
"I was delighted to take part in a clinical trial as it has the potential to really help others in the future.”
This trial was looking at a drug called nivolumab to treat non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that has grown into surrounding tissues or spread to another part of the body (advanced cancer). The people taking part had a type of NSCLC called squamous cell cancer.
Doctors usually treat advanced NSCLC with chemotherapy that includes such as cisplatin or carboplatin. Unfortunately the cancer sometimes continues to grow, or comes back after treatment. If this happens, doctors may then use a chemotherapy drug called docetaxel.
In this trial, researchers were looking at a new drug called nivolumab to treat advanced (stage 3b or stage 4) squamous cell lung cancer.
Nivolumab is a type of biological therapy called a monoclonal antibody. It can help the body’s immune system to attack lung cancer cells.
This trial compared nivolumab with docetaxel. The aims were to find out
The researchers found that on average people who had nivolumab lived longer than people who had docetaxel.
This was a randomised trial. The people taking part were put into 1 of 2 treatment groups by computer. Neither they nor their doctors could choose which group they were in. Of the 272 people who took part,
The trial team looked at the length of time people lived, with or without signs of their cancer getting worse. Researchers call this overall survival. They found that the average length of time people lived was
The side effects of nivolumab included tiredness (fatigue), loss of appetite and weakness. But the researchers found that people having nivolumab had fewer serious side effects than people having docetaxel.
The trial team concluded that nivolumab improved overall survival for people with advanced squamous cell lung cancer who had already had other treatments.
We have based this summary on information from the research team. The information has been reviewed by independent specialists () and published in a medical journal. The figures we quote above were provided by the trial who did the research. We have not analysed the data ourselves.
Please note: In order to join a trial you will need to discuss it with your doctor, unless otherwise specified.
Professor Christian Ottensmeier
Bristol-Myers Squibb
Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre (ECMC)
NIHR Clinical Research Network; Cancer
Freephone 0808 800 4040
"I was delighted to take part in a clinical trial as it has the potential to really help others in the future.”