PLATFORM
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Planning treatment for oesophago-gastric cancer: a randomised maintenance therapy trial (PLATFORM Trial)
IRAS ID
154429
Contact name
Professor David Cunningham
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Royal Marsden NHS FT
Eudract number
2014-002169-30
Research summary
Advanced cancers of the stomach or oesophagus are normally treated with 2-drug or 3-drug combination chemotherapy regimens. In patients with tumours that are negative for a protein called HER-2, the normal management after completion of the chemotherapy is to proceed with regular follow-up ‘surveillance’ to monitor for any signs of the cancer starting to re-grow. In patients with tumours that are positive for HER-2, the normal treatment after completion of the chemotherapy is to proceed with an antibody drug called trastuzumab on its own and continue to monitor for evidence of the cancer starting to re-grow. In both cases, the break from chemotherapy will usually allow patients to recover from any treatment side-effects. Further chemotherapy may be given at the time of the cancer starting to re-grow.
However, there is interest in developing drugs which may be more tolerable than traditional chemotherapy, and which could be administered during this surveillance period to try and prolong the length of time until the tumour starts to re-grow. Within the PLATFORM study, researchers are evaluating a number of different drugs which could be added in this ‘maintenance’ setting to see whether any of them may improve disease control and the length of time that somebody lives with advanced cancer of the stomach or oesophagus.
REC name
London - South East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/LO/1206
Date of REC Opinion
12 Aug 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion