Combating treatment-resistant kidney cancer

June 3, 2026

Key Highlights

The study involved 18 patients with advanced kidney cancer, most of whom had previously been treated with cabozantinib.
The combination therapy of darlifarnib and cabozantinib showed tumor shrinkage in 44% of participants and disease control in 94%.
Tumor resistance to cabozantinib prompted researchers to explore this new combination as a potential solution.
A larger clinical trial is planned to confirm the efficacy and safety of this promising treatment approach.

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A group of scientists from Mayo Clinic have uncovered a new treatment pathway for patients with treatment-resistant kidney cancer at the advanced stage, according to an announcement.

The experimental therapy involves a combination of darlifarnib and cabozantinib. Eighteen patients participated in the study. All had previously had cabozantinib, while some had tried multiple therapies. The authors noted that tumors can develop resistance to cabozantinib, so they decided to combine darlifarnib with the therapy. Sixteen participants received the combination. This showed promise, as it shrunk tumors in 44% of participants and led to disease control in 94%. A larger clinical trial is in the works to verify these results.