
"I am glad that taking part in a trial might help others on their own cancer journey.”
This trial is looking at adding lurbinectedin to atezolizumab to help treat small cell lung cancer (SCLC).
It is for people whose cancer has spread within the chest or to other parts of the body. This is called extensive disease.
You may have chemotherapy and atezolizumab as the first treatment for extensive small cell lung cancer. This is called induction treatment. The aim is to shrink the cancer as much as possible.
You may then continue to have more atezolizumab on its own. This is called maintenance treatment. The aim is to control the cancer for as long as possible.
The usual chemotherapy drugs you might have as your first treatment are carboplatin and etoposide. Atezolizumab is an immunotherapy. It helps your to find and kill cancer cells.
Researchers are looking at ways to improve treatment. In this trial they are looking at a chemotherapy drug called lurbinectedin. It is a newer chemotherapy. Doctors think that adding it to maintenance atezolizumab could help to control the cancer for longer.
The main aims of the trial are to find out:
The following bullet points are a summary of the entry conditions for this trial. Talk to your doctor or the trial team if you are unsure about any of these. They will be able to advise you.
Who can take part
You may be able to join this trial to have chemotherapy and atezolizumab (induction treatment) if all of the following apply. You:
To have maintenance treatment the following must apply. You:
Who can’t take part
Cancer related
You can’t join the induction part of the trial if any of the following apply. You:
Medical conditions
You can’t join the induction part of the trial if any of the following apply. You:
Other
You can’t join the induction part of the trial if any of the following apply. You:
You can’t have atezolizumab and lurbinectedin (maintenance treatment) if certain exclusion conditions apply. Speak to your doctor or research nurse if you want to find out more about the specific entry conditions for the maintenance part of the trial. |
This phase 3 trial is taking place worldwide. There are 2 stages of treatment. The team need about:
This includes about 41 people from the UK.
First treatment (induction treatment)
You have treatment in cycles. Each 3 week period is a On the first day of each cycle you have:
You also have etoposide on days 2 and 3 of each treatment cycle. You have atezolizumab and carboplatin as a drip into a vein. Etoposide is a capsule that you swallow or you have it as a drip into a vein.
The first treatment stage takes 12 weeks in total.
You then have some tests check if you are suitable for maintenance treatment.
Ongoing treatment (maintenance treatment)
You can join the maintenance part of the trial if your cancer doesn’t get worse after induction treatment. You can’t join this part if your cancer gets worse. Your doctor will talk to you about other treatment options.
This part of the trial is randomised. There are 2 treatment groups. A computer puts you into a group. Neither you nor your doctor can decide which group you are in.
You have one of the following:
You have treatment in cycles. Each 3 week period is a cycle of treatment.
You have treatment once every 3 weeks. You have all your treatment as a drip into a vein. You have it for as long as it is working and the side effects aren’t too bad.
Blood and tissue samples
The researchers ask you to give some extra tissue samples. They also ask to take some extra blood samples. Where possible, you have these at the same time as your routine blood tests.
They plan to use the samples to:
You can say no to giving the tissue samples. It won’t affect you taking part in the rest of the trial.
Quality of life
The trial team ask you to fill out a questionnaire:
The questionnaire asks about side effects and how you’ve been feeling. This is called a quality of life study.
You see the doctor and have tests before you can take part. These include:
Your doctor repeats these tests to check you are suitable to have maintenance treatment.
You have all your treatment at the hospital on the day care ward. The visits to have induction treatment take about 3 to 6 hours each time. The visits to have maintenance treatment take about 3 to 6 hours each time. There is a chance you might be at the hospital for longer.
During treatment you have a check up and blood tests once every 3 weeks.
You have a CT scan every:
You stop having the trial scans if your cancer gets worse.
Follow up
You see the team 1 month after you finish treatment. After that you see or speak with a member of the team every 3 months. This may be at a hospital visit or they may call you.
The trial team monitor you during treatment and afterwards. Contact your advice line or tell your doctor or nurse if any side effects are bad or not getting better.
Atezolizumab can affect the immune system. It may cause inflammation in different parts of the body. This can cause serious side effects. They could happen during treatment, or some months after treatment has finished. Rarely, these side effects could be life threatening.
Your doctor or nurse can explain what these side effects are, the risk of them happening and what to look out for. |
The most common side effects of atezolizumab include:
Lurbinectedin is a newer drug so there might be some side effects we don’t know about yet. The most common side effects we know about so far include:
We have more information about:
Please note: In order to join a trial you will need to discuss it with your doctor, unless otherwise specified.
Dr Raffaele Califano
Roche
Freephone 0808 800 4040
"I am glad that taking part in a trial might help others on their own cancer journey.”