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CCTG HD12 a hematology trial investigating targeted therapy for early-stage Hodgkin lymphoma opens in Canada

CCTG HD12 a hematology trial investigating targeted therapy for early-stage Hodgkin lymphoma opens in Canada

The CCTG HD12 trial is the second study in the RADAR international trial and has recently opened in Canada. Researchers will compare the usual treatment for Hodgkin lymphoma, with a new treatment that takes the standard combination drug treatment replacing one of the drugs with brentuximab vedotin that may be more effective and cause fewer side effects for patients.

"RADAR is a unique collaboration between CCTG who is the sponsor of the trial in North America and University College London who is conducting the same core study for the rest of the world. The trial is active in the UK and Australia and has opened in Canada and the University of Miami in the US," says Dr Lois Shepherd, CCTG Senior Investigator.

The RADAR trail will evaluate the potential role in early stage Hodgkin lymphoma where a shorter course of treatment may be given with potentially better results than the standard combination currently used. In early testing this new drug combination has shown that it may help slow the growth of Hodgkin lymphoma cancer and the combination has been previously studied in more advanced disease and seems promising.

"Three or four cycles of treatment will be given depending on the response from a PET scan after two treatment cycles, rather than the usual six. This reduction in the number of cycles has the potential to greatly improve the quality of life for patients and all side effects of both standard and the new combination of treatment will be closely monitored," says study chair Dr. Michael Crump, Princess Margaret Hospital.

HD12 study chair dr crump
HD12 study chair Dr. Michael Crump, Princess Margaret Hospital.
CCTG senior investigator
Dr. Lois Shepherd, CCTG Senior Investigator

What is PET scanning?

A positron emission tomography (PET) scan is an imaging test that can help reveal the metabolic or biochemical function of your tissues and organs. The PET scan uses a radioactive drug called a tracer to show both typical and atypical metabolic activity. A PET scan can often detect the atypical metabolism of the tracer in diseases before the disease shows up on other imaging tests, such as computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

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