fridericia formula \> 480 ms within 14 days per electrocardiogram (ECG) before first dose of study treatment. NOTE: Triplicate ECG evaluations will be performed at screening and the average of these 3 consecutive results for QTc will be used to determine eligibility. 22. History of psychiatric illness likely to interfere with ability to comply with protocol requirements or give informed consent. 23. Pregnant or lactating females. 24. Inability to swallow tablets or ingest a suspension either orally or by a nasogastric (NG) or gastrostomy (PEG) tube. 25. Previously identified allergy or hypersensitivity to components of the study treatment formulations. 26. Another malignancy that requires active therapy and in the opinion of the Investigator would interfere with monitoring of radiologic assessments of response to study treatment within 2 years before first dose of study treatment. Superficial skin cancers, or localized, low grade tumors deemed cured and not treated with systemic therapy are allowed. Incidentally diagnosed prostate cancer is allowed if assessed as stage ≤ T2N0M0 and Gleason score ≤ 6. 27. Other conditions, which in the opinion of the Investigator, would compromise the safety of the subject or the subject's ability to complete the study. 28. Any active, known or suspected autoimmune disease. NOTE: Subjects with type I diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism only requiring hormone replacement, skin disorders (such as vitiligo, psoriasis, or alopecia) not requiring systemic treatment, or conditions not expected to recur in the absence of an external trigger are permitted to enroll. 29. Known positive test for tuberculosis infection if supported by clinical or radiographic evidence of disease. 30. History of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, organizing pneumonia (eg, bronchiolitis obliterans), drug induced pneumonitis, idiopathic pneumonitis, or evidence of active pneumonitis on screening chest computed tomography (CT) scan. History of radiation pneumonitis in the radiation field (fibrosis) is permitted. 31. Known free thyroxine (FT4) outside the laboratory normal reference range. Asymptomatic subjects with FT4 abnormalities can be eligible after sponsor-investigator approval. 32. Diagnosis of immunodeficiency or is receiving systemic steroid therapy (\> 10 mg daily prednisone equivalent) or any other form of immunosuppressive therapy within 2 weeks prior to first dose of study treatment. Inhaled, intranasal, intraarticular, and topical corticosteroids and mineralocorticoids are allowed. NOTE: Adrenal replacement steroid doses \> 10 mg daily prednisone equivalent are permitted in the absence of active autoimmune disease. Transient short-term use of higher doses of systemic corticosteroids for allergic conditions (eg, contrast allergy) is also allowed. 33. Administration of a live, attenuated vaccine within 30 days before first dose of study treatment.

Treatments Being Tested

DRUG

Zanzalintinib

Zanzalintinib 100mg orally (PO) once daily for 12 weeks up (all subjects) and up to 48 weeks from Cycle 1 Day 1 (Cohort B1)

DRUG

Nivolumab

Nivolumab will be administered at either 240mg IV every 2 weeks or 480mg IV 4 every weeks for 12 weeks (all subjects) and up to 48 weeks from Cycle 1 Day 1 (Cohort B1).

Locations (1)

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.

University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Dallas, Texas, United States

How to Talk to Your Doctor About This Trial

Bring the printable summary of this trial — including the NCT ID (NCT06794229), the sponsor (Qian Qin), 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 NCT06794229 clinical trial studying?

All subjects will receive zanzalintinib 100mg orally (PO) once daily plus nivolumab standard of care dosing (i.e., 240mg IV every 2 weeks or 480mg IV every 4 weeks) for a total of 12 weeks, followed by restaging scan/evaluation for surgical operability and an adaptive approach that includes (1) surgical resection if the participant is eligible for surgery (Cohort A), (2) up to 48 weeks total (from Cycle 1 Day 1) of zanzalintinib plus nivolumab if the participant has partial response or stable disease but remains inoperable (Cohort B1), or (3) stopping protocol mandated treatment to receive sta… The full protocol is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and includes the primary outcome measures, eligibility criteria, and study endpoints.

Who can participate in NCT06794229?

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 NCT06794229?

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 NCT06794229. Maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. Public domain. Cite as: "TrialFinderData. NCT06794229. 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 2026-05-08 · Data from ClinicalTrials.gov.