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AzTrials

Non-small Cell Lung CancerPhase 2NCT04245514

Multimodality Treatment in Stage III Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)

A Phase 2 study testing Durvalumab and Radiotherapy in people with Non-small Cell Lung Cancer and NSCLC, run by Swiss Cancer Institute at 13 sites in 2 countries.

Active, not recruiting

Under way, not looking for participants. Everyone needed has enrolled. The study is still running.

Official record
Search all trials

Trial summary

Resectable, locally advanced NSCLC with involvement of mediastinal lymph nodes (N2) is associated with a high risk of (systemic) recurrence despite neo-adjuvant chemotherapy. Neo-adjuvant immunotherapy is a promising additional treatment modality aiming at increasing local control and better tackling micrometastases… Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 75 years
Conditions the study is for
Non-small Cell Lung Cancer, NSCLC
What is being tested?
Durvalumab and Radiotherapy
Type of treatment
Surgery or procedure
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
90 participants
Where
13 sitesin 2 countries
Study dates
15 Jul 2020to Dec 2031
Phase
Phase 2
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 75 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Written informed consent according to ICH-GCP regulations before registration and prior to any trial specific procedures.
  • Histologically (cytology is accepted if histology is not possible) confirmed NSCLC (adeno-, squamous-, large cell carcinoma, or NSCLC not otherwise specified (NOS)) irrespective of genomic aberrations or PD-L1 expression status.
  • Tumor stage T1-4>7 N2 M0 (i.e. T1-3 N2 or T4 N2 but T4 only allowed if due to size > 7cm, not allowed if due to invasion or nodule in different ipsilateral lobe), according to the TNM classification, 8th edition, December 2016 (see Appendix 2). Mediastinal lymph node staging has to follow the process chart.
  • Tumor is considered resectable based on a multidisciplinary tumor board decision made before neoadjuvant treatment. Resectable is when a complete resection can be achieved according to Rami-Porta
  • Patients with a prior malignancy (except NSCLC) and treated with curative intention are eligible if all treatment of that malignancy was completed at least 2 years before registration and the patient has no evidence of disease at registration. Less than 2 years is acceptable for malignancies with low risk of recurrence and/or no late recurrence, after consultation with CI.
  • Measurable disease per RECIST v1.1 criteria by PET/CT with contrast enhanced CT-scan.
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  • Tumor tissue is available for the mandatory translational research (formalin-fixed; preferably histology, cytology allowed if histology is not possible)
  • Age 18-75 years at time of registration
  • WHO performance status 0-1
  • Adequate bone marrow function: absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1.5 x 109/L, platelet count ≥ 100 x 109/L, hemoglobin ≥ 90 g/L (transfusion allowed)
  • Adequate hepatic function: total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x ULN (except for patients with Gilbert's disease ≤ 3.0 x ULN), AST and ALT ≤ 1.5 x ULN, AP ≤ 2.5 x ULN.
  • Adequate renal function: calculated creatinine clearance ≥ 60 mL/min, according to the formula of Cockcroft-Gault
  • Appropriate lung function based on the ESTS guidelines:
  • For pneumonectomy: FEV1 and DLCO ≥80%. If one of both <80%, an exercise test peak VO2 >75% or 20ml/kg/min is needed
  • For resection less than pneumonectomy (resection up to the calculated extent): exercise test peak VO2 ≥35% or ≥10ml/kg/min, with predicted postoperative FEV1 and DLCO ≥ 30%.
  • NB: if Spiroergometry would be needed according to ESTS guidelines but is not possible in due time due to patient factors or the center's resources alternative assessment methods of fitness for resection can be used (e.g. Stair climbing test, V/P scan)
  • Adequate cardiac function according to investigator's decision based on evaluation of risk according to NYHA classification
  • Women of childbearing potential must use highly effective contraception, are not pregnant or lactating and agree not to become pregnant during trial treatment and until 90 days after the last dose of investigational drug. A negative pregnancy test performed within 7 days before registration is required for all women of childbearing potential.
  • Men agree not to donate sperm or to father a child during trial treatment and until 90 days after the last dose of investigational drug.

Who cannot join

  • Presence of any distant metastasis or N3 disease. Brain metastases have to be excluded by CT or MRI.
  • Sulcus superior tumors (Pancoast tumors) or T4 for any other reason than size >7cm.
  • Any previous treatment for NSCLC
  • Any previous treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors, including durvalumab
  • Previous radiotherapy to the chest (with the exception of tangential breast irradiation with minimal dose to lung and mediastinum, and superficial orthovoltage or electron irradiation of localized skin lesions)
  • Concomitant or recent (within 30 days of registration) treatment with any other experimental drug and/or enrollment in another clinical trial.
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  • Concomitant use of other anti-cancer drugs or radiotherapy.
  • Severe or uncontrolled cardiovascular disease (congestive heart failure NYHA III or IV) unstable angina pectoris, history of myocardial infarction within the last three months, serious arrhythmias requiring medication (with exception of atrial fibrillation or paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia), uncontrolled hypertension.
  • Preexisting peripheral neuropathy (> Grade 1)
  • Body weight less than 30 kg
  • Known history of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or active chronic Hepatitis C or Hepatitis B virus infection or any uncontrolled active systemic infection requiring intravenous (iv) antimicrobial treatment.
  • Known history of allogeneic organ transplant
  • Active autoimmune disease or a syndrome requiring systemic treatment within the past 3 months or a documented history of clinically severe autoimmune disease. Exceptions: vitiligo, resolved childhood asthma/atopy, hypothyroidism stable on hormone replacement, Sjögren's syndrome
  • Active or prior documented inflammatory bowel disease (e.g. Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis)
  • Concomitant or prior use of immunosuppressive medication within 28 days before registration, with the exceptions of intranasal and inhaled corticosteroids, or systemic corticosteroids which must not exceed 10 mg/day of prednisone or a dose equivalent corticosteroid, and the premedication for chemotherapy
  • Any concomitant drugs contraindicated for use with the trial drugs according to the approved product information.
  • Known hypersensitivity to trial drugs (cisplatin and docetaxel, durvalumab) or to any excipient
  • Any other serious underlying medical, psychiatric, psychological, familial or geographical condition, which in the judgment of the investigator may interfere with the planned staging, treatment and follow-up, affect patient compliance or place the patient at high risk from treatment-related complications.

Trial locations and contacts

13 sites in 2 countries.

13 sites in 2 countries

Switzerland12 sites

  • Kantonsspital Aarau

    Aarau, CH-5001

  • Kantonsspital Baden

    Baden, 5404

  • St. Claraspital Basel

    Basel, 4016

  • Universitaetsspital Basel

    Basel, 4031

  • IOSI Ospedale Regionale di Bellinzona e Valli

    Bellinzona, 6500

  • Inselspital

    Bern, 3010

  • Kantonsspital Graubuenden

    Chur, CH-7000

  • Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève

    Geneva, 1211

  • Kantonsspital - St. Gallen

    Sankt Gallen, CH-9007

  • Regionalspital Thun

    Thun, 3600

  • Stadtspital Triemli

    Zurich, 8063

  • Universitätsspital Zuerich

    Zurich, 8091

Other trials in Switzerland

Germany1 site

  • Universitätsklinikum Tübingen

    Tübingen, 72076

Other trials in Germany

About this study

Official title: Immune-modulatory Radiotherapy to Enhance the Effects of Neoadjuvant PD-L1 Blockade After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Patients With Resectable Stage III(N2) Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC): A Multicenter Phase II Trial

Resectable, locally advanced NSCLC with involvement of mediastinal lymph nodes (N2) is associated with a high risk of (systemic) recurrence despite neo-adjuvant chemotherapy. Neo-adjuvant immunotherapy is a promising additional treatment modality aiming at increasing local control and better tackling micrometastases at the time of radical local treatment. Radiotherapy is thought to act synergistically with immunotherapy through release of tumor antigens and modulation of the local immune microenvironment in favor of a better antigen-presentation and (systemic) anti-tumor immune response (abscopal effect).

The aim of the proposed SAKK 16/18 trial is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of adding immune-modulatory radiotherapy to the SAKK 16/14 treatment regimen by combining neo-adjuvant radio-immunotherapy. Due to the lack of evidence for an optimal radiotherapy regimen for an "in-situ vaccination" effect three different radiotherapy regimens will be tested.

Read the detailed description

In resectable locally advanced lung cancer there is an urgent need for more efficacious therapy, since most of the patients will eventually have a relapse and will die of the disease. Distant metastases are the main site of recurrence. Therefore, the most promising treatment strategy is to better eliminate micrometastases present at the time of diagnosis through improved systemic treatment. In this regard, the SAKK 16/14 trial is investigating the efficacy of the anti-PD-L1 inhibitor durvalumab before and after surgery added to standard neoadjuvant chemotherapy with cisplatin/docetaxel. It has just completed accrual as of Q1 2019.

The primary aim of the SAKK 16/18 trial is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of adding immune-modulatory radiotherapy to the SAKK 16/14 treatment regimen by combining it with neoadjuvant immunotherapy. Due to the lack of evidence for an optimal immune-modulatory radiotherapy regimen we test 3 different radiotherapy regimens to investigate differences in efficacy and tolerability as key exploratory endpoint.

Neoadjuvant therapy is the optimal setting to test the combination of immune-modulatory radiotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy. Resection of the primary tumor and mediastinal lymph nodes will allow to investigate pathological responses and nodal downstaging at an early time point. Furthermore, this setting allows for extensive translational research evaluating cellular and molecular mechanisms of anti-tumor immune response.

SAKK 16/18 is a prospective, multicenter, phase II trial with 3 radiotherapy cohorts.

The treatment consists of

  • Neoadjuvant chemotherapy with cisplatin and docetaxel: 3 cycles of 21 days
  • Neoadjuvant immunotherapy with durvalumab: 1 cycle
  • Neoadjuvant immune-modulatory radiotherapy
  • Concurrent with neoadjuvant immunotherapy
  • Random assignment to one of the following fractionation regimens:
  • 20x2 Gy (weekdaily, 4 weeks)
  • 5x5 Gy (weekdaily, 1 week)
  • 3x8 Gy (on alternate days, 1 week)
  • Surgery
  • Between 4 and 6 weeks after the application of durvalumab (independent of the radiotherapy regimen)
  • If indicated: Postoperative radiotherapy (should start between 3 to 6 weeks after surgery)
  • Adjuvant immunotherapy with durvalumab: 13 cycles of 28 days
Being tested
Durvalumab, Radiotherapy
Keywords
Immune-modulatory radiotherapy, neoadjuvant PD-L1 blockade, neoadjuvant chemotherapy, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), NSCLC, Surgery, abscopal effect
Medical subject headings
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • DurvalumabDrug

    Immunotherapy

  • RadiotherapyRadiation

    Immune-modulatory radiotherapy to the primary tumor, with either Cohort A: 20 x 2 Gy weekdaily Cohort B: 5 x 5 Gy weekdaily Cohort C: 3 x 8 Gy q2d

Study groups in NCT04245514
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Durvalumab with 3 RT cohortsExperimentalPatients will be allocated in a 1:1:1 ratio to the three radiotherapy regimens (Arm A: 20 x 2 Gy weekdaily, Arm B: 5 x 5 Gy weekdaily, and Arm C: 3 x 8 Gy q2d) using the minimization method with a random component (80% allocation probability) to reduce predictability of allocation according to the following stratification factor: T classification (T1-2 vs T3-4).
Receives: Drug: Durvalumab; Radiation: Radiotherapy

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Event-free survival (EFS) at 12 months

    EFS is defined as time from registration to one of the following events, whichever occurs first:

    • Relapse or progression according to RECIST 1.1 criteria.
    • Second tumor
    • Death due to any cause Patients not experiencing an event will be censored at the date of last tumor assessment before starting a subsequent treatment, if any.

    As a sensitivity analysis, the primary endpoint will also be calculated according to the following definition of an event:

    • Progression during neoadjuvant treatment leading to inoperability
    • Recurrence of loco-regional disease after surgery
    • Appearance of metastases at any localization
    • Second tumor
    • Death due to any cause

    Measured: at 12 months

Secondary outcomes (10)

  1. Event-free survival (EFS)

    EFS is defined as time from registration to one of the following events, whichever occurs first:

    • Relapse or progression according to RECIST 1.1 criteria
    • Second tumor
    • Death due to any cause Patients not experiencing an event will be censored at the date of last tumor assessment before starting a subsequent treatment, if any.

    As a sensitivity analysis, the primary endpoint will also be calculated according to the following definition of an event:

    • Progression during neoadjuvant treatment leading to inoperability
    • Recurrence of loco-regional disease after surgery
    • Appearance of metastases at any localization
    • Second tumor
    • Death due to any cause

    Measured: From the date of registration until the date of progressive disease, relapse, second tumor or death, whichever occurs first, assessed up to 20 years after registration

  2. Recurrence-free survival (RFS) after R0 resection

    RFS after R0 resection is defined as the time from surgery until one of the following events, whichever comes first:

    • Recurrence of loco-regional disease
    • Appearance of metastases at any localization
    • Death Patients not experiencing an event will be censored at the date of the last available assessment before initiation of a subsequent treatment, if any.

    This endpoint will only be calculated for patients with R0 resection.

    Measured: From the date of surgery until the date of recurrence of loco-regional disease, appearance of metastases, or death, whichever occurs first, assessed up to 20 years after registration

  3. Overall survival (OS)

    OS is defined as time from registration until death due to any cause. Patients not experiencing an event will be censored at the last date they were known to be alive.

    Measured: From the date of registration until the date of death from any cause, assessed up to 20 years after registration

  4. Objective response (OR) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy

    OR after neoadjuvant chemotherapy is defined as complete response (CR) or partial response (PR) at the first assessment after the end of neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

    Response will be evaluated according to RECIST 1.1 criteria. Patients without response assessment after the end of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and before the start of next trial treatment, if any, will be regarded as having a non-evaluable response (NE) and shall be considered as failures for this endpoint.

    Measured: At the date of tumor assessment after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, estimated at approximately 9 weeks post-baseline

  5. OR after neoadjuvant immuno-radiotherapy

    OR after neoadjuvant immuno-radiotherapy is defined as complete response (CR) or partial response (PR) at the first assessment after the end of neoadjuvant immuno-radiotherapy.

    Response will be evaluated according to RECIST 1.1 criteria. Patients without response assessment after the end of neoadjuvant immuno-radiotherapy before the start of next trial treatment, if any, will be regarded as having a non-evaluable response (NE) and shall be considered as failures for this endpoint.

    Measured: At the date of tumor assessment after neoadjuvant immune-radiotherapy, estimated at approximately 13 weeks post-baseline

  6. Pathological Complete Response (pCR)

    pCR is defined as complete tumor regression with no evidence of vital tumor cells in the sections of the primary lesion and mediastinal lymph nodes after surgery .

    Patients who were not resected will not be taken into consideration for this endpoint.

    Results from Central Pathology will be used.

    Measured: At the date of tumor assessment after surgery, estimated at approximately 15 weeks post-baseline

  7. Local Major pathological response (MPR)

    Local Major pathologic response (MPR) is defined as the presence of 10% or less of vital tumor cells in the sections of the primary lesion - without taking into account the presence or extent/viability of tumor cells in the lymph nodes presenting. Patients who were not resected will not be taken into consideration for this endpoint. Results from Central Pathology will be used.

    Measured: At the date of tumor assessment after surgery, estimated at approximately 15 weeks post-baseline

  8. Overall Major pathological response (oMPR)

    Overall Major pathologic response (oMPR) is defined as the presence of 10% or less of vital tumor cells in the sections of the primary lesion and/or mediastinal lymph nodes presenting focal microscopic disease after surgery Patients who were not resected will not be taken into consideration for this endpoint. Results from Central Pathology will be used.

    Measured: At the date of tumor assessment after surgery, estimated at approximately 15 weeks post-baseline

  9. Nodal down-staging to < ypN2

    Nodal down-staging to < ypN2 is defined as the case where after the surgery the remaining node status of the patients according to the TNM cancer staging system is less than N2 (N0/1).

    Patients who were not resected will not be taken into consideration for this endpoint.

    Measured: At the date of tumor assessment after surgery, estimated at approximately 15 weeks post-baseline

  10. Complete resection

    Complete resection is defined as fulfillment of all the following criteria, according to:

    • free resection margins proved microscopically (R0 resection)
    • systematic nodal dissection or lobe-specific systematic nodal dissection
    • no extracapsular nodal extension of the tumor
    • the highest mediastinal node removed must be negative Patients who were not resected will not be taken into consideration for this endpoint.

    Measured: At the date of tumor assessment after surgery, estimated at approximately 15 weeks post-baseline

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted29 Jan 2020
  2. Study start15 Jul 2020
  3. Primary completion7 Dec 2026 (estimated)
  4. Study completionDec 2031 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase 2
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Model description
Prospective, multicenter, phase II trial with 1 single arm with 3 radiotherapy cohorts
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
90 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT04245514
Sponsor's protocol ID
SAKK 16/18
Status last verified
Oct 2026
First submitted
16 Jan 2020
Last updated
23 Oct 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No

Publications

  • Bahce I, Dickhoff C, Schneiders FL, Veltman J, Heineman DJ, Hashemi SMS, Vrijmoet A, Houda I, Ulas EB, Bakker J, van de Ven P, Bouwhuis N, Meijboom LJ, Oprea-Lager DE, van Maldegem F, Fransen MF, de Gruijl TD, Radonic T, Senan S. Single-arm trial of neoadjuvant ipilimumab plus nivolumab with chemoradiotherapy in patients with resectable and borderline resectable lung cancer: the INCREASE study. J Immunother Cancer. 2024 Sep 30;12(9):e009799. doi: 10.1136/jitc-2024-009799.

    PubMed 39349061

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 2 study testing Durvalumab and Radiotherapy in people with Non-small Cell Lung Cancer and NSCLC, run by Swiss Cancer Institute at 13 sites in 2 countries.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 19 inclusion and 18 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 23 Oct 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 13 sites in Switzerland, Germany. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

What does this phase mean?

Phase 2 studies give the treatment to a larger group to see whether it has the intended effect and to keep checking safety.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Event-free survival (EFS) at 12 months (time frame: at 12 months). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT04245514, which also lists 1 linked publication.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 23 Oct 2026.

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