1596 Background: Structured feedback from community oncologists regarding trial design rarely occurs. Survey templates were created to assess trial feasibility, design and scientific interest from the community, with the aim of improving accrual. We report results from a survey regarding redesign of the Phase III CODEL trial for newly diagnosed 1p/19q codeleted AG, which employed this approach. Methods: A field-tested, online survey template was tailored for CODEL and emailed to U.S. and international oncologists. The survey assessed (a) practice changes resulting from ASCO 2012 data from RTOG 9402 (abstract # 2008b) and EORTC 26951 (abstract # 2); (b) scientific interest in a redesigned trial; and (c) potential accrual issues. Respondents reviewed a brief trial concept and answered 15 questions anonymously via a web-based system. Results: 173 oncologists completed the survey over 2 weeks in Sept 2012(48% US, 52% Int’l; 35% med oncs, 31% rad oncs, 29% neuro-oncs). Results from the 2 prior studies substantially influenced clinicians’ treatment decisions for patients with newly diagnosed 1p19q codeleted AG--from only 9% recommending RT+PCV prior to the ASCO reports, to 46% after the results were presented. Previously, 25% recommended RT alone, and after ASCO, no one did. Most indicated strong interest in the revised CODEL research questions, trial design, randomization arms, and in re-opening the revised trial. The most interesting schema was a 3-arm design (selected by 45% of respondents): (RT + procarbazine, CCNU and vincristine chemotherapy [PCV]) vs. (RT + Temozolomide [TMZ]) vs. (TMZ alone), with neuro-oncs (49%) preferring it most, and rad oncs least (36%). The second most interesting choice (27%) was RT+PCV vs. RT+TMZ; the third choice (20%) was RT+TMZ vs. TMZ alone. Most (61%) felt patients would accept any arm. Respondents encountered eligible patients frequently enough to meet projected CODEL accrual goals. Conclusions: Survey findings significantly influenced decisions on how best to redesign the CODEL trial. Rapid, web-based surveys of community oncologists can provide important feedback regarding level of interest, which might facilitate timely accrual and trial completion.
Intervention to increase site activations for multicenter trials to improve accrual.
e16569 Background: The National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) Cancer Trials Support Unit (CTSU) provides access to NCI-sponsored trials. To participate in a multi-center trial, sites must first complete the trial’s Protocol Specific Requirements (PSRs); interested sites are listed as “pending” in the CTSU database until all PSRs are completed. The aim of this investigation was to examine site activation delays for a study with multiple start-up steps and evaluate an intervention directed at helping sites more rapidly open it to patient accrual. Methods: NCCTG N0577, an anaplastic glioma trial named CODEL, was identified as a slow accruing trial with many sites listed as pending activation in the CTSU’s database (>85%; n=227 pending). Most N0577 pending sites had 1-2 incomplete PSRs (with 75% requiring only a neurocognitive certification), and we suspected that sites were not aware of these requirements. To accelerate site activation for N0577, we created an intervention using Awareness Theory. First, N0577 was amended to streamline the neurocognitive certification process. We then generated email lists of the 227 pending sites’ PIs (n=21; note: many were PIs of multiple sites) and their respective administrators (n=46), and created tailored email notices by PSR category explaining the necessary steps to complete N0577 activation at their site or to report their site as not planning to participate. Emails were sent to sites via the CTSU. Results: 31 sites (14%) registered activity for N0577 within 3 weeks of the intervention. Of these, 22 changed status to “approved,” 2 were disapproved, 1 withdrew, and 6 made changes but remained pending. This represents a marked increase (+520%) in site activity of the CTSU Regulatory Support Service (RSS) for N0577, compared with the monthly average (5 events/mo) during the preceding 6 months. Accrual is being monitored to observe for any increases and will be reported. Conclusions: Complicated and incomplete PSRs delay site activation of multi-center trials and may impact accrual. Streamlining PSR processes and early monitoring of CTSU site activation with notifications to sites of outstanding PSRs for trials can increase the timeliness of sites opening trials, with the potential to improve accrual.
Adaptive Trials in the Neoadjuvant Setting: A Model to Safely Tailor Care While Accelerating Drug Development