A Study to Evaluate Pazopanib as an Adjuvant Treatment for Localized Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC) (PROTECT)
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01235962 |
Recruitment Status :
Completed
First Posted : November 7, 2010
Results First Posted : November 23, 2020
Last Update Posted : November 23, 2020
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Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
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Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC) Cancer | Drug: pazopanib Drug: placebo | Phase 3 |
The primary objective of this ongoing study was to evaluate DFS with pazopanib 600 mg daily initial dose as compared with placebo as adjuvant therapy for subjects with localized/locally advanced RCC following nephrectomy.
Subjects with locally recurrent renal cell carcinoma (RCC), bilateral RCC, or history of another malignancy were excluded from enrolling in the study.
The study was comprised of three successive study periods: 1) the Screening/Baseline period, 2) the study treatment period, and 3) the DFS /OS follow-up period. The Screening/Baseline period had a maximum duration of 12 weeks from the date of nephrectomy to the date of randomization.
After a subject met all the eligibility criteria and completed all the required baseline assessments, the subject was randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive once daily blinded treatment with either pazopanib 600 mg as initial dose or matching placebo based on pre-defined stratification factors.
Subjects received continuous daily treatment until completion of the 12-month treatment period, disease recurrence, or unacceptable toxicity/intolerance. Subsequent adjuvant therapies for RCC were not allowed. During the study treatment and DFS follow-up periods, subjects received routine safety and efficacy assessments.
The study treatment period was 12 months. Subjects received continuous daily treatment until completion of the 12 month treatment period, disease recurrence, or unacceptable toxicity/intolerance. Subsequent adjuvant therapies for RCC were not allowed.
All subjects, regardless of study treatment status (i.e. premature discontinuation or completion of the 12-month treatment), were to be followed with routine imaging assessments and remain blinded until objective evidence of disease recurrence was obtained or until the study achieved the required number of events for the primary endpoint of DFS (319 events). After objective evidence of disease recurrence was obtained, subjects could be unblinded and received the first-line treatment for metastatic RCC per local standard of care.
All subjects were off treatment for at least 4 years at the end of study.
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Actual Enrollment : | 1538 participants |
Allocation: | Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Parallel Assignment |
Masking: | Quadruple (Participant, Care Provider, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor) |
Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
Official Title: | A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Phase III Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Pazopanib as Adjuvant Therapy for Subjects With Localized or Locally Advanced RCC Following Nephrectomy |
Actual Study Start Date : | November 30, 2010 |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | October 15, 2015 |
Actual Study Completion Date : | April 15, 2019 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
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Experimental: pazopanib
Pazopanib oral agent, administered at 600 mg daily initial dose for 8-12 weeks. Dose can be escalated to 800 mg daily based on safety evaluation. Complete treatment is 12 months. Dose can be reduced, interrupted or discontinued due to adverse events or intolerance.
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Drug: pazopanib
Pazopanib monohydrochloride salt was supplied as aqueous, film-coated tablets containing 200 mg of the free base. The 200 mg tablets were oval-shaped and white in color.
Other Name: PZP034 Drug: pazopanib Pazopanib 600 mg daily initial dose for 8-12 weeks, dose can be escalated to 800 mg daily based on safety evaluation.
Other Name: Votrient |
Placebo Comparator: placebo
placebo matching pazopanib 200 mg tablets, administered at 600 mg daily initial dose for 8-12 weeks. Dose can be escalated to 800 mg daily based on safety evaluation. Complete treatment is 12 months. Dose can be reduced, interrupted or discontinued due to adverse events or intolerance.
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Drug: placebo
Placebo matching pazopanib was supplied as aqueous, film-coated tablets containing 200 mg of the free base. The 200 mg tablets were oval-shaped and white in color. Drug: placebo placebo matching pazopanib daily initial dose for 8-12 weeks, dose can be escalated to 800 mg daily based on safety evaluation. |
- Disease-free Survival (DFS) With Pazopanib 600 mg Daily Initial Dose vs. Placebo [ Time Frame: approximately 5 years ]DFS is defined as the interval between the date of randomization and the earliest date of disease recurrence/metastasis or death due to any cause.
- Overall Survival (OS) With Pazopanib 600 mg Daily Initial Dose vs. Placebo [ Time Frame: approximately 8.5 years ]
Overall survival is defined as the time from randomization until death due to any cause.
For subjects who did not die, time to death was censored at the last date of known contact.
- DFS Rates at Yearly Time Points With Pazopanib 600 mg Daily Initial Dose vs. Placebo [ Time Frame: yearly for 4 years ]
- DFS With Pazopanib vs. Placebo [ Time Frame: approximately 5 years ]DFS is defined as the interval between the date of randomization and the earliest date of disease recurrence/metastasis or death due to any cause.
- OS With Pazopanib vs. Placebo [ Time Frame: approximately 8.5 years ]
Overall survival is defined as the time from randomization until death due to any cause.
For subjects who do not die, time to death will be censored at the last date of known contact.
- DFS Rates at Yearly Time Points With Pazopanib vs. Placebo [ Time Frame: yearly for 4 years ]
- DFS Pazopanib 800 mg Daily Initial Dose vs. Placebo [ Time Frame: approximately 5 years ]DFS is defined as the interval between the date of randomization and the earliest date of disease recurrence/metastasis or death due to any cause.
- OS With Pazopanib 800 mg Daily Initial Dose vs. Placebo [ Time Frame: approximately 8.5 years ]
Overall survival is defined as the time from randomization until death due to any cause.
For subjects who did not die, time to death was censored at the last date of known contact.
- Health-related Quality of Life (HRQoL) With Pazopanib 600 mg Daily Initial Dose vs. Placebo Assessed Using NCCN/Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Kidney Symptom Index -19 (FACT FKSI-19) Total Score [ Time Frame: Week 52, 24M DFS FU, 36M DFS FU, 48M DFS FU, 54M DFS FU ]Health outcome and quality of life as measured by NCCN/FACT FKSI-19 questionnaire. The FKSI-19 is a disease-specific instrument that measures disease and treatment-related symptoms specifically in renal cancer patients in 4 domains (FKSI-DRS-P, FKSI-DRS-E, FKSI-TSE, FKSI-FWB) experienced in the past 7 days. Participants are asked to respond to a total of 19 questions regarding symptoms, side effects, and well being by using a 5-point scale (0=not at all, 1=a little bit, 2=somewhat, 3=quite a bit, 4=very much; possible total score of 0 to 76). A negative mean indicates a worsening of condition. DFS: disease-free survival; FU: follow up
- Health-related Quality of Life (HRQoL) With Pazopanib 600 mg Daily Initial Dose vs. Placebo Assessed Using NCCN/FACT FKSI-19 Scale Disease-related Symptoms-physical (DRS-P) Domain Score [ Time Frame: Week 52, 24M DFS FU, 36M DFS FU, 48M DFS FU, 54M DFS FU ]Health outcome and quality of life as measured by NCCN/FACT FKSI-19 questionnaire. The FKSI-19 is a disease-specific instrument that measures disease and treatment-related symptoms specifically in renal cancer patients in 4 domains. The DRS-P domain assesses symptoms experienced in the past 7 days. Participants are asked to respond to 12 questions ("I have a lack of energy," "I feel pain," for example) by using a 5-point scale (0=not at all, 1=a little bit, 2=somewhat, 3=quite a bit, 4=very much; possible total domain score of 0 to 48). A negative mean indicates a worsening of condition.
- Health-related Quality of Life (HRQoL) With Pazopanib 600 mg Daily Initial Dose vs. Placebo Assessed Using NCCN/FACT FKSI-19 Scale Disease Related Symptoms-emotional (DRS-E) Domain Score [ Time Frame: Week 52, 24M DFS FU, 36M DFS FU,48M DFS FU, 54M DFS FU ]Health outcome and quality of life as measured by NCCN/FACT FKSI-19 questionnaire. The FKSI-19 is a disease-specific instrument that measures disease and treatment-related symptoms specifically in renal cancer patients in 4 domains. The DRS-E domain assesses symptoms experienced in the past 7 days. Participants are asked to respond to the question of "I worry that my condition will get worse" by using a 5-point scale (0=not at all, 1=a little bit, 2=somewhat, 3=quite a bit, 4=very much; possible total domain score of 0 to 4). A negative mean indicates a worsening of condition.
- Health-related Quality of Life (HRQoL) With Pazopanib 600 mg Daily Initial Dose vs. Placebo Assessed Using NCCN/FACT FKSI-19 Scale Treatment Side Effects (TSE) Domain Score [ Time Frame: Week 52, 24M DFS FU, 36M DFS FU,48M DFS FU, 54M DFS FU ]Health outcome and quality of life as measured by NCCN/FACT FKSI-19 questionnaire. The FKSI-19 is a disease-specific instrument that measures disease and treatment-related symptoms specifically in renal cancer patients in 4 domains. The TSE domain assesses side effects experienced in the past 7 days. Participants are asked to respond to 3 questions ("I have nausea," "I have diarrhea," and "I am bothered by side effects of treatment") by using a 5-point scale (0=not at all, 1=a little bit, 2=somewhat, 3=quite a bit, 4=very much; possible total domain score of 0 to 12). A negative mean indicates a worsening of condition.
- Health-related Quality of Life (HRQoL) With Pazopanib 600 mg Daily Initial Dose vs. Placebo Assessed Using NCCN/FACT FKSI-19 Scale Functional Well Being (FWB) Domain Score [ Time Frame: Week 52, 24M DFS FU, 36M DFS FU,48M DFS FU, 54M DFS FU ]Health outcome and quality of life as measured by NCCN/FACT FKSI-19 questionnaire. The FKSI-19 is a disease-specific instrument that measures disease and treatment-related symptoms specifically in renal cancer patients in 4 domains. The FWB domain assesses well being in the past 7 days. Participants are asked to respond to 3 questions ("I am able to work," "I am able to enjoy life," and "I am content with the quality of my life now") by using a 5-point scale (0=not at all, 1=a little bit, 2=somewhat, 3=quite a bit, 4=very much; possible total domain score of 0 to 12). A negative mean indicates a worsening of condition.
- Health-related Quality of Life (HRQoL) With Pazopanib 600 mg Daily Initial Dose vs. Placebo Assessed Using EuroQoL-5D (EQ-5D) Score [ Time Frame: Week 52, 24M DFS FU, 36M DFS FU, 48M DFS FU, 54M DFS FU ]Health outcome and quality of life measured by EQ-5D thermometer (thermo) score and EQ-5D utility index (UI) score. The EQ-5D is a participant-answered questionnaire measuring 5 dimensions: mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression. The EQ-5D has two separate components: utility score and thermometer score. The EQ-5D total utility score ranges from 0 (worst health state) to 1 (perfect health state); 1 reflects the best outcome. The thermometer score ranges from 0 (worst imaginable health state) to 100 (best imaginable health state).
- Health-related Quality of Life (HRQoL) With Pazopanib vs. Placebo for ITT ALL Assessed Using National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN)/FACT FKSI-19 Total Score [ Time Frame: Week 52, 24M DFS FU, 36M DFS FU, 48M DFS FU, 54M DFS FU ]Health outcome and quality of life as measured by NCCN/FACT FKSI-19 questionnaire. The FKSI-19 is a disease-specific instrument that measures disease and treatment-related symptoms specifically in renal cancer patients in 4 domains (FKSI-DRS-P, FKSI-DRS-E, FKSI-TSE, FKSI-FWB) experienced in the past 7 days. Participants are asked to respond to a total of 19 questions regarding symptoms, side effects, and well being by using a 5-point scale (0=not at all, 1=a little bit, 2=somewhat, 3=quite a bit, 4=very much; possible total score of 0 to 76). A negative mean indicates a worsening of condition. DFS: disease-free survival; FU: follow up
- Health-related Quality of Life (HRQoL) With Pazopanib vs. Placebo for ITT ALL Assessed Using National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN)/FACT FKSI-19 Scale Disease-related Symptoms-physical (DRS-P) Domain Score [ Time Frame: Week 52, 24M DFS FU, 36M DFS FU, 48M DFS FU, 54M DFS FU ]Health outcome and quality of life measured by NCCN/FACT FKSI-19 questionnaire for ITT ALL. The FKSI-19 is a disease-specific instrument that measures disease and treatment-related symptoms specifically in renal cancer patients in 4 domains. The DRS-P domain assesses symptoms experienced in the past 7 days. Participants are asked to respond to 12 questions ("I have a lack of energy," "I feel pain," for example) by using a 5-point scale (0=not at all, 1=a little bit, 2=somewhat, 3=quite a bit, 4=very much; possible total domain score of 0 to 48). A negative mean indicates a worsening of condition.
- Health-related Quality of Life (HRQoL) With Pazopanib vs. Placebo for ITT ALL Assessed Using National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN)/FACT FKSI-19 Scale Disease-related Symptoms-emotional (DRS-E) Domain Score [ Time Frame: Week 52, 24M DFS FU, 36M DFS FU, 48M DFS FU, 54M DFS FU ]Health outcome and quality of life measured by NCCN/FACT FKSI-19 questionnaire for ITT ALL. The FKSI-19 is a disease-specific instrument that measures disease and treatment-related symptoms specifically in renal cancer patients in 4 domains. The DRS-E domain assesses symptoms experienced in the past 7 days. Participants are asked to respond to the question of "I worry that my condition will get worse" by using a 5-point scale (0=not at all, 1=a little bit, 2=somewhat, 3=quite a bit, 4=very much; possible total domain score of 0 to 4).A negative mean indicates a worsening of condition.
- Health-related Quality of Life (HRQoL) With Pazopanib vs. Placebo for ITT ALL Assessed Using National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN)/FACT FKSI-19 Scale Treatment Side Effects (TSE) Domain Score [ Time Frame: Week 52, 24M DFS FU, 36M DFS FU, 48M DFS FU, 54M DFS FU ]Health outcome and quality of life measured by NCCN/FACT FKSI-19 questionnaire for ITT ALL. The FKSI-19 is a disease-specific instrument that measures disease and treatment-related symptoms specifically in renal cancer patients in 4 domains. The TSE domain assesses side effects experienced in the past 7 days. Participants are asked to respond to 3 questions ("I have nausea," "I have diarrhea," and "I am bothered by side effects of treatment") by using a 5-point scale (0=not at all, 1=a little bit, 2=somewhat, 3=quite a bit, 4=very much; possible total domain score of 0 to 12). A negative mean indicates a worsening of condition.
- Health-related Quality of Life (HRQoL) With Pazopanib vs. Placebo for ITT ALL Assessed Using National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN)/FACT FKSI-19 Scale Functional Well Being (FWB) Domain Score [ Time Frame: Week 52, 24M DFS FU, 36M DFS FU, 48M DFS FU, 54M DFS FU ]Health outcome and quality of life measured by NCCN/FACT FKSI-19 questionnaire for ITT ALL. The FKSI-19 is a disease-specific instrument that measures disease and treatment-related symptoms specifically in renal cancer patients in 4 domains. The FWB domain assesses well being in the past 7 days. Participants are asked to respond to 3 questions ("I am able to work," "I am able to enjoy life," and "I am content with the quality of my life now") by using a 5-point scale (0=not at all, 1=a little bit, 2=somewhat, 3=quite a bit, 4=very much; possible total domain score of 0 to 12). A negative mean indicates a worsening of condition.
- Health-related Quality of Life (HRQoL) With Pazopanib vs. Placebo for ITT ALL Assessed Using EuroQoL-5D (EQ-5D) Score [ Time Frame: Week 52, 24M DFS FU, 36M DFS FU, 48M DFS FU, 54M DFS FU ]Health outcome and quality of life measured by using EQ-5D thermometer score and EQ-5D utility index (UI) score. The EQ-5D is a participant-answered questionnaire measuring 5 dimensions: mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression. The EQ-5D has two separate components: utility score and thermometer score. The EQ-5D total utility score ranges from 0 (worst health state) to 1 (perfect health state); 1 reflects the best outcome. The thermometer score ranges from 0 (worst imaginable health state) to 100 (best imaginable health state).

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contacts provided below. For general information, Learn About Clinical Studies.
Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years and older (Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Inclusion Criteria:
- Signed written informed consent
- Diagnosis of RCC with clear-cell or predominant clear-cell histology
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Subjects with non-metastatic disease (M0) fulfilling any of the following combinations of pathologic staging based on American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) TNM staging version 2010 and Fuhrman nuclear grading.
- pT2, G3 or G4, N0; or,
- pT3, G any, N0; or,
- pT4, G any, N0; or,
- pT any, G any, N1
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Fulfill all of the following criteria of disease-free status at baseline:
- Had complete gross surgical resection of all RCC via radical or partial nephrectomy using either open or laparoscopic technique.
- Baseline imaging of chest, abdomen and pelvis shows no metastasis or residual tumor lesions as confirmed centrally by an independent radiologist.
- Received no prior adjuvant or neo-adjuvant treatment for RCC
- Recovered from nephrectomy: any surgery related toxicities should be reduced to ≤ grade 1 per NCI Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) (Version 4)
- Karnofsky performance scale (KPS) of ≥ 80
- Adequate organ system function
Exclusion Criteria:
- History of another malignancy. Exception: Subjects who have had another malignancy and have been disease-free for 5 years, or subjects with a history of completely resected non-melanomatous skin carcinoma or successfully treated in situ carcinoma are eligible
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Clinically significant gastrointestinal abnormalities that may increase the risk for gastrointestinal bleeding including, but not limited to:
- Active peptic ulcer disease
- Inflammatory bowel disease (e.g. ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease), or other gastrointestinal conditions with increased risk of perforation
- History of abdominal fistula, gastrointestinal perforation, or intra abdominal abscess within 28 days prior to beginning study treatment
- Active diarrhea of any grade
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Clinically significant gastrointestinal abnormalities that may affect absorption of investigational product including, but not limited to:
- Malabsorption syndrome
- Major resection of the stomach or small bowel
- History of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection
- History of active hepatitis
- Presence of uncontrolled infection.
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History of any one or more of the following cardiovascular conditions within the past 6 months:
- Cardiac angioplasty or stenting
- Myocardial infarction
- Unstable angina
- Coronary artery bypass graft surgery
- Symptomatic peripheral vascular disease
- History of Class III or IV congestive heart failure, as defined by the New York Heart Association Classification of Congestive Heart Failure
- History of cerebrovascular accident including transient ischemic attack (TIA), pulmonary embolism or untreated deep venous thrombosis (DVT) within the past 6 months.
- Corrected QT interval (QTc) > 480 milliseconds (msec)
- Poorly controlled hypertension, defined as systolic blood pressure (SBP) of ≥140 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of ≥ 90mmHg.
Note: Initiation or adjustment of antihypertensive medication(s) is permitted prior to study entry. Blood pressure (BP) must be re-assessed on two occasions that are separated by a minimum of 1 hour; on each of these occasions, the mean (of 3 readings) SBP / DBP values from each BP assessment must be <140/90 mmHg in order for a subject to be eligible for the study (see Section 7.6.2 for instruction on blood pressure measurement and obtaining mean blood pressure values).
- Evidence of active bleeding or bleeding diathesis
- Any serious and/or unstable pre-existing medical, psychiatric, or other condition that could interfere with subject's safety, provision of informed consent, or compliance to study procedures
- Unable or unwilling to discontinue use of prohibited medications for at least 14 days or five half-lives of a drug (whichever is longer) prior to the first dose of study treatment and for the duration of the study.
- Concurrent therapy given to treat cancer including treatment with an investigational agent or concurrent participation in another clinical trial involving anti-cancer investigational drug.
- Administration of an investigational drug within 30 days or 5 half-lives, whichever is longer, preceding the first dose of study treatment.
- Have a known immediate or delayed hypersensitivity reaction or idiosyncrasy to drugs chemically related to pazopanib or excipients that in the opinion of the investigator contraindicates their participation.
- Prior or current use of systemic anti-VEGF inhibitors, cytokines (e.g. interferon, interleukin 2).

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT01235962

Study Director: | Novartis Pharmaceuticals | Novartis Pharmaceuticals |
Publications automatically indexed to this study by ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT Number):
Responsible Party: | Novartis Pharmaceuticals |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT01235962 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
113387 2010-020965-26 ( EudraCT Number ) CPZP034D2301 ( Other Identifier: Novartis ) |
First Posted: | November 7, 2010 Key Record Dates |
Results First Posted: | November 23, 2020 |
Last Update Posted: | November 23, 2020 |
Last Verified: | October 2020 |
Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement: | |
Plan to Share IPD: | Yes |
Plan Description: | Novartis is committed to sharing with qualified external researchers, access to patient-level data and supporting clinical documents from eligible studies. These requests are reviewed and approved by an independent review panel on the basis of scientific merit. All data provided is anonymized to respect the privacy of patients who have participated in the trial in line with applicable laws and regulations. This trial data availability is according to the criteria and process described on www.clinicalstudydatarequest.com |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: | Yes |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: | No |
anti-angiogenic agent renal cell carcinoma pazopanib adjuvant therapy VEGFR inhibitor |
localized or locally advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) following nephrectomy advanced RCC Cancer |
Carcinoma Carcinoma, Renal Cell Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial Neoplasms by Histologic Type Neoplasms Adenocarcinoma |
Kidney Neoplasms Urologic Neoplasms Urogenital Neoplasms Neoplasms by Site Kidney Diseases Urologic Diseases |