E-News - June 2026
Alliance Research Update

Recently Activated Alliance Trials

The Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology has recently launched several new clinical trials exploring targeted radiation therapy, improved treatment strategies and other innovative approaches to cancer care. From testing new radiation therapy techniques for lung cancer to treatments for breast cancer side effects, these trials aim to improve outcomes, reduce side effects, and deliver more personalized care for patients at every stage of life.

Below is a selection of recently opened trials, led by Alliance investigators at cancer centers and community sites around the country, now recruiting participants.

A082302: Evaluating adjuvant atezolizumab or atezolizumab and hyaluronidase-TQJS to prevent recurrence in stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC): A randomized phase III trial (AASI-NSCLC)

Overview: This phase III trial compares the effect of atezolizumab (or atezolizumab and recombinant human hyaluronidase) to standard observation for preventing cancer return after surgery (recurrence) in patients who have undergone a complete surgical removal (resection) of stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Patients who have undergone resection for lung cancer are typically followed by observation or active surveillance. Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as atezolizumab, may help the body's immune system attack the cancer, and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Atezolizumab and recombinant human hyaluronidase is a formulation of atezolizumab combined with an enzyme called hyaluronidase, which helps increase tissue absorption of the drug. Giving atezolizumab or atezolizumab and recombinant human hyaluronidase after resection may be effective for preventing NSCLC recurrence and may be a better approach to treating patients with stage I NSCLC than the usual observation approach.

Study chair: Muhammad Furqan, MD, University of Oklahoma Health Stephenson Cancer Center
Activated: 06/05/2026
Read the news release

MM1YA-A04: Phase II study of cytarabine + daunorubicin (7 + 3) + gemtuzumab ozogamicin vs cytarabine + daunorubicin (7 + 3) + venetoclax for the treatment of newly diagnosed core binding factor acute myeloid leukemia (CBF-AML) in younger adults: A MyeloMATCH substudy

Overview: This phase II MyeloMATCH treatment trial compares the effect of venetoclax to gemtuzumab ozogamicin, when given with cytarabine and daunorubicin ("7+3" regimen), for the treatment of patients with core binding factor acute myeloid leukemia (CBF-AML). Venetoclax is in a class of medications called B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL-2) inhibitors. It may stop the growth of cancer cells by blocking BCL-2, a protein needed for cancer cell survival. Gemtuzumab ozogamicin is a monoclonal antibody, called gemtuzumab, linked to an antitumor antibiotic drug, called ozogamicin. Gemtuzumab is a form of targeted therapy because it attaches to specific molecules (receptors) on the surface of cancer cells, known as CD33 receptors, and delivers ozogamicin to kill them. Chemotherapy drugs, such as cytarabine and daunorubicin work in different ways to stop the growth of cancer cells either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading. Giving venetoclax with cytarabine and daunorubicin may have fewer side effects and be as effective or better than the combination with gemtuzumab ozogamicin in treating patients with core binding factor AML.

Study chair: Maryam Lustberg, MD, MPH, Yale University Comprehensive Cancer Center
Activated: 05/08/2026

Alliance A082402: Involved-station, intensity-modulated post-operative radiation therapy (I²-PORT) for resected non-small cell lung cancer with residual mediastinal adenopathy after neoadjuvant therapy (ypN2) 

Overview: This phase II trial compares the effect of intensity-modulated post-operative radiation therapy (I²-PORT) followed by standard of care therapy (chemotherapy or immunotherapy) to standard of care therapy alone in treating patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who have remaining lymph node cancer after surgery. Radiation therapy uses high-energy X-rays, particles, or radioactive seeds to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Intensity-modulated radiation therapy is a type of three-dimensional radiation therapy that uses thin beams of radiation of different intensities to hit the tumor from many angles. Chemotherapy drugs 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. Immunotherapy may induce changes in the body's immune system and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Adding I²-PORT radiation therapy to standard therapy may be more effective than standard therapy alone in reducing the risk of cancer returning in those who have undergone surgery for NSCLC.

Study co-chairs: Jeremy Brownstein, MD, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center and David Kozono, MD, PhD, Dana-Farber Cancer Center
Activated: 05/01/2026
Read the news release

Alliance A221801: The Revitalize Trial: Reducing vaginal atrophy with fractional CO2 laser for breast cancer survivors

Overview: Now enrolling, this phase III phase III trial tests whether vaginal fractional CO2 laser therapy works in treating vaginal dryness in breast cancer survivors. Vaginal dryness can be commonly experienced with normal aging, with menopause, or come about from medications used to treat breast cancer such as chemotherapy or endocrine therapies like tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitors. Vaginal fractional CO2 laser therapy may help reduce vaginal dryness.

Study chair: Maryam Lustberg, MD, MPH, Yale University Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Study start: 04/21/2026
Read the news release

Alliance A072301: Phase III trial of radiotherapy followed by adjuvant temozolomide in combination with the IDH inhibitor vorasidenib vs. placebo in IDH-mutated newly diagnosed grade 3 astrocytomas

Overview: This phase III trial compares the effect of vorasidenib to placebo in combination with usual treatment, temozolomide, in treating patients with newly diagnosed grade 3 astrocytoma after radiation. Temozolomide is in a class of medications called alkylating agents. It works by damaging the cell's deoxyribonucleic acid and may kill tumor cells and slow down or stop tumor growth. Vorasidenib citrate blocks the proteins made by the mutated IDH1 and IDH2 genes, which may help keep tumor cells from growing. It is a type of enzyme inhibitor and a type of targeted therapy. Adding vorasidenib to the usual treatment, temozolomide, may be more effective than temozolomide alone in treating patients with newly diagnosed grade 3 astrocytoma after radiation therapy.

Study chair: Ugonma Chukwueke, MD, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute 
Activated: 03/06/2026
Read the news release 

Alliance A042302: Phase III evaluation of fixed duration zanubrutinib plus sonrotoclax-based therapy compared to continuous zanubrutinib in previously untreated older patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL)

Overview: This phase III trial compares the effect of adding sonrotoclax to zanubrutinib versus zanubrutinib alone for the treatment of patients with untreated chronic lymphoblastic leukemia (CLL)/small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL). Sonrotoclax is in a class of medications called B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL-2) inhibitors. It may stop the growth of cancer cells by blocking Bcl-2, a protein needed for cancer cell survival. Zanubrutinib is in a class of medications called kinase inhibitors. It blocks a protein called BTK, which is present on B-cell (a type of white blood cells) cancers such as mantel cell lymphoma at abnormal levels. This may help keep cancer cells from growing and spreading. Giving sonrotoclax and zanubrutinib may be more effective than zanubrutinib alone for the treatment of untreated CLL/SLL.

Study chair: Jennifer Brown, MD, PhD, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute 
Activated: 03/06/2026
Read the news release

Alliance A212101: Evaluation of provider vs. patient mediated cascade genetic testing of first-degree relatives of patients with newly diagnosed colorectal cancer

Overview: This clinical trial compares patient (proband)-mediated communication to provider-mediated communication for improving genetic testing in first-degree relatives of patients with newly diagnosed colorectal cancer. It is estimated that 30% of cases of colorectal cancer have a genetic basis and about 15% of these patients have a disease-causing (pathogenic) inherited (germline) variant in a cancer susceptibility gene. Most individuals carrying a pathogenic germline variant are unaware of their cancer risk and may not meet guidelines for genetic testing. Identifying pathogenic germline variants or hereditary cancer syndromes in cancer patients has important implications for their at-risk relatives who may not know that they are at high risk for cancer. The burden of communicating this risk to first-degree relatives often falls on the patients, who may lack sufficient knowledge to correctly share and explain their genetic test results. Receiving provider-mediated communication of genetic testing results may be more effective at communicating genetic risk to first-degree relatives than the usual practice of proband-mediated communication.

Study chair: Frank Sinicrope, MD, Mayo Clinic 
Activated: 03/05/2026
Read the news release

Alliance A232402CD: PAGODA-Randomized trial of a proactive graduated dose modification algorithm for FOLFOX chemotherapy to prevent unplanned delays

Overview: This trial will test PAGODA, the ProActive Graduated DOse MoDification Algorithm, a structured plan that helps doctors make small, proactive changes to chemotherapy doses to prevent treatment delays. Instead of reacting after severe side effects occur, PAGODA guides doctors to act early, keeping patients on schedule and reducing stress and delays. The trial plans to enroll about 400 patients with cancer of the esophagus, gastroesophageal junction, stomach, small intestine, appendix, colon, rectum, and cancers of unknown primary with suspected GI origin.
 
Study chair: Gabriel Brooks, MD, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center 
Activated: 01/06/2026
Read the news release