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Two New Alliance Trials Open for Patients with Breast Cancer, Rare Skin Cancer

Key Takeaways
  • A Phase II clinical trial was initiated for Merkel cell carcrinoma, a rare skin cancer, to evaluate pembrolizumab alone and in combination with radiation.
  • A phase III clinical was initiated evaluating hypofractionated post mastectomy radiation with breast reconstruction.
  • Both studies are being sponsored by The Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology.

February 2, 2018 – Boston, MA -- The Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology this week opened two new trials for treating patients with Merkel cell cancer, a rare type of skin cancer, and for patients with breast cancer who have undergone mastectomy.

Alliance A091605:

A randomized phase II study of anti-PD1 antibody [MK-3475 (pembrolizumab)] alone versus anti-PD1 antibody plus stereotactic body radiation therapy in advanced Merkel cell carcinoma. This randomized phase II trial will study how well the drug pembrolizumab with or without stereotactic body radiation therapy works in treating patients with merkel cell cancer that has spread to other places in the body. Monoclonal antibodies, such as pembrolizumab, may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Stereotactic body radiation therapy is a specialized radiation therapy that sends x-rays directly to the tumor using smaller doses over several days and may cause less damage to normal tissue. Giving pembrolizumab with stereotactic body radiation therapy may work better in treating patients with merkel cell cancer. The study chair is Jason Luke, MD, University of Chicago. Learn more: http://bit.ly/AllianceA091605

Alliance A221505:

Phase III randomized trial of hypofractionated post mastectomy radiation with breast reconstruction. This randomized phase III trial will study how well hypofractionated radiation therapy works in preventing recurrence in patients with stage IIa-IIIa breast cancer who have undergone mastectomy. Hypofractionated radiation therapy delivers higher doses of radiation therapy over a shorter period of time and may kill more tumor cells that remain after surgery and have fewer side effects. The stucy chair is Matthew Poppe, MD, Huntsman Cancer Hospital - University of Utah. Learn more: http://bit.ly/AllianceA221505

About The Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology

The Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology seeks to reduce the impact of cancer on people by uniting a broad community of scientists and clinicians from many disciplines, committed to discovering, validating and disseminating effective strategies for the prevention and treatment of cancer.

Key Takeaways
  • A Phase II clinical trial was initiated for Merkel cell carcrinoma, a rare skin cancer, to evaluate pembrolizumab alone and in combination with radiation.
  • A phase III clinical was initiated evaluating hypofractionated post mastectomy radiation with breast reconstruction.
  • Both studies are being sponsored by The Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology.
Merkel cell study details
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A Phase 3 study will evaluate how hypofractionated radiation therapy works in preventing recurrence following mastectomy.
A checkpoint inhibitor, Pembrolizumab, alone or in combination with radiation will be evaluated for Merkel cell carcinoma, a rare skin cancer
U.S. Govt.
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AllianceServiceCenter@AllianceNCTN.org
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