CCTG BR.38: Consolidative use of radiotherapy to block (CURB2) oligoprogression in patients with metastatic non–small-cell lung cancer—A randomized phase III trial.
TPS8124 Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)–based regimens are standard first-line therapy for metastatic non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) without actionable driver mutations; however, most patients experience disease progression within 12 months. A subset develop oligoprogression, defined by progression at a limited number of metastatic sites with otherwise controlled disease. Oligoprogression represents a therapeutic window in which local ablative therapy could be used to prolong disease control. In the prior phase II CURB trial, SBRT was shown to significantly prolong progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with oligoprogressive NSCLC. Methods: CCTG-BR38 is an international, multicenter, open-label, randomized phase III trial conducted through the NCI National Clinical Trials Network. Adults with stage IV NSCLC receiving first-line ICI ± chemotherapy who develop ≤5 extracranial oligoprogressive lesions are randomized 1:1 to: (1) switch to second-line standard systemic therapy or (2) SBRT (30 Gy in 3 fractions) to all oligoprogressive sites followed by continuation of the same first-line systemic therapy. Randomization is stratified by type of first-line systemic therapy (ICI alone vs ICI + chemotherapy), number of oligoprogressive lesions (1–2 vs 3–5), and ECOG performance status (0-1 vs 2). Patients with treated, stable brain metastases are eligible. Primary Endpoints: Dual primary endpoints are PFS and overall survival (OS). Secondary endpoints include safety (CTCAE v5.0), patient-reported adverse events (PRO-CTCAE), quality of life (EORTC QLQ-C30/LC13), and cost-effectiveness (EQ-5D-5L; Canadian sites). Optional blood and tissue collection for exploratory biomarker analyses are planned. Statistical Considerations: A total of 320 patients (160 per arm) will be enrolled. The sample size is based on detecting a HR of 0.7 for OS (an improvement in median OS from 10 to 14.3 months) with 80% power using a 1-sided 2% level test (the overall 1-sided 2.5% type I error will be assigned 2% to OS and 0.5% to PFS). Interim analyses for futility and efficacy are planned. Current Status: The trial was centrally activated on April 3, 2025. Accrual is ongoing across Canadian and US NCTN sites. Clinical trial information: NCT06686771 .
Precision Radiotherapy: Reduction in Radiation for Oropharyngeal Cancer in the 30 ROC Trial
Abstract Background Patients with human papillomavirus–related oropharyngeal cancers have excellent outcomes but experience clinically significant toxicities when treated with standard chemoradiotherapy (70 Gy). We hypothesized that functional imaging could identify patients who could be safely deescalated to 30 Gy of radiotherapy. Methods In 19 patients, pre- and intratreatment dynamic fluorine-18-labeled fluoromisonidazole positron emission tomography (PET) was used to assess tumor hypoxia. Patients without hypoxia at baseline or intratreatment received 30 Gy; patients with persistent hypoxia received 70 Gy. Neck dissection was performed at 4 months in deescalated patients to assess pathologic response. Magnetic resonance imaging (weekly), circulating plasma cell-free DNA, RNA-sequencing, and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) were performed to identify potential molecular determinants of response. Samples from an independent prospective study were obtained to reproduce molecular findings. All statistical tests were 2-sided. Results Fifteen of 19 patients had no hypoxia on baseline PET or resolution on intratreatment PET and were deescalated to 30 Gy. Of these 15 patients, 11 had a pathologic complete response. Two-year locoregional control and overall survival were 94.4% (95% confidence interval = 84.4% to 100%) and 94.7% (95% confidence interval = 85.2% to 100%), respectively. No acute grade 3 radiation–related toxicities were observed. Microenvironmental features on serial imaging correlated better with pathologic response than tumor burden metrics or circulating plasma cell-free DNA. A WGS-based DNA repair defect was associated with response (P = .02) and was reproduced in an independent cohort (P = .03). Conclusions Deescalation of radiotherapy to 30 Gy on the basis of intratreatment hypoxia imaging was feasible, safe, and associated with minimal toxicity. A DNA repair defect identified by WGS was predictive of response. Intratherapy personalization of chemoradiotherapy may facilitate marked deescalation of radiotherapy.