A new trial shows that a shorter three-week radiation course is as safe and effective as the standard five-week treatment for women undergoing breast reconstruction. The RT CHARM trial found no increase in complications or effects on reconstruction efforts.
Breast cancer research is making progress through clinical trials, with 8 active trials currently open to patients and survivors. The trials aim to improve treatments and offer hope to millions of people affected by the disease.
The FDA approved atezolizumab for stage III dMMR colon cancer patients, showing improved disease-free survival rates with the addition of immunotherapy. The ATOMIC trial demonstrated a 50% reduction in cancer recurrence or death, making it a promising treatment option for this patient population.
The AFT-70 NAVIGATE trial tests a novel molecular residual disease-guided treatment strategy for ER-positive/HER2-negative breast cancer patients. The trial pairs giredestrant with longitudinal Signatera Genome MRD monitoring to identify patients who may benefit from treatment escalation with a CDK4/6 inhibitor.
A Phase III trial found that delivering focused radiation therapy over three to five sessions after surgery for a large brain metastasis reduced cancer recurrence at the surgical site. Fractionated stereotactic radiosurgery also showed a trend in controlling brain metastases that had not been removed surgically. Median overall survival...
The Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology is hosting a public webinar highlighting key findings from Alliance and Alliance Foundation Trials studies presented at the 2026 ASCO Annual Meeting. The webinar will feature treatment advances for breast, lung, and prostate cancers, and will include patient representatives to provide insigh...
Prostate cancer affects 1 in 8 men, with 60% diagnosed in men 65 and older. Clinical trials like Alliance's help improve early detection and treatment, reducing mortality rates by half since 1993. These trials also explore new treatments and survivorship strategies.
The Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology has released a film highlighting the importance of clinical trials in cancer research, featuring the story of a lung cancer patient who participated in a trial. The film emphasizes the human element of research and explores how individual participation contributes to progress in cancer care.
The Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology emphasizes the significance of clinical trials in advancing breast cancer treatments and early detection. The organization's work has led to a 44% decline in breast cancer mortality rates among women since 1989.
The RadiCaL study, the first randomized trial of a radiopharmaceutical in kidney cancer, found that adding radium-223 to the standard of care does not improve skeletal event-free survival. Patients who received the combination treatment lived a median of 28.3 months, compared with 19.7 months for those who received cabozantinib alone.
The Alliance QUANTUM trial is testing whether post-transplant consolidation therapy with teclistamab improves survival in patients with primary plasma cell leukemia. Plasma cell leukemia is a rare but aggressive blood cancer with poor long-term survival rates.
A new study found that simple weekly electronic symptom check-ins with care teams significantly improves the quality of life for individuals undergoing treatment for advanced cancer. The benefits were notable among patient groups that historically faced barriers to care, including Black patients and those with less formal education.
The FDA approved palbociclib in combination with trastuzumab and endocrine therapy for patients with hormone receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive advanced breast cancer. The PATINA trial demonstrated a significant prolongation of progression-free survival by over 15 months, providing new hope for individ...
A phase III trial is investigating whether an immune-boosting drug can help keep early-stage lung cancer from coming back after surgery. Researchers aim to enroll 336 participants with stage I non-small cell lung cancer and determine if the treatment reduces recurrence.
The FDA has accepted Genentech's supplemental Biologic License Application for atezolizumab, supported by phase III ATOMIC trial results. The trial showed a 50% reduction in cancer recurrence or death and 86.3% disease-free survival rate.
A pilot study of the Participant Engagement Portal (PEP) tool shows that 84% of participants had a positive experience, with high usability and satisfaction rates. PEP facilitates two-way communication between patients and clinicians, allowing for self-reporting of social risk factors and future research opportunities.
The Alliance A082402 study evaluates the effectiveness of involved-station I²-PORT in reducing NSCLC recurrence without long-term side effects. Participants will undergo randomized treatment with or without targeted radiation therapy after surgery.
The ERASur clinical trial is investigating whether total ablative therapy can improve overall survival in patients with newly diagnosed, limited metastatic colorectal cancer. The study has reached one-third patient accrual milestone, signaling strong momentum.
The ASPIRE trial aims to enroll 1,200 participants with advanced prostate cancer and assess the impact of chemotherapy on overall survival and disease progression. Genetic profiling is included to identify patients who benefit most from intensified treatment.
A study by the Alliance Foundation Trials shows that combining immunotherapy and chemotherapy before surgery can help more patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer undergo complete cancer resection, improving their long-term health. The treatment also led to high rates of lymph node clearance and successful surgical re...
The Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology has several active trials specifically designed to help people with head and neck cancers. Trials include testing high-dose prophylactic gabapentin to prevent opioid use during treatment, as well as immunotherapy with nivolumab and cabozantinib for mucosal melanoma and nasopharyngeal carcino...
A clinical trial aims to evaluate whether laser therapy reduces vaginal dryness caused by breast cancer treatment. The study, REVITALIZE, plans to enroll approximately 250 women with a history of breast cancer who experience moderate to severe vaginal dryness.
A randomized trial found that duloxetine does not prevent painful neuropathy caused by oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy in patients with stage II or III colorectal cancer. The study suggests that duloxetine should only be used for managing existing neuropathy, not prevention.
The Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology is enrolling adolescent and young adult cancer patients in various trials, including genetic services and treatment studies. These trials aim to address longstanding gaps in care and improve outcomes for AYAs with cancer.
The phase III Alliance ATOMIC trial shows that adding immunotherapy to standard chemotherapy improves clinical outcomes for patients with stage III dMMR colon cancer. The study found a 50% reduction in cancer recurrence risk and a 86.3% disease-free survival rate at three years.
A new clinical trial will investigate whether adding the oral medication vorasidenib to standard chemotherapy improves progression-free survival for people with newly-diagnosed, grade 3 IDH-mutant astrocytoma. The study aims to recruit 400 individuals with this type of brain cancer and evaluate the safety and side-effect profile of the...
The NRG-LU005 trial found that immunotherapy atezolizumab did not improve survival for patients with limited-stage small cell lung cancer when added to chemoradiation. Twice-daily radiation therapy, however, was associated with improved survival in this population.
The Alliance trial explores the combination of zanubrutinib and sonrotoclax for CLL treatment, aiming to send cancer into remission and allow patients to stop treatment earlier. The study has the potential to be life-changing for patients and their families, reducing the burden of ongoing therapy and improving quality of life.
The Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology is spotlighting new trials for colorectal cancer in March, focusing on early detection methods and treatments for treatment delays and loss of appetite. The trials aim to improve patient outcomes, with several enrolling patients with newly diagnosed colon or rectal cancer.
A new clinical study aims to improve communication between patients and families about genetic risks of colorectal cancer. The trial will compare two methods of sharing genetic test results with close relatives, with the goal of learning which approach helps more family members get necessary genetic testing.
The Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology will host a webinar highlighting recent clinical advances in breast cancer, multiple myeloma, and leukemia. Researchers will present key findings from ASH and SABCS meetings, impacting treatment outcomes.
A national clinical trial found that oxybutynin significantly reduced hot flash frequency and quality of life for men undergoing hormone therapy for prostate cancer. The study showed substantial improvements in hot flash symptoms, often within the first week of treatment.
The phase III PATINA study demonstrated that adding CDK4/6 inhibitor palbociclib to standard maintenance therapy significantly prolongs progression-free survival by more than 15 months compared to standard therapy alone. The study found a meaningful improvement in median PFS with no new signals.
A national clinical trial found that abemaciclib, an oral cancer drug, may slow tumor growth in patients with aggressive meningiomas with specific genetic mutations. The trial showed promising results, with a median progression-free survival of 10 months and a median overall survival of 29 months.
A major U.S. clinical trial has uncovered a genetic factor that may inform how to optimize the dosing of abiraterone, a widely used hormone treatment for advanced prostate cancer. Researchers found that men who carry a specific version of the gene SULT2A1 clear abiraterone from their bodies more slowly, which could affect how well it w...
A new clinical trial, PAGODA, seeks to minimize treatment interruptions and help patients complete their chemotherapy as planned. The trial will test a structured plan to guide doctors in making small, proactive changes to chemotherapy doses to prevent treatment delays.
A new clinical trial, RECIPROCAL, seeks to optimize targeted radiation therapy for men with advanced prostate cancer by adjusting treatment based on individual PSA levels. The trial aims to minimize side effects while preserving survival benefits.
A blood test may help doctors identify which patients with colon cancer can benefit from anti-inflammatory medication and chemotherapy after surgery. The test measures circulating tumor DNA levels, and high-risk patients who test positive see improved survival rates when taking celecoxib with chemotherapy.
Linda Bulone, a Queens Cancer Center Oncology nurse, received the 2025 Alliance Clinical Research Professionals Research Integrity Service Excellence (CRP RISE) Award. She has significantly increased clinical trial participation, expanded early screening efforts, and supported reductions in late-stage diagnoses.
The DEFEND study aims to assess whether virtual exercise sessions can be successfully delivered to patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy. Researchers will evaluate the impact on physical function, fatigue, and disability.
A new Alliance trial is exploring the effectiveness of a combination of targeted therapy and immunotherapy for patients with advanced adrenocortical carcinoma, a rare and aggressive cancer. The study aims to improve disease control and quality of life for patients with limited treatment options.
Researchers found a targeted immunotherapy regimen yielded promising survival outcomes for patients with B-cell ALL, outperforming historical results. The treatment was well-tolerated, with more than half completing the full course of therapy, and responded similarly in patients with complex medical histories.
A recent study published in Leukemia found that age-based classifications in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) treatment may be outdated. The research analyzed data from 2,823 adult AML patients, revealing nuanced age-related trends in genetic mutations and survival outcomes.
The ASPIRE trial is a Phase III clinical study investigating whether adding chemotherapy to standard treatments can extend survival in men with advanced prostate cancer. The trial aims to determine the effectiveness of combining docetaxel with hormone therapy and apalutamide.
A groundbreaking study enrolls 465 AYA cancer patients to test if chatbot technology and digital education tools increase uptake of genetic counseling and improve patient outcomes. The trial aims to address longstanding gaps in genetic services for AYAs aged 18-39, who often receive care with limited access to genetic specialists.
The Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology will host a public webinar showcasing key findings from the 2025 ASCO Annual Meeting. Researchers will discuss latest information on colorectal, squamous cell, and renal cell cancers.
The ATOMIC trial demonstrates a statistically significant improvement in disease-free survival with the addition of atezolizumab to standard adjuvant FOLFOX chemotherapy. Patients treated with atezolizumab had a 50% lower risk of disease recurrence or death compared to those receiving chemotherapy alone.
A phase II clinical trial shows that combining immune checkpoint inhibition with avelumab and cetuximab significantly improves progression-free survival compared to avelumab alone for patients with advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. The combination also leads to a confirmed objective response rate of 27.6%.
A blood test using Signatera detected tiny fragments of tumor DNA in the blood, which showed that adding celecoxib to treatment may improve disease-free survival for patients with stage III colon cancer. The analysis found significantly improved outcomes for those taking celecoxib compared to placebo.
The PATINA study demonstrates that palbociclib improves progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with HR+, HER2+ metastatic breast cancer, with a median PFS of 44.3 months. This represents an extension in median PFS of over 15 months compared to anti-HER2 therapy and endocrine therapy alone.