Results from the first part of the phase 2 DART study have been released showing that a combination of dalantercept with axitinib treatment may improve the clinical outcomes of people with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) who have been previously treated.

Axitinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) that targets vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) to prevent the development of new blood vessels (angiogenesis), and has been shown to improve the clinical outcomes for previously-treated RCC patients. Dalantercept inhibits angiogenesis by targeting a different pathway using activin receptor-like kinase 1 (ALK1). The CART study attempts to determine the safety profile and efficacy of dalantercept when administered with axitinib, as well as the optimal dalantercept dose.

The authors concluded that: the optimal dalantercept dose was 0.9 mg/kg, the treatment combination had a manageable safety profile, and the combination appeared to be clinically active. Further study is needed.

Read more here