Master protocols in lung cancer: Experience from Lung Master Protocol

Vincent K. Lam, Vassiliki Papadimitrakopoulou

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose of review Contemporary advances in the understanding of the molecular and immunologic basis of metastatic lung cancer have firmly changed its treatment paradigm to a personalized, biomarker-driven approach. However, the majority of lung-cancer patients [especially lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC)] still do not have effective targeted therapeutic options. Master protocols, such as Lung-MAP, represent an innovative clinical trial approach designed to accelerate evaluation of novel biomarker-driven therapies. Recent findings Lung-MAP is an umbrella trial for advanced LUSC and has been active since 2014. Cumulative experience from this overarching, multi-institution master protocol has demonstrated that centralized, real-time biomarker screening is feasible and substudy modularity is essential for protocol adaptability in a rapidly changing treatment landscape. In addition, screening and efficacy results from Lung-MAP affirm that LUSC has several putative drivers but remains difficult to effectively treat with targeted therapy. Summary Master protocols are a feasible and efficient approach for evaluating biomarker-driven therapies in lung cancer. As we begin to target less common genomic and immunotherapy subtypes, centrally coordinated clinical trial designs such as Lung-MAP are necessary to rapidly deliver effective therapies to patients, whereas also maximizing the quality of research data obtained.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)92-97
Number of pages6
JournalCurrent opinion in oncology
Volume30
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 1 2018
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • lung cancer
  • lung squamous cell carcinoma
  • master protocol
  • targeted therapy

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Research

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