CCTG has opened the anticipated international brain cancer study CCTG CE9 (LUMOS2) - joining forces with the Australian Cooperative Trials Group for Neuro-Oncology (COGNO) to make enrollment accessible to Canadian patients.
Radiotherapy to Block (CURB2) Oligoprogression In Metastatic Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer
STRIDE (durvalumab + tremelimumab) with Lenvatinib vs STRIDE Alone in Patients with Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma (SLIDE-HCC)
Addition of Docetaxel to Androgen Receptor Pathway Inhibitors in Patients with Metastatic Castration Sensitive Prostate Cancer and Suboptimal PSA Response (TRIPLE-SWITCH)
Neoadjuvant Immunotherapy with Response-Adapted Treatment vs Standard-Of-Care Treatment For Resectable Stage III/IV Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma
The CCTG ES3 NEEDS international esophageal cancer clinical trial is now opened in Canada. The study is investigating whether delaying surgery for patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus is as good as the current treatment.
Eradicating MRD in Patients with AML prior to Stem Cell Transplant (ERASE)
VIGOR: Vorasidenib as Maintenance Treatment after First-line Chemoradiotherapy in IDH-mutant Grade 2 or 3 Astrocytoma
Botensilimab + Balstilimab vs Best Supportive Care as Therapy in Chemo-refractory, Unresectable, Colorectal Adenocarcinoma: The BATTMAN Trial
Delayed Reduced Volume and Dose Elective Ratiotherapy (REVERT) in Patients with HNSCC
CALMS: Combination Therapy with Luspatercept in Lower Risk MDS CTEP approval: 2024AUG27 (date of US Steering Committee Evaluation)
Selective Index Node Resection vs Lymph Node Dissection after Neoadjuvant Immunotherapy for Stage IIIB-D Melanoma The Multicentre Selective Lymphadenectomy Trial-3 (MSLT-3)
The recently opened BR38 clinical trial is exploring whether adding stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) to the current treatment of immunotherapy (with or without chemotherapy) can improve outcomes for patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and limited disease progression (oligoprogression).
“This is an important endeavor to provide additional treatment opportunities for patients with limited disease progression on immunotherapy,” says Dr. Chiaojung Jillian Tsai, the BR38 study chair and Radiation Oncologist at University Health Network and says. “By targeting the progressive tumors with precision radiation, we are hoping to get rid of the resistant tumors and thereby improving patient outcomes.”
While immunotherapy-based treatments can be very effective for this patient population, it may become less effective over time. The challenge is oligoprogression, where only a few areas of cancer are progressing while the rest remain stable. With oligoprogression, SBRT offers a way to control the isolated areas of cancer growth while allowing patients to continue their current immunotherapy.
“Radiation Oncologists in Canada and the US are receiving referrals for SBRT for patients with limited disease progression based on limited evidence of efficacy only. Consequently, it is crucial to conduct this phase III randomized trial to definitively address the effectiveness of SBRT in this context,” says Dr. Pierre-Olivier Gaudreau, the BR38 Senior Investigator.
Currently, when metastatic lung cancer progresses after immunotherapy, the usual approach is to switch to different drugs. SBRT delivers high-dose, highly precise radiation directly to cancerous tumors while minimizing exposure to surrounding healthy tissue. This targeted approach aims to control tumor growth, delay the need to change treatments, and ultimately extend the duration of treatment benefit and improve overall survival for patients.
"There are really no words to describe how important this potential new option is to those living with a lung cancer diagnosis. I personally was able to benefit from this approach, and I am thrilled to see this approach being tested so that it may be expanded potentially to other lung cancer diagnoses," says lung cancer patient representative Emi Bossio.
Learn more:
The SKC1 skin cancer clinical trial is now open to enrollment across Canada. This study aims to determine whether adding an immunotherapy drug prior to the standard surgical treatment for advanced skin cancer can improve patient outcomes. This study addresses a substantial unmet need in this patient population.
In a world-first clinical trial, researchers working with the Canadian Cancer Trials Group (CCTG) have demonstrated that a structured exercise program significantly improves survival for colon cancer patients by reducing the risk of disease recurrence and new primary cancers.
One of the world’s largest randomized clinical trials, investigating the use of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has opened in Canada.
The myeloMATCH North American platform study is now open in Canada and comprises a series of clinical trials to treat patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).
MAC30 has recently opened in Canada and will compare two commonly used treatment choices for premenopausal women with ER-positive/HER2-negative breast cancer and a low to intermediate risk of recurrence.
The CCTG CO32 clinical trial testing chemotherapy alone versus chemotherapy plus radiotherapy prior to limited surgery for early rectal cancer has initiate in Canada.
Lanreotide for the Prevention of Postoperative Pancreatic Fistula
Role of Antibiotic Therapy or Immunoglobulin On iNfections in hAematoLogy Platform Trial - RATIONAL-PT
Using SMART to optimize the stepped care delivery of TEMPO – a Tailored, dyadic, wEb-based physical activity and self-Management PrOgram for men with prostate cancer and their caregivers (TEMPO)
NeoAdjuvant-only or Peri-operative cemiplimab in high-grade localised soft-tissue SARcoma (NAPStAR)
LoTam: Low-Dose Tamoxifen for Patients with Molecular Low-risk Early-Stage Breast Cancer
Feasibility and Acceptability of Collecting Sociodemographic Data in CCTG Trials
No Chemotherapy in Intermediate-risk HR + HER2- Early Breast Cancer Treated with Ribociclib (NoLEEta)
LUNA-2: LND101 in Unresectable Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Randomized Phase II Trial
RAINBO-ORANGE: Treatment of Endometrial Cancer Based On Molecular Features
We are pleased to welcome Lesley Beaton as the new patient representative supporting the Gastrointestinal Disease Site Committee.
Lesley lives in Vancouver, BC, and brings both scientific and personal experience to her role. She spent more than three decades working in microbiology and regulatory compliance with Health Canada, gaining a scientific perspective on healthcare systems.
Please join us in welcoming Catherine Caule, who is the new patient representative supporting the Hematology Disease Site Committee.
Catherine is a long-time health advocate based in Ottawa, Ontario, and a 25-year member of the Lymphoma Support Group of Ottawa. After being diagnosed with advanced Hodgkin Lymphoma and participating in a clinical trial for relapsed disease, she became a passionate voice for patient-centered care and equitable access.
If you are attending the CCTG Spring Meeting #CCTG2025 don't forget to drop by the open workshop and education session on engaging patient representatives in CCTG clinical trials. This accredited workshop takes place on Friday April 25, 10:30-12pm in the Seymour room at the Chelsea Hotel.
