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NRG-BR009 (OFSET): A Phase III Adjuvant Trial Evaluating the Addition of Adjuvant Chemotherapy to Ovarian Function Suppression and Endocrine Therapy in Premenopausal Patients with pN0-1, ER-Positive/HER2-Negative Breast Cancer and an Oncotype Recurrence Score of ≤ 25
Now enrolling patients!
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Written by Shannon Puhalla, MD; NRG-BR009 Protocol Officer
The NRG-BR009 (“OFSET”) trial is evaluating whether adjuvant chemotherapy added to ovarian function suppression and endocrine therapy is superior to ovarian function suppression and endocrine therapy alone in improving invasive breast cancer-free survival (IBCFS) among premenopausal, early-stage breast cancer patients with ER-positive, HER2-negative tumors and a 21-gene recurrence score between 16-25 (for pN0 patients) and 0-25 (for pN1 patients). This study is hoping to answer a decades old question regarding the benefit of chemotherapy, whether from cytotoxic effects or ovarian suppressive effects.
| | Emerging Role of MRD and ctDNA in Breast Cancer | | Priya Rastogi, MD, NRG Oncology Breast Cancer Committee Chair and NSABP Foundation CEO, recently shared her insights with OncLive on the evolving role of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) and minimal residual disease (MRD) testing in breast cancer. | Updated results from the OlympiA trial demonstrate sustained benefit of adjuvant olaparib in germline BRCA1- and BRCA2-associated high-risk HER2-negative early breast cancer | | |
Written by Emily Zacherle, Medical Writer, NSABP Foundation, Inc.
The randomized, phase III OlympiA trial evaluated one year of oral olaparib versus placebo following completion of local treatment and neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy. The third prespecified interim analysis, recently published in Annals of Oncology, demonstrates that adjuvant olaparib provides durable improvements in invasive disease-free survival (IDFS), distant disease-free survival (DDFS), and overall survival (OS) after a median follow-up of 6.1 years in patients with high-risk, HER2-negative, germline BRCA1/2-mutated early breast cancer.
| | Updated 1L mTNBC recommendations from the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines®) for Breast Cancer | | |
New Episode:
NRG-BR002 Published Results
In our brand new episode, our NRG Oncology Podcast cohosts discuss the results of the NRG-BR002 study in newly oligometastatic breast cancer with Dr. Steven Chmura.
Listen wherever you get your podcasts or on the NRG website.
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ASTRO 2026 Episodes
In four new NRG Oncology Podcast episodes, we are discussing the study results from NRG-CC009/MAVERICK, NRG-GI003, NRG-HN009, and SPPORT that were recently presented at the 2026 ASTRO Annual Meeting. Follow us today where you get your podcasts or you can stream from the NRG website.
| | New Protocols Under Development | | NRG Health Care Access Fellowship Call for Applications | | |
The NRG Oncology Health Care Access Fellowship Program trains selected early-stage investigators in the NRG Oncology system by means of a structured mentorship experience, with particular emphasis given to the recruitment of researchers with a passion for improving health care access. Our vision is to have at least one scholar for every disease site we study. Applications for the 2027-2028 fellowship will be due October 23, 2026.
Please submit the application, letter of support, biosketch and relevant materials to Fellowships@NRGOncology.org. Additional information about the program is posted on the NRG Oncology website.
| | NCORP Pilot Grant – Call for Letter of Intent (LOI) | |
NRG NCORP is soliciting LOIs in preparation for the next NCORP pilot grant RFA.
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Anyone interested in applying must submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) by October 30, 2026. Click here to download the form.
- The request for funding application (RFA) for NCORP pilot projects will be released in Spring 2027; however, interested applicants must submit a LOI.
- NCORP committee chairs will review LOIs and select those best aligned with committee goals, NCORP priorities and feasible.
- Selected investigators will be notified and invited to attend a workshop at the NRG Winter Meeting in Las Vegas, NV, January 28-30, 2027
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Informational slides are available here.
| | Protocol Support Committee (PSC) Column | | |
Written by Minh N. Tran, BSN, OCN, CCRP; Kaiser Permanente Southern California; Research & Evaluation Department-Clinical Trials Division; NRG Oncology PSC Quality Control & Communications Subcommittee
Accurate RECIST 1.1 documentation supports protocol compliance, timely treatment decisions, and study data integrity. Site-level challenges with tumor measurements and overall response assessments can delay verification of protocol-required treatment continuation or discontinuation.
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Written by Sarah Lewis, BSN, RN, OCN; Clinical Research Nurse Coordinator
Delaware NCORP; NRG Oncology PSC Mentorship Subcommittee
Whether you are new to NRG Oncology, transitioning into a new role, or taking on different clinical trials, the NRG Oncology Mentorship Program offers personalized support from experienced NRG members. The program matches mentees with knowledgeable mentors based on areas of interest and professional development needs identified through a brief request form. Mentorship connections are flexible and can occur through email, phone calls, or virtual meetings, making it easy to fit into busy schedules.
| | Join us for the next PSC “Discuss With Us” session! | | |
The Protocol Support Committee’s “Discuss With Us” series provides nurses and clinical research associates with an opportunity to connect with colleagues, explore timely oncology topics, and strengthen their knowledge of clinical research and patient care. This interactive educational series is designed to provide practical, relevant information that can be applied to your work in oncology. Each session offers 1.25 continuing education contact hours through the Virginia Nurses Association.
Our next session will focus on:
Colorectal Cancer Essentials: A Clinical Refresher
📅 Wednesday, October 21, 2026
🕝 2:30 pm ET
Register once. Join us all year! If you haven’t already registered, now is a great time to join the series. You only need to register once, and you will receive calendar invitations for all future “Discuss With Us” sessions, which are now scheduled through 2027. Add “Discuss With Us” to your monthly calendar and make the most of this ongoing educational opportunity!
Register today or scan the QR code to get started. Already registered? No action is needed. Just watch your calendar for the next session invitation!
Missed a session? Catch up anytime. Visit the Discuss With Us page on the NRG Oncology website to access recordings, slide presentations, and information about upcoming sessions.
| | New NCI-Funded TrialMatch Uses AI to Match Patients to Cancer Trials | | |
Mednet’s new AI-powered TrialMatch tool lets oncologists find actively enrolling cancer trials by describing a patient in plain language, including stage, prior therapy, biomarkers, and location. TrialMatch identifies best-fit trials in under a minute, with an eligibility rationale provided for each match. Developed under a $2 million contract from the National Cancer Institute, TrialMatch is now being evaluated in a research study with the SWOG Cancer Research Network. It is free for all oncologists at the link below:
| | Gilead Young Investigator Research Grant Program (RSP) Now Accepting Applications | | |
The Gilead Young Investigator Research Grant Program (RSP) supports innovative research from emerging investigators around the world to incorporate new perspectives in our pursuits of scientific understanding and progress. Applicants interested in this program will submit the following items for consideration:
- a 1-page specifical aims proposal
- a biosketch
- a mentor biosketch and budget summary
This is a 2-step application process. Following initial submission, the highest scoring applicants will be invited to submit full proposals and supporting documentation ready for in-depth discussion with the committee.
The current scientific focus of submissions for this round of applications includes breast, endometrial, small cell lung cancer, and ovarian cancer.
Awardees selected by the external committee will receive $180,000 USD each paid to their institution for the 2-year grant period.
Applications are due by November 13, 2026.
More information and how to apply is available here on the Gilead website.
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Polyp 102: Guidance on Unscheduled Colonoscopy Exams
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Join this FORTE Webinar on Microsoft Teams to learn about executing Amendment #9 from Protocol Co-Chair, Dr. Jeffrey Dueker. This Amendment, activated in June 2026, included a new protocol section (5.2) to provide guidance on the scheduling of protocol-specified colonoscopies when unscheduled colonoscopy exams are performed. This session will also be recorded and posted on the FORTE YouTube Channel.
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Reflections on My Service as Vice Chair of the NRG Oncology Patient Advocacy Committee
Written by Lisa Lenrow, NRG Oncology Patient Advocate Committee Vice Chair
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It has been my honor to serve as the vice chair of the NRG Patient Advocacy Committee over the past year. This committee is comprised of cancer patients, survivors, thrivers, and caregivers, and it is evident that we are a group united by a shared commitment to openly and generously sharing our experiences to support others in their fight against cancer. We are deeply motivated to raise awareness of cancer modalities, improved treatment options, and the essential role of clinical research.
| | REGISTER TODAY: NRG-GI011 and NRG-GI012 Webinar | | NRG Oncology will be hosting a webinar on the NRG-GI011 “LAP100” study of dose escalated radiation in locally advanced pancreas cancer patients and the NRG-GI012 “HELIO-RT” study of IO-based systemic treatment with or without liver SBRT in hepatocellular cancer with macrovascular invasion. This session will be held on Monday, November 2, 2026 from 2:00-3:00PM ET. Register at the link below to attend. | | REGISTER TODAY! ACR Radiation Oncology Webinar: "Therapeutic Radiopharmaceuticals: Where Specialties Combine to Bring Novel Cancer Interventions" | | |
Join us for the next Radiation Oncology Webinar Series on October 21, 2026 from 4:00-6:00 PM ET. This session is titled "Therapeutic Radiopharmaceuticals - Where Specialties Combine to Bring Novel Cancer Interventions" and will feature presentations on clinical RPT dosimetry, PSMA theranostics, and imaging in theranostics. There will be an opportunity for attendees to ask our speakers questions regarding the topics discussed. This activity has been approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.
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