BR.31, developed and led by the Canadian Cancer Trials Group, is an international clinical trial of a new class of cancer drug aimed at curing lung cancer in patients that have had surgery and chemotherapy for disease confined to the lung. The academic-led trial will impact lung cancer patients following standard treatment. Lung cancer is the second most common cancer in North America and is the leading cancer killer in both men and women. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for 80-85% of all lung cancer. The new drug, MEDI4736 (AstraZeneca), is one of a new class of pharmaceuticals which helps the body’s immune system recognize and attack cancer. Drugs in this class have already been approved for use in patients with malignant melanoma. “This trial will test a new drug from an emerging class of agents that doesn’t directly kill cancer cells but instead improves our own immune system’s ability to fight and kill the cancer cells,” says trial leader Glen Goss. “We are moving these drugs into the earliest stage of lung cancer treatment and meeting a major unmet need.” The trial is being conducted internationally, with collaboration from the Intergroupe Francophone de Cancerologie Thoracique (France), the National Cancer Institute, Naples (Italy), the Australasian Lung Cancer Trials Group & National Health and Medical Research Council Clinical Trials Centre (Australia), the Spanish Lung Cancer Group, the Dutch Society for Pulmonology and Tuberculosis (NVALT), the Central and East European Oncology Group, the Korean Cancer Study Group, the West Japan Oncology Group and the National Cancer Centre Singapore. “This trial is being completed internationally and includes academic physicians around the world,” says Canadian Cancer Trials Group director Janet Dancey. “This is the first trial in the world to test this new drug in the setting of early lung cancer treatment.” Centres interested in participating should contact Ann-Marie Bradley, BR.31 Study Coordinator, by calling 613-533-6430 or emailing her at abradley@ctg.queensu.ca. If you are a patient and are interested in participating in this trial, please discuss your eligibility with your oncologist. If you are in Canada and wish to find out more about the trial, including where in Canada the trial is being conducted and who you should contact, please go to the Canadian Cancer Trials website using this link. If you are located outside of Canada, you can find more information about the trial and where it is being conducted by going to clinicaltrials.gov or you can use this link.
