Combination of Temsirolimus and Bevacizumab in Patient With Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma

This is a phase II, open label, randomized, parallel group, multicenter study evaluating first-line treatment of patients with metastatic renal cancer using a combination of Torisel® administered intravenously as 25 mg every week and Avastin® administered intravenously as 10 mg/kg every 2 weeks.

Two standard arms with either Sutent® (given orally as 50 mg once daily during 4 weeks, followed by 2 weeks off) or a combination of Avastin® (administered intravenously as 10 mg/kg every 2 weeks) and Interferon (IFN, administered subcutaneously as 9 MU three times a week) will be used to validate the results obtained in the experimental arm (randomization eliminates selection biases), and to assess Sutent® efficacy rate on a more representative population than in Motzer's trial (Motzer NEJM 2007).

The study is not designed to provide head-to-head comparisons between the experimental arm (Avastin® + Torisel®) and the two standard arms (Sutent® and IFN + Avastin®). Randomization will be used as a tool for allocating patients evenly into the 3 treatment arms to ensure proper balance of prognostic factors. If the progression-free rates observed in randomly assigned control patients are inconsistent with historical data, it may be a warning that the results observed for the experimental arm should be viewed with caution. Patients will be randomly assigned to either option in a 2:1:1 ratio (half less patients in the standard arms used only as historical comparators), and stratified according to inclusion center and performance status (ECOG PS 0 vs. 1 vs. 2).

In the absence of severe toxicity, treatment will be continued until documented progression of the disease (RECIST criteria). Toxicity will be evaluated throughout the treatment period and until disappearance or stabilization of the side effect(s). In case of progression, each investigator makes his/her own treatment decisions, provided that all anti-cancer treatments given to the patients within the frame of the study are reported, as well as their results.

Response rates will be assessed between weeks 11-12, 23-24, 35-36, 47-48 in the first year (corresponding to 2 cycles of Sutent®) and every 3 months afterwards until treatment stop, or until patient death or end of clinical data collection.

Inclusion criteria

• Male or female patients>= 18 years of age;
• Patients with histological or cytological evidence of metastatic renal cell carcinoma mostly of all type,except for papillary;
• No prior systemic treatment (chemotherapy, immunotherapy, anti-angiogenic drugs, or treatment under evaluation) for metastatic renal cancer;
• No brain metastases revealed by MRI or CT-scan within 28 days prior to randomization. Patients with a history of brain metastases treated by surgery +/- radiation therapy can be included if they have normal brain MRI;
• E.C.O.G performance status =<2;
• At least one measurable lesion using the RECIST criteria;
• Blood tests and renal and liver functions in the normal range with, in the 7 days prior to study entry, blood or serum values as follows:

Hemoglobin > 8g/dl; Neutrophil count > 1500*10exp9/L; Platelets > 100*10exp9/L; Serum creatinine < 200µmol/L; Total Bilirubin < 1.5 times upper limit of normal; ALT and AST < 2.5 times upper limit of normal or < 5 ULN for patients with liver metastases, PT or INR < 1.5 times upper limit of normal in the absence of anticoagulant therapy;

• Absence of proteinuria confirmed by urinary dipstick test
• Fertile women must use effective means of contraception
• Mandatory affiliation with a healthy security insurance
• Signed written informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

• Patient with pure papillary renal cell carcinoma
• Prior systemic treatment for metastatic renal cancer
• History of other malignancies, other than curatively treated in-situ carcinoma of the cervix or basal cell carcinoma of the skin, or any other curatively treated cancer with no sign of recurrence within 5 years prior to randomization
• Evidence of brain metastasis by computerized tomographic scan or MRI in the 28 days prior to randomization. Patients with history of brain metastases treated by exclusive brain therapy are not allowed to participate, even if brain MRI is normal
• Significant cardiovascular disease or uncontrolled hypertension while receiving appropriate medication (>= 160 mm Hg systolic and/or >= 90 mm Hg diastolic)
• Hepatic affection like chronic advanced hepatitis, liver cirrhosis or chronic hepatitis recently treated or in process of treatment by immunosuppressive agents, hepatitis auto-immune or history of auto-immune disease
• Major surgical procedure, open biopsy, or serious non healing wound within 28 days prior to randomization
• Uncontrolled hypercalcemia while receiving appropriate treatment
• Uncontrolled hypercholesterolemia or hypertriglyceridemia
• Patient under anti-vitamin K therapy
• Patient under strong CYP3A4 inhibitors
• Patient with severe neuropsychiatric disorder (or comitial crises)
• Patient included in another clinical trial, except for supportive care trials
• Pregnant or lactating women (mandatory negative serum or urinary pregnancy test at study entry for all women of childbearing potential)