Testing the Addition of a Type of Drug Called Immunotherapy to the Usual Chemotherapy Treatment f… (NCT04267848) | Clinical Trial Compass
RecruitingPhase 3
Testing the Addition of a Type of Drug Called Immunotherapy to the Usual Chemotherapy Treatment for Non-small Cell Lung Cancer, an ALCHEMIST Treatment Trial (Chemo-IO [ACCIO])
United States, Guam1,210 participantsStarted 2020-06-16
Plain-language summary
This phase III ALCHEMIST treatment trial tests the addition of pembrolizumab to usual chemotherapy for the treatment of stage IIA, IIB, IIIA or IIIB non-small cell lung cancer that has been removed by surgery. Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as pembrolizumab, may help the body's immune system attack the cancer, and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Chemotherapy drugs, such as cisplatin, pemetrexed, carboplatin, gemcitabine hydrochloride, and paclitaxel, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading. Giving pembrolizumab with usual chemotherapy may help increase survival times in patients with stage IIA, IIB, IIIA or IIIB non-small cell lung cancer.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* A female of childbearing potential is a sexually mature female who:
* Has not undergone a hysterectomy or bilateral oophorectomy; or
* Has not been naturally postmenopausal for at least 12 consecutive months (i.e., has had menses at any time in the preceding 12 consecutive months)
* Local testing of EGFR with no EGFR exon 19 deletion or EGFR L858 R mutation (applicable to non-squamous patients only)
* Local testing of ALK with no ALK rearrangement (failed testing is considered negative) (applicable to non-squamous patients only)
* Local testing of PD-L1 immunohistochemistry (IHC) using one of the following assays: DAKO 22C3, DAKO 28-8, EIL3N or SP263
* Completely resected stage IIA, IIB IIIA or IIIB (T3-4N2) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) (squamous or non-squamous) with negative margins (complete R0 resection). Patients will be staged according to the 8th edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) Staging Manual, 2017
* Note: Patients with pathologic N2 disease, completely resected, are eligible. However, patients known to have N2 disease prior to surgery are not eligible; guidelines do not recommend up-front surgery for this population
* Complete recovery from surgery. Registration to A081801 must be 30-77 days following surgery
* No prior neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapy for current lung cancer diagnosis
* No prior allogeneic tissue/solid organ transplant
* Patients must NOT have uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, bu…
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1This trial is comparing adding immunotherapy to the standard chemotherapy I'd already be getting after surgery — can you help me understand what's actually different about my treatment if I join versus if I just follow the usual post-surgery chemo plan?
2Since this is a Phase 3 trial and it's measuring disease-free survival as the main goal, does that mean there's already enough earlier research to suggest the immunotherapy combination might help, and what are the known risks of adding it?
3My cancer was staged as Stage II, IIIA, or IIIB — does my specific stage and whether my tumor is squamous or non-squamous affect whether this trial might be a good fit for me to discuss with you?
4What would my treatment schedule actually look like if I enrolled — how many clinic visits, infusions, or follow-up appointments are we talking about, and is that realistic given my current situation?
5If I decide not to join this trial, what would the standard treatment path look like for someone with my diagnosis, and are there other options I should be comparing this to?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Disease free survival (DFS)
Timeframe: From randomization to the first of either disease recurrence or death from any cause, assessed up to 5 years after accrual completion