Annual Message from the NRG Oncology Group Chairs

As another year comes to a close, we continue to be amazed by the herculean feats that our members, staff, and partners have accomplished in 2023. In this newsletter, leaders of NRG Research Strategy Committee outline several research-related milestones that our group was able to accomplish this last year. Thanks to all your help, NRG is several steps closer to reaching our cancer-curing goals.

A Message from the Chairs of NRG Oncology’s Research Strategy Committee 

2023: The Year in Review

We are happy to report that the Protocol Development Department coordinated the activation of 8 studies in 2023, two of which are part of the NCI ComboMATCH Treatment Trial (See table). The exciting news is that we have another 13 NCI approved concepts along with 1 NCI ComboMATCH study that are in protocol development with activations anticipated in 2024/2025. There were also 16 other concepts that were approved for future development during our Research Strategy Meetings held this past year. We are thankful to have a robust and diverse clinical trial portfolio and are excited about the new trial concepts we continue to receive from our dedicated committees and investigators. 

On behalf of NRG Oncology’s Research Strategy Committee’s leadership, we want to thank our committee leaders and members, our study chairs, and our amazing staff for all their hard work and resulting success this past year. We look forward to an even better 2024!

Ronald D. Alvarez, MD        Jame Abraham, MD

Cervical Cancer Awareness Month

2023 Cervical Highlights:  

The 2023 year yielded the completion of two very important studies in the cervical cancer community. The results of these trials generated new data that will pave the way for the development of new studies for women with locally advanced cervical cancer. Furthermore, both studies had a robust representation of underrepresented minorities with NRG-GY006 having 37.5% Hispanic and Black patients, and NRG-GY017 enrolling 41% Hispanic and Black patients. 

NRG Study News & New Protocols Under Development

ComboMATCH Video Interview with Drs. O’Cearbhaill & Westin

NRG Oncology’s ComboMATCH N2 (for NF1 mutation in breast cancer) and N4 (for RAS pathway mutation in ovarian cancer & endometrial cancer) trials are currently enrolling. Watch as Dr. Shannon Westin and Dr. Roisin O’Cearbhaill provide an overview about ComboMATCH (Combination Therapy Platform Trial with Molecular Analysis for Therapy Choice), a group of precision medicine cancer clinical trials, including a registration trial and numerous treatment clinical trials. In the registration trial, people with cancer will have their tumors tested to determine what genetic changes are present and may be assigned to receive treatment based on those genetic changes. The trials seek to determine whether treating cancer with combinations of drugs targeting these specific genetic changes is effective. Watch the full interview

New Protocols Under Development

NCI Cancer Prevention and Control Clinical Trials Grant Program Reissue

The reissue of the Cancer Prevention and Control Clinical Trials Grant Program (R01 Clinical Trial Required) was released mid-December as PAR-24-072: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-24-072.html. Through this notice of funding opportunity (NOFO), the National Cancer Institute (NCI) invites applications for support of investigator-initiated clinical trials related to the programmatic interests of the NCI Division of Cancer Prevention and/or the NCI Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences that have the potential to reduce the burden of cancer through improvements in early detection, screening, prevention and interception, healthcare delivery, quality of life, and/or survivorship related to cancer. Please note that supportive care and palliative care, such as the prevention or treatment of cancer pain, are considered relevant research areas.

Please reach out to Brandy Heckman-Stoddard for questions related to this funding announcement: heckmanbm@mail.nih.gov.

ASCRS 2024: Submit Late Breaking Abstracts including High-Impact Colorectal-Anal Clinical Trials and TiP

For the first time ever, the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS) annual meeting will have a ‘Late Breaking Clinical Trial’ section. Investigators are invited to submit abstracts of clinical trials, including approved trials, trials-in-progress and completed trials, for presentation at a newly dedicated session at the ASCRS 125^th Anniversary Annual Scientific Meeting, being held in Baltimore, June 1-4, 2024.

This is a great opportunity for investigators looking to get more surgeon engagement, enhance recruitment and/or make surgeons aware of their results. There are no restrictions on previously presented data and/or work that is currently under review or accepted for publication. The meeting submission deadline is February 13, 2024. Investigators interested in submitting an abstract to the ASCRS meeting should have a draft to the NRG Publications Department by January 29, 2024. Click here for more information.

Protocol Support Committee (PSC) Column

PSC Continuing Education Sessions at #NRG2024

The NRG Oncology Winter meeting is fast approaching! The Protocol Support Committee (PSC) has been working hard to put together two days of programming specifically for our clinical trial nurse (CTN), clinical research associate (CRA) and all other clinical research professional (CRP) members. We are excited to share a sneak peek of what to expect at the 2024 NRG Oncology Winter Meeting.

PCOR Committee Educational Session at #NRG2024 Orlando

At the NRG Oncology Winter Meeting on Thursday, February 15, 2024, the Patient Centered Outcomes Research (PCOR) Committee will be offering an educational session, the PCOR PRO Primer, from 4:00 to 5:00 pm ET for NRG investigators interested in learning about the basics of how to design patient reported outcomes (PROs) components for future NRG trials and the responsibilities of a PRO Co-chair.

This educational session is designed to broaden the PRO knowledge among NRG investigators. Some of the topics that will be covered in this session will include the following: how to select appropriate PRO measures for each trial; how to design hypothesis-testing PRO components for a trial; the NCI review and approval process for PRO components; basic statistical considerations, etc.

This PRO educational session is open to anyone at NRG who is interested. This is a “mini-training” session, as there is a lot more to learn over time regarding PROs.This PRO educational session will be part of the PCOR Committee meeting, which is scheduled for Thursday, February 15 from 4:00 to 6:00 pm ET during the NRG Oncology Meeting.

The FORTE Workshop is coming soon...

The FORTE Workshop will be held in person on February 16, 2024, at the NRG Oncology Winter Meeting in sunny Orlando, Florida. The workshop will review site-associated practices that are contributing to FORTE success, methods to introduce FORTE to gastroenterologists and entice participation, and strategies for promotion of FORTE within your clinical community. 

#NRG2024 in Orlando

Register TODAY for #NRG2024 in Orlando 

Social Media Ambassadors wanted for #NRG2024

Are you interested in helping us promote our 10^th anniversary celebration on social media during the NRG Oncology Winter Meeting being held February 15-17 in Orlando?

Apply to be a #NRG2024 Social Media Ambassador. If interested, please send an e-mail (& please include your social account handle/s) to: communications@nrgoncology.org.

NRG Member News

Dr. Curran to lead Piedmont Oncology Institute