New Treatment Reduces Kidney Cancer Recurrence Risk After Surgery

Patients diagnosed with a prevalent form of kidney cancer known as clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) may soon have a more effective treatment option following surgery. New findings from the phase 3 LITESPARK-022 study reveal that combining the oral medication belzutifan, a HIF-2α inhibitor, with the standard immune therapy pembrolizumab significantly improves disease-free survival rates for high-risk patients. The results were presented by Dr. Toni Choueiri of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute at the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology Genitourinary Cancers Symposium (ASCO GU) held in San Francisco, California, from February 26-28, 2026.

Previously, research led by Dr. Choueiri demonstrated that pembrolizumab alone could decrease the risk of death and disease progression among patients with advanced kidney cancer post-surgery. This immune checkpoint inhibitor enhances the immune system’s ability to detect and combat cancer cells. Despite its effectiveness, approximately 20% of patients treated with pembrolizumab experience a relapse. The LITESPARK-022 study aimed to enhance survival rates by combining immune therapy with belzutifan for those deemed at high risk for recurrence.

“Many patients with high-risk kidney cancer face recurrence within five years after surgery due to undetected microscopic cancer cells,” Dr. Choueiri noted. “We need new therapies that can work together to better prevent the cancer from coming back.”

Belzutifan operates by inhibiting HIF-2α, a protein that is excessively present in ccRCC cells and promotes tumor growth. Notably, Dr. William G. Kaelin, Jr., a collaborator at Dana-Farber, received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2019 for his contributions to the science underlying belzutifan’s development.

Details of the LITESPARK-022 Study

The LITESPARK-022 study involved a global, multicenter, double-blind, randomized trial with a total of 1,841 participants who had undergone surgery to remove their tumors and exhibited no signs of active cancer, yet remained at elevated risk for recurrence. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either a combination of pembrolizumab and belzutifan or pembrolizumab alongside a placebo.

With a median follow-up period of 28.4 months, results indicated that the combination therapy resulted in a 28% reduction in the risk of recurrence. Approximately 81% of those receiving the belzutifan and pembrolizumab regimen remained cancer-free, compared to 74% of those receiving the standard care. Side effects observed were consistent with previous studies, although the research has yet to determine if the addition of belzutifan positively impacts overall survival rates.

“Individuals at high risk of ccRCC recurrence following surgery may now have a new option to mitigate that risk,” Dr. Choueiri affirmed. “In this study, the combination of belzutifan with pembrolizumab effectively reduces the chances of recurrence compared to the current standard treatment of pembrolizumab alone.”

The promising results of the LITESPARK-022 study may pave the way for enhanced treatment protocols for patients battling ccRCC, offering hope to those facing the daunting prospect of cancer recurrence after surgery.