Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related deaths. Many patients are cured after completing current standard treatment, but most experience recurrence of the disease. Several studies have shown that immunotherapy is effective in metastatic small-cell lung cancer. The ACHILES trial is designed to investigate whether immunotherapy with anti-immune checkpoint protein antibody atezolizumab improves survival in particular in limited disease small-cell lung cancer.

The primary aim of the trial is to examine whether adjuvant atezolizumab treatment after standard, concurrent chemoradiotherapy improves survival compared with no treatment after standard, concurrent chemoradiotherapy in patients with limited disease small-cell lung cancer. Secondary aims are to investigate whether atezolizumab prolongs progression free survival, improves best response rate, to what extent atezolizumab causes severe toxicity, and whether the atezolizumab therapy significantly influences patients' health related quality of life.

The ACHILES trial is organized by a foreign collaborative group from Norway and is conducted in several European countries. In Switzerland, nine hospitals will participate in the trial. SAKK aims to enroll approx. 35 patients that will be randomized to the intervention group, receiving atezolizumab, or to the control group, which will be followed up according to local and national guidelines (corresponding to current standard of care).

The activation of the trial is planned for Q4 2019. For further information, please contact Ms. Zuzanna Maniecka, Clinical Project Manager, SAKK Bern.