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Real-World Effectiveness and Pharmacogenetics of Belzutifan in VHL Syndrome: The BELIEVE-VHL Trial

The BELIEVE-VHL Trial: A Real-world Longitudinal Study on Belzutifan's Effectiveness, Pharmacogenetics, and Pharmacoeconomics in Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) Syndrome Using the HIF2α Inhibitor Belzutifan

Status
Recruiting
Phases
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT07167329
Acronym
BELIEVE-VHL
Enrollment
100
Registered
2025-09-11
Start date
2024-01-01
Completion date
2030-01-01
Last updated
2025-09-11

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Endolymphatic Sac Tumor, Hemangioblastoma (HB) of the Central Nervous System (CNS), Pheochromocytoma/Paraganglioma, PNET, Retinal Angiomatous Proliferation, Von Hippel Lindau, Von Hippel Lindau-Deficient Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma, Von Hippel Lindau Disease

Keywords

Belzutifan, von Hippel-Lindau, Renal Cell Clear Carcinoma, Hemangioblastoma of Central Nervous System, Pharmacogenetics

Brief summary

The BELIEVE-VHL Trial is a prospective real-life study designed to evaluate the therapeutic effects, benefits, and adverse effects of belzutifan, as well as the timing of treatment response and disease progression in patients with von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) syndrome.

Detailed description

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the therapeutic effects, benefits, and adverse effects associated with belzutifan treatment, as well as the timing of treatment response and/or disease progression. SECONDARY OBJECTIVES 1. To evaluate the association of host intrinsic factors with toxicity and treatment response in a Brazilian cohort of patients with von Hippel-Lindau syndrome treated with belzutifan. 2. To assess hemoglobin and erythropoietin levels during the first six months of treatment, and to document the need for subcutaneous erythropoietin supplementation in patients who develop grade 2-3 anemia, fatigue, or hypoxia. 3. To evaluate the potential impact of erythropoietin supplementation on tumor growth during belzutifan treatment. 4. To assess health-related quality of life and patient perceptions regarding VHL syndrome using validated questionnaires and instruments. 5. To conduct a pharmacoeconomic analysis in the cohort of patients with access to belzutifan, assessing its impact on healthcare costs compared to the natural history of the disease.

Interventions

DRUGBelzutifan

Patients with Von Hippel-Lindau Syndrome presenting with lesions or neoplasms requiring treatment with oral Belzutifan.

Sponsors

AC Camargo Cancer Center
CollaboratorOTHER
José Claudio Casali da Rocha
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Intervention model description

The BELIEVE-VHL Trial is a prospective cohort study designed to evaluate the effectiveness and adverse effects of belzutifan in 100 patients with von Hippel-Lindau syndrome enrolled in a single intervention arm. The trial is structured as a basket trial, including all VHL-associated tumors, in patients aged 14 years or older and at any disease stage. The intervention consists of oral administration of belzutifan (Welireg) 120 mg once daily in patients with clinically or genetically confirmed VHL who are symptomatic or present with progressive tumors.

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
14 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Age ≥ 14 years. * Clinical or genetic confirmation of von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) syndrome. * Presence of measurable or progressive VHL-associated tumors, as defined by RECIST 1.1 or disease-specific imaging criteria. * ECOG performance status of 0-2. * Adequate bone marrow, hepatic, and renal function as defined by laboratory reference values. * Ability to swallow oral medication. * Provision of written informed consent prior to enrollment.

Exclusion criteria

* Age \< 14 years. * Absence of a confirmed diagnosis of von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) syndrome. * Presence of an active malignancy outside the VHL tumor spectrum within the past 3 years, except for adequately treated basal or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, cervical carcinoma in situ, or other malignancies considered cured for \>2 years. * Known hypersensitivity or allergic reaction to belzutifan or any excipient in the formulation. * History of severe or uncontrolled cardiovascular disease, including but not limited to unstable angina, myocardial infarction within the past 6 months, congestive heart failure requiring treatment, or uncontrolled hypertension. * Active infectious diseases, including HIV, hepatitis B, or hepatitis C. * Immunosuppressed status, whether due to underlying disease or ongoing therapy. * History of significant bleeding disorders, including bleeding diathesis, thrombocytopenia, or coagulopathy. * Radiotherapy administered within 4 weeks prior to study enrollment. * Major surgical procedure, including for VHL-related tumors, within 4 weeks prior to study enrollment, or immediate need for surgical intervention for tumor management. * Malabsorption secondary to prior gastrointestinal surgery or active gastrointestinal disease. * Current use of concomitant medications known to interact with belzutifan and significantly alter its bioavailability. * Anticipated low adherence to or planned interruption of belzutifan therapy.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Objective Tumor Response per RECIST 1.1From enrollment and initiation of treatment until the earliest of either documented disease progression or death from any cause, with follow-up of up to 104 weeks.Evaluation of target lesion size according to RECIST 1.1 criteria at baseline, weeks 12, 24, 52, and annually, up to 104 weeks. Imaging modalities will include MRI for solid tumors, 68Ga-DOTATATE PET for pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNET), and retinal fluorescein angiography (FA) for retinal lesions. Unit of Measure: Percentage of participants with objective response.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Mean Hemoglobin Level Over TimeBaseline to 104 weeks.Longitudinal change in hemoglobin levels (g/dL) at months 1, 3, 6, 12, and annually thereafter. Unit of Measure: g/dL.
Erythropoietin Levels Over TimeTime Frame: Baseline to 104 weeksLongitudinal change in endogenous erythropoietin levels (mIU/mL) at months 1, 3, 6, 12, and annually thereafter. Unit of Measure: mIU/mL.
Requirement for Erythropoietin SupplementationBaseline to 104 weeksProportion of participants requiring subcutaneous erythropoietin supplementation for symptomatic or grade ≥3 anemia, including dose, frequency, and duration. Unit of Measure: Percentage of participants.
Incidence of Anemia (per CTCAE v5.0)Baseline to 104 weeksNumber of participants developing grade ≥2 anemia during treatment with belzutifan, evaluated according to CTCAE version 5.0. Correlate hematologic outcomes with tumor response (RECIST 1.1) and lesion dynamics to identify potential predictive biomarkers. Unit of Measure: Percentage of participants.
Patient-Reported Quality of Life (EORTC QLQ-C30)Baseline to 24 monthsChange in health-related quality of life scores measured by the EORTC QLQ-C30: The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30, version 3.0, at baseline, months 1, 3, 6, 12, and annually thereafter. It consists of 28 items evaluating symptom burden and functional status, each scored on a 4-point Likert scale (1 = Not at all, 2 = A little, 3 = Quite a bit, 4 = Very much). In addition, two items assess overall health and overall quality of life, each rated on a 7-point scale (1 = Very poor to 7 = Excellent) All treatment modifications-including interruptions, dose reductions, or discontinuations-will be recorded throughout the study. Unit of Measure: Score from 0 to 100 (higher score indicates better quality of life).
Pharmacoeconomic Evaluation of Belzutifan Therapy in Individuals with von Hippel-Lindau SyndromeRetrospective analysis of the 5 years prior to belzutifan initiation and prospective follow-up for up to 2 years after treatment initiation.The pharmacoeconomic analysis will be conducted in the same cohort of participants treated with belzutifan. Retrospective data on direct medical costs, expressed in Brazilian Reais (R$), will be collected, including expenses related to medications, surgical procedures, and hospital admissions. Indirect costs, particularly those related to productivity losses, will also be assessed and quantified as a percentage reduction compared with healthy employees or as hours/days lost due to illness or treatment-related absenteeism during the preceding five years. All cost data will be analyzed on a per-patient-per-month (PPPM) basis, stratified by defined time intervals. Cost-effectiveness will be evaluated by comparing healthcare costs before and after belzutifan initiation, accounting for changes in procedure frequency and overall resource utilization. Unit of Measure: Brazilian Reais (R$) per PPPM.
Blood Transfusion RequirementBaseline to 104 weeksNumber of participants requiring at least one blood transfusion during treatment with belzutifan. Unit of Measure: Percentage of participants.

Countries

Brazil

Contacts

Primary ContactJosé Claudio Casali da Rocha, Head of Oncogenetics
casali.rocha@accamargo.org.br+55 41 98505 8585
Backup ContactJosé Reinaldo De Oliveira Junior
j.junior@accamargo.org.br+55 31 99549 3678

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Sep 3, 2026