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NCT03141177: CheckMate 9ER

A Study of Nivolumab Combined With Cabozantinib Compared to Sunitinib in Previously Untreated Advanced or Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma

Active, enrolled Phase 3 Results posted Last updated 6 June 2025
What this trial tests

Phase 3 trial testing Nivolumab in Renal Cell Carcinoma in 701 participants. Participants enrolled and being followed up; not accepting new ones.

Timeline
23 July 2017
Primary endpoint
12 February 2020
16 January 2026

Quick facts

Lead sponsorBristol-Myers Squibb
PhasePhase 3
StatusActive, enrolled
Study typeINTERVENTIONAL
Allocationrandomized
Designparallel
Maskingnone
Primary purposetreatment
Enrollment701
Start date23 July 2017
Primary completion12 February 2020
Estimated completion16 January 2026
Sites135 locations across Italy, Japan, Russia, Greece, Chile, United Kingdom, Germany, Israel

Drugs / interventions tested

Conditions studied

Sponsor

Bristol-Myers Squibb — full company profile →

Who can join

18 and older, any sex, with Renal Cell Carcinoma. Patients with the condition only — healthy volunteers not accepted.

Results — posted to ClinicalTrials.gov

Per-arm endpoint measurements with 95% confidence intervals where reported. Source: trial results section.

Progression Free Survival (PFS) Primary · From randomization date to date of first documented tumor progression or death, whichever occurs first (Up to 31 months)

PFS is defined as the time from date of randomization to the first documented tumor progression date or death due to any cause, whichever occurs first based on BICR assessment using RECIST v1.1. Participants who die without a reported progression will be considered to have progressed on the date of their death. Participants who did not progress or die will be censored on the date of their last evaluable tumor assessment on or prior to initiation of subsequent anti-cancer therapy. Progressive disease (PD); 20% increase in the sum of diameters of target lesions, taking as reference the smallest

GroupValue95% CI
Treatment A16.5912.45 – 24.94
Treatment C8.316.97 – 9.69
Overall Survival (OS) Secondary · From randomization date to death date (Up to 31 months)

Overall Survival is defined as the time between the date of randomization and the date of death due to any cause. For participants that are alive, their survival time will be censored at the date of last contact date (or "last known alive date").

GroupValue95% CI
Treatment ANANA – NA
Treatment CNA22.6 – NA
Objective Response Rate (ORR) Secondary · Up to 31 Months

Objective Response Rate (ORR) is defined as the percentage of randomized participants who achieve a best response of confirmed complete response (CR) or confirmed partial response (PR) based on BICR assessments (using RECIST v1.1 criteria) divided by the number of all randomized participants. Complete response (CR): Disappearance of all target lesions. Partial response (PR): 30% decrease in the sum of diameters of target lesions.

GroupValue95% CI
Treatment A55.750.1 – 61.2
Treatment B44.030.0 – 58.7
Treatment C27.122.4 – 32.3
Number of Participants Experiencing Adverse Events (AEs) Secondary · From first dose to 100 days following last dose (Up to 32 Months)

Number of participants experiencing various types of any grade adverse events (AEs) during the specified time frame.

GroupValue95% CI
Treatment A319
Treatment B50
Treatment C317
Number of Participants Experiencing Serious Adverse Events (SAEs) Secondary · From first to dose to 100 days following last dose (Up to 32 months)

Number of participants experiencing various types of any grade serious adverse events (SAEs) during the specified time frame.

GroupValue95% CI
Treatment A160
Treatment B28
Treatment C144
Number of Participants Experiencing Adverse Events (AEs) Leading to Discontinuation Secondary · From first dose to 30 days following last dose (Up to 30 months)

Number of participants experiencing various types of any grade adverse events (AEs) leading to discontinuation during the specified time frame.

GroupValue95% CI
Treatment A63
Treatment B15
Treatment C54
Number of Deaths Secondary · From first dose to (up to 31 months) following first dose

Number of deaths due to any cause during the specified time frame.

GroupValue95% CI
Treatment A67
Treatment B14
Treatment C99
Number of Participants With Laboratory Abnormalities Secondary · From first dose to 30 days following last dose (Up to 30 Months)

Number of participants experiencing laboratory abnormalities in hematology, serum chemistry and electrolytes with grade 3 or higher during the specified time frame.

Hemoglobin: Any grade
GroupValue95% CI
Treatment A235
Treatment B35
Treatment C256
Hemoglobin: Grade 3-4
GroupValue95% CI
Treatment A9
Treatment B5
Treatment C15
Platelet Count: Any grade
GroupValue95% CI
Treatment A137
Treatment B27
Treatment C216
Platelet Count: Grade 3-4
GroupValue95% CI
Treatment A1
Treatment B0
Treatment C30
Leukocytes: Any grade
GroupValue95% CI
Treatment A121
Treatment B26
Treatment C207
Leukocytes: Grade 3-4
GroupValue95% CI
Treatment A1
Treatment B0
Treatment C16
Lymphocytes: Any grade
GroupValue95% CI
Treatment A107
Treatment B22
Treatment C118
Lymphocytes: Grade 3-4
GroupValue95% CI
Treatment A16
Treatment B4
Treatment C24
Number of Participants With Laboratory Values Grade Shifting From Baseline Secondary · From first dose to 30 days following last dose (Up to 30 Months)

Number of participants experiencing worsening shift from baseline in any grade and grade 3-4 of laboratory values during the specified time frame.

Hemoglobin: Any grade
GroupValue95% CI
Treatment A117
Treatment B23
Treatment C190
Hemoglobin: Grade 3-4
GroupValue95% CI
Treatment A8
Treatment B5
Treatment C15
Platelet Count: Any grade
GroupValue95% CI
Treatment A129
Treatment B24
Treatment C216
Platelet Count: Grade 3-4
GroupValue95% CI
Treatment A2
Treatment B0
Treatment C30
Leukocytes: Any grade
GroupValue95% CI
Treatment A116
Treatment B26
Treatment C206
Leukocytes: Grade 3-4
GroupValue95% CI
Treatment A1
Treatment B0
Treatment C16
Lymphocytes: Any grade
GroupValue95% CI
Treatment A95
Treatment B20
Treatment C102
Lymphocytes: Grade 3-4
GroupValue95% CI
Treatment A15
Treatment B4
Treatment C23

Adverse events — posted to ClinicalTrials.gov

Time frame: All cause mortality: From first visit to up to 31 months following first visit SAEs and AEs: From first dose to 100 days following last dose (up to 32 months). Reporting threshold: 5%. Adverse-event reports describe events observed during the trial — not all are caused by the drug.

Treatment A
Serious: 160/320 (50%)
Deaths: 67/320
Treatment B
Serious: 28/50 (56%)
Deaths: 14/50
Treatment C
Serious: 144/320 (45%)
Deaths: 99/320

Serious adverse events (259 terms)

ReactionSystemTreatment ATreatment BTreatment C
Malignant neoplasm progressionNeoplasms benign, malignant and unspecified (incl cysts and polyps)
DiarrhoeaGastrointestinal disorders
AnaemiaBlood and lymphatic system disorders
PneumoniaInfections and infestations
Pleural effusionRespiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders
PneumonitisRespiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders
Pulmonary embolismRespiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders
Respiratory failureRespiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders
Urinary tract infectionInfections and infestations
HyponatraemiaMetabolism and nutrition disorders
Adrenal insufficiencyEndocrine disorders
PainGeneral disorders
Acute kidney injuryRenal and urinary disorders
VomitingGastrointestinal disorders
PyrexiaGeneral disorders
Abdominal painGastrointestinal disorders
SepsisInfections and infestations
HypercalcaemiaMetabolism and nutrition disorders
Back painMusculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders
Neoplasm progressionNeoplasms benign, malignant and unspecified (incl cysts and polyps)
ThrombocytopeniaBlood and lymphatic system disorders
Atrial fibrillationCardiac disorders
Cardiac arrestCardiac disorders
StomatitisGastrointestinal disorders
Decreased appetiteMetabolism and nutrition disorders
Other adverse events (94 terms — click to expand)

ReactionSystemTreatment ATreatment BTreatment C
DiarrhoeaGastrointestinal disorders
Palmar-plantar erythrodysaesthesia syndromeSkin and subcutaneous tissue disorders
HypertensionVascular disorders
FatigueGeneral disorders
HypothyroidismEndocrine disorders
NauseaGastrointestinal disorders
Decreased appetiteMetabolism and nutrition disorders
Alanine aminotransferase increasedInvestigations
AnaemiaBlood and lymphatic system disorders
StomatitisGastrointestinal disorders
Aspartate aminotransferase increasedInvestigations
Mucosal inflammationGeneral disorders
DysgeusiaNervous system disorders
AstheniaGeneral disorders
RashSkin and subcutaneous tissue disorders
VomitingGastrointestinal disorders
ThrombocytopeniaBlood and lymphatic system disorders
Platelet count decreasedInvestigations
PruritusSkin and subcutaneous tissue disorders
ArthralgiaMusculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders
CoughRespiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders
Back painMusculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders
DysphoniaRespiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders
Lipase increasedInvestigations
NeutropeniaBlood and lymphatic system disorders
Abdominal painGastrointestinal disorders
HeadacheNervous system disorders
Amylase increasedInvestigations
HyponatraemiaMetabolism and nutrition disorders
HypophosphataemiaMetabolism and nutrition disorders
HypomagnesaemiaMetabolism and nutrition disorders
Blood creatinine increasedInvestigations
ConstipationGastrointestinal disorders
DyspepsiaGastrointestinal disorders
PyrexiaGeneral disorders
Muscle spasmsMusculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders
Blood alkaline phosphatase increasedInvestigations
Gastrooesophageal reflux diseaseGastrointestinal disorders
Weight decreasedInvestigations
Oedema peripheralGeneral disorders

Most-reported serious reactions: Malignant neoplasm progression, Diarrhoea, Anaemia, Pneumonia, Pleural effusion, Pneumonitis, Pulmonary embolism, Respiratory failure.

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03141177 adverse events section.

Sponsor's own description

The purpose of this study is to determine whether Nivolumab Combined with Cabozantinib is safe and effective compared to Sunitinib in previously untreated advanced or metastatic renal cell carcinoma

Publications & conference data

8 peer-reviewed publications reference this trial (live from Europe PMC):

  1. Nivolumab plus Cabozantinib versus Sunitinib for Advanced Renal-Cell Carcinoma.
    Choueiri TK, Powles T, Burotto M, Escudier B, et al · · 2021 · cited 1297× · PMID 33657295 · DOI 10.1056/nejmoa2026982
  2. Combination strategies with PD-1/PD-L1 blockade: current advances and future directions.
    Yi M, Zheng X, Niu M, Zhu S, et al · · 2022 · cited 1018× · PMID 35062949 · DOI 10.1186/s12943-021-01489-2
  3. Angiogenic signaling pathways and anti-angiogenic therapy for cancer.
    Liu ZL, Chen HH, Zheng LL, Sun LP, et al · · 2023 · cited 808× · PMID 37169756 · DOI 10.1038/s41392-023-01460-1
  4. Combination of anti-angiogenic therapy and immune checkpoint blockade normalizes vascular-immune crosstalk to potentiate cancer immunity.
    Lee WS, Yang H, Chon HJ, Kim C. · · 2020 · cited 534× · PMID 32913278 · DOI 10.1038/s12276-020-00500-y
  5. Clear cell renal cell carcinoma ontogeny and mechanisms of lethality.
    Jonasch E, Walker CL, Rathmell WK. · · 2021 · cited 482× · PMID 33144689 · DOI 10.1038/s41581-020-00359-2
  6. Pathological angiogenesis: mechanisms and therapeutic strategies.
    Dudley AC, Griffioen AW. · · 2023 · cited 289× · PMID 37060495 · DOI 10.1007/s10456-023-09876-7
  7. Nivolumab plus cabozantinib versus sunitinib in first-line treatment for advanced renal cell carcinoma (CheckMate 9ER): long-term follow-up results from an open-label, randomised, phase 3 trial.
    Motzer RJ, Powles T, Burotto M, Escudier B, et al · · 2022 · cited 238× · PMID 35688173 · DOI 10.1016/s1470-2045(22)00290-x
  8. Augmenting Anticancer Immunity Through Combined Targeting of Angiogenic and PD-1/PD-L1 Pathways: Challenges and Opportunities.
    Hack SP, Zhu AX, Wang Y. · · 2020 · cited 223× · PMID 33250900 · DOI 10.3389/fimmu.2020.598877

Verify or expand the search:

Other trials of Nivolumab

Trials testing the same drug.

Other recruiting trials for Renal Cell Carcinoma

Currently open trials in the same condition.

Other Bristol-Myers Squibb trials

Trials by the same sponsor.

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Data sources for this page

Drug Landscape aggregates and links these public records for informational use only. Always verify against the primary source before clinical or regulatory decisions. Canonical URL: https://druglandscape.com/trial/NCT03141177.

Primary sources · FDA · ClinicalTrials.gov · EMA · SEC EDGAR · ChEMBL · Wikidata · full sourcing