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Newsletter
No 4 / 2015
December 17
EDITORIAL
If SAKK did not exist, we would have to invent it
A
n exciting year of celebrations and events comes soon to
an end – the 50 years anniversary was rounded off with
a scientific symposium and a jubilee apéro during the
semi-annual meeting in Zurich. What is more, for the first time
in SAKK's history, a patient representative board will advise
the organization on communication, trial development and
strategy. The board comprises five members and was elected
by the SAKK board. More on the topic on page 4.
It is an important goal to increase the phase I activities at the
designated SAKK phase I centers and the systematic acquisition of innovations within SAKK. This resulted in the creation
of the new unit «Innovation and Development», headed by
Dr. Simona Berardi Vilei. Read more on page 3.
50 years ago, SAKK was founded as an innovative association of a few centers. Today, we are a strong cooperative group
with 20 members – we especially welcome our newest member the Solothurner Spitäler AG. Likewise, our organization
elected its 9th president: PD Dr. Roger von Moos from the Cantonal Hospital in Chur.
The anniversary year was a great success, launched with the public event on Bundesplatz in May and supported by 50
ambassadors among them Swiss personalities known from politics, sports and show business (http://sakk.ch/en/50-years/
sakk-ambassadors/). Also our member centers actively participated and organized 11 events at their hospitals. It can be said
that the overall goal, enhancing SAKK’s visibility in the public as well in the hospitals, was achieved.
We hope taking the anniversary spirit into the coming years and thank you all for your support and effort.
A merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all our readers!
Contents
SAKK News
2-5
SAKK Anniversary
5-8
SAKK Semi-Annual Meeting
9-12
Network Outcomes Research
12-14
Trial News
14-21
Publications, Presentations
21-23
IBCSG23-24
ETOP25-26
Swiss Cancer League
26
Grants, Events, Dates
27-30
Flag31
The Swiss Oncology Research Network
2 December 17, 2015
SAKK Newsletter
SAKK NEWS
News from the SAKK board
At its board meeting on November 3 in Bern, the SAKK
board approved of the following trial proposals:
Subproject SAKK 17/04: coordinating
investigator Oliver Riesterer
Subanalysis Radiotherapy
This project is based on the SAKK 17/04 trial. It will investigate if the used more modern RT technique will increase
tumor control and the loco-regional relapse-free survival
and analysis in the relapse pattern in patients who received radiotherapy compared to those who did not. The
board members agreed to conduct this subproject.
SAKK 28/12: coordinating investigator
Zsuzsanna Varga
Ki-67 assessment in breast cancer, validation phase.
The SAKK board approved of this project by e-mail voting
on October 28.
Subproject SAKK 41/07: coordinating
investigator Thomas Winder
Immunogenicity of rectal cancer before and after immune-radio-chemo-therapy in the SAKK 41/07 trial.
This is a translational research project based on the samples of the SAKK 41/07 (Neopan) trial. The primary objective of the trial is to investigate by multiplex immunohistochemistry the number of infiltrating immune cells
expressing, CD3, CD8, CD4, CD45RO, FOXP3 & the mutational load before and after neo-adjuvant therapy. The
board members agreed to conduct the project under the
condition that financing can be found for the analyzing of
the samples
SAKK 41/16 (RECAP trial): coordinating
investigator Sara Bastian
Impact of neoadjuvant treatment with Regorafenib and
Capecitabine combined with radiotherapy in locally advanced rectal cancer. A Phase Ib trial.
This trial proposal is a follow-up project of NeoSor (SAKK
41/08). The combination of Regorafenib and Capecitabine
requires a phase I part, as toxicities are overlapping and
drugs interact concerning pharmacokinetics. The board
members agreed to conduct the trial.
The Swiss Oncology Research Network
SAKK 35/15: coordinating investigator
Anastasios Stathis
A phase I study of GA101 in combination with ABT199
in follicular lymphoma patients.
In this trial, two new drugs with single agent activity
across several lymphoma subtypes will be combined in
patients with follicular lymphoma (FL) The phase I study
will provide information on the safety and tolerability together with evidence of early activity of Obinutuzumab
(GA101) in combination with ABT-199 in the treatment
of FL. Additionally, it is aimed implementing this clinical
study with a parallel translational research project with
the objective to define predictive biomarkers of response
to bcl2 inhibition in combination with anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody therapy in patients with FL. The trial shall
prove that GA101/ABT199 is a safe combination and a
valid option for a subset of patients, and let us understand predictive biomarkers of response in untreated
patients through the translational research. The patients
obtain the chance to avoid toxic chemo treatment. The
board members agreed to conduct the trial.
Furthermore, the board members approved of the goals
of the SAKK CC and the according budget for 2016.
PD Dr. Thomas Ruhstaller was confirmed for another term
as president of the project group Breast Cancer.
Promotions and staff news
Prof. Dr. Andreas Christe was ap-
pointed professor for radiology at
the University of Bern. He is leading physician at the University institute for diagnostic, interventional
and pediatric radiology in Bern and
member of the SAKK working group
Imaging in Diagnostic and Therapy
Monitoring and the project group
Lung Cancer.
Prof. Dr.
A. Christe
PD Dr. Arnoud Templeton received his habilitation at the
University of Basel. He is leading physician at the Cantonal Hospital in St.Gallen and member of the SAKK proejct
group Urogenital Tumors.
SAKK Newsletter
December 17, 2015 3
SAKK NEWS
Welcome at the SAKK CC
• Antoinette Heldner, Contract Manager, January 1
• Céline Hummel-Schibler, Head of Monitoring and
Clinical Project Management, January 1
• Olivier Schmitt, Clinical Data Manager, January 1
Farewell
Annik Steiner, communications manager, will leave the
coordinating center end of January. Scarlett Keunecke,
CRA, and Stavros Milatos will quit the SAKK CC end
of February. Caroline Kaminski, event manager, and
Heike Kenner, Clinical Project Manager, will leave end of
March.
We thank them for their commitment and dedication to
SAKK and we wish them all the best for their future.
For information about job vacancies at SAKK, please contact us and/or refer to http://sakk.ch/en/download/19
New premises for the SAKK CC
Due to building regulations, the foundation «Haus der
Krebsliga» cannot realize the originally planned extensions and has to sell the adjoining buildings on Effingerstrasse 54 to 60. Furthermore, the Swiss Cancer League
needs additional office space in the main building. For
this reason, SAKK, SPOG and IBCSG will move into new
premises close to the current location. Therewith, the cancer research organizations stay in close proximity to the
Swiss Cancer League and can still benefit from the joint
use of meeting rooms and other services. The move of the
SAKK CC is planned in the first quarter of 2016 – the network will be informed on further proceedings.
SAKK Coordinating Center raises
money for Movember
New unit at the SAKK CC:
Innovation and Development
It is an important strategic goal
to bring forward innovations to
clinical use and to exploit the potential from bench to bedside. In
order to achieve this goal, the 30
% staff position innovation and development manager will be transferred in an own unit (ID) effective Dr. S. Berardi
January 2016 and headed by
Dr. Simona Berardi Vilei. She will be supported by
Dr. Katrin Eckhardt and a second ID positon will be advertised soon. For the time being, Simona keeps some of
her duties as head of clinical project management with a
40 % workload. She will also be member of the SAKK CC
Executive Board.
This new unit shall bring innovative projects to the members of SAKK, promote early development of molecules
and also new approaches against cancer with the final
aim to make these new technologies available to the patients as soon as possible. Thereto affiliated are phase I
trials but also new concepts which are being tested in
phase II or III trials. Simona will intensify the cooperation
with biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, the
universities and other organizations as well as gain access to new financial resources. We congratulate Simona
on this promotion and wish her success for the challenges
ahead.
The hairiest month of the year has passed and the SAKK
Coordinating Center did its bit for Movember. Throughout November collaborators of the Coordinating Center
were cooking soups or baking cakes, varnished finger
nails, took part in table football tournaments, crocheted
or grew real moustaches – all for a good cause. A highlight of the activities was the «Aare Challenge» where
CEO Dr. Peter Brauchli was thrown into the 10 degrees
P. Brauchli thrown in by his executive committee
members
The Swiss Oncology Research Network
4 December 17, 2015
SAKK Newsletter
SAKK NEWS
cold river Aare by his executive committee colleagues and
swam 4 minutes against the stream. The SAKK Coordinating Center raised a total of CHF 1'481 for the Movember
Foundation. The money will be used to support projects
to improve men's health in a number of areas, including
prostate and testicular cancer.
The Foundation is a global organization that seeks to
make a contribution to men living happier, healthier, longer lives. Since 2003 millions of people have joined the Movember movement, raising no less than 622 million francs
in donations and funding over 1'000 programs focusing
on prostate cancer, testicular cancer, poor mental health
and physical inactivity.
Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) according to
article 15 of the federal law on the advancement of research and innovation (Bundesgesetz über die Förderung
der Forschung und der Innovation FIFG). As the federal
government has announced cost cuts in education and
research, this visit was very important regarding the new
performance agreement between the SERI and SAKK
from 2017 to 2020.
Visit of the SSIC council at the SAKK CC
H. Baumgartner (left) and N. Backes, two of the
many SAKK Movember heroes
Visit of the Swiss Science and
Innovation Council (SSIC)
The Swiss Science Innovation Council was established
by the Federal Council on 23 March 1965. Together with
SAKK it is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.
The SSIC is the advisory body to the Federal Council for
issues related to science, higher education, research and
innovation policy. The goal of the SSIC, in conformity
with its role as an independent consultative body, is to
promote the framework for the successful development
of the Swiss higher education, research and innovation
system (see http://www.swir.ch/en/the-ssic/organization/
the-council for the members of the council).
In this matter, the council visited the SAKK CC on November 12 and talked to CEO Dr. Peter Brauchli and president
Prof. Dr. Beat Thürlimann as well as to representatives
of SPOG. Currently, the council is visiting all 30 institu-
tions which are supported by the State Secretariat for
The Swiss Oncology Research Network
SAKK establishes patient
representative board
Patient orientation is one of SAKK's core values. As a nonprofit organization, we are committed to improving cancer patients' chances of recovery.
Since nobody knows better what it is like to deal with a diagnosis of cancer and the condition itself than the people
affected and their families, SAKK has decided to establish
a patient representative board to advise the organization
on communication, trial development and strategy. «By
partnering with the SAKK patient representative board,
we intend to improve the dialogue between scientists
and patients», says CEO Dr. Peter Brauchli. «Moreover,
we are hoping this will give our researchers new impetus
which will result in our research projects being even more
closely aligned to patients' needs».
The patient representative board comprises a maximum
of seven people who are elected by the SAKK board. At
present it comprises five members. The members are either former cancer patients themselves, have looked after
close friends or family members with the condition or are
representatives of a patient organization.
December 17, 2015 5
SAKK Newsletter
SAKK NEWS & SAKK ANNIVERSARY
The patient representative board will meet with SAKK
representatives at least twice a year.
SAKK anniversary symposium at the
DGHO congress
Initial projects include involvement in structuring the
SAKK's symposium programme and in assessing communication tools such as patient information brochures
and the SAKK website to ensure that they meet patients'
needs. SAKK would also like the patient representative
board to propose and submit projects at its own initiative.
In the medium term, moreover, cooperation is to be developed with the SAKK project and working groups with
the aim of developing more patient-friendly studies. For
further information on the patient representative board,
please visit http://sakk.ch/en/sakk-provides/for-patients/
patient-representative-board/.
Prof. Dr. H.-J. Lenz
Contact
Dr. Peter Durrer
Head QA & RA & Safety Office
[email protected]
50 years SAKK
Medical oncology afternoon in Sion
The Oncology Department of the Centre Hospitalier du
Valais Romand (CHVR) organized a medical oncology afternoon in Sion. The Oncology Department at CHVR has
been participating in SAKK's clinical trials ever since it was
set up and is one of SAKK's recognized regional centers.
The future of oncology is increasingly focused on personalized treatments which often require the joint efforts of
a network. To mark the 50th anniversary of SAKK's foundation and the establishment of an oncology network in
French-speaking Switzerland, the Oncology Department
at CHVR illustrated certain topics using clinical cases and
discussions with colleagues from Geneva and Lausanne
University Hospitals, to give an insight into the importance of these developments.
From 9 to 13 October 2015
some 5'500 experts took
part in the annual congress
of the German Society for
Haematology and Medical
Oncology (DGHO) in Basel
and made the most of the
high-quality presentations,
discussions and workshops
on offer, not to mention the
opportunity to share their
views with colleagues in
other disciplines.
On Monday 12 October, SAKK was represented at the
congress in the form of an anniversary symposium. In the
first part of the symposium, Prof. Dr. Heinz-Josef Lenz,
USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Los Angeles,
spoke on the future of cooperative study groups in the
U.S. Dr. Denis Lacombe, Director General of the EORTC in
Belgium, showed the challenges of clinical cancer research
and possible solutions. Thanks
to their studies, cooperative
groups have hitherto made a
crucial contribution to therapeutic standards.
In the second part of the symposium the speakers looked
back on 50 years of SAKK. Prof.
Dr. Beat Thürlimann, SAKK Dr. D. Lacombe
President, spoke about the beginnings of SAKK, when oncology had been a new and
exotic discipline of internal medicine. Today, according
to Thürlimann, oncology has become the driving force
behind almost the whole of medicine. But oncology still
faces major challenges as a result of the ever-changing
environment.
The Swiss Oncology Research Network
6 December 17, 2015
SAKK Newsletter
SAKK ANNIVERSARY
Jubilee symposium at the Cantonal
Hospital St. Gallen (KSSG)
On October 29, the Oncology Department of the KSSG invited to a
series of interesting presentations
on clinical research. The presentations were followed by an apéro
riche. Among the renowned speakers was Dr. Felix Jung, former president of the Cantonal ethics committee, who spoke of the beginning of
R. Demmer
the research activities at the KSSG.
Dr. Susanne Driessen, president
of the Cantonal ethics committee, explained what challenges
have to be managed in an ethics
committee and pointed out that
the quality of the submissions of
SAKK was very high. SAKK President, Prof. Dr. Beat Thürlimann,
showed SAKK’s accomplishments
of the past 50 years and mentioned that since the beginning
the KSSG is one of the top recruit- PD Dr.
ing SAKK centers. Also present- T. Ruhstaller
ing were Dr. Daniel Germann,
CEO of the KSSG, Ruth Demmer, CRC, and
PD Dr. Thomas Ruhstaller. All
speakers came to the conclusion
that research is a prove of quality
for a center but can on the long
term only be conducted in a national network such as SAKK.
their families during a tour of various departments and
interactive workshops. At the same time, various presentations were given throughout the day. Specialist staff
members were available to answer questions after each
presentation.
Professionals and visitors at the open day
Final ceremonies of the
SAKK jubilee year
An exciting year of celebrations and events comes soon
to an end – the 50 years anniversary was rounded off
with a scientific symposium and a jubilee apéro during
the semi-annual meeting in Zurich. The anniversary year
was a great success, launched with the public event on
Bundesplatz in May and supported by 50 ambassadors
among them Swiss personalities known from politics,
sports and show business (http://sakk.ch/en/50-years/
sakk-ambassadors/).
Also our member centers actively participated and organized 11 events at their hospitals. It can be said that the
overall goal, enhancing SAKK’s visibility in the public as
well in the hospitals, was achieved.
Dr. G. Germann
SAKK 50 years symposium
Oncology open day at HFR Fribourg
cantonal hospital
The SAKK symposium featured various speakers on
current topics such as Big Data, Target Medicine and
Data Protection and closed with a podium discussion.
The welcome speech was given by the president elect,
PD Dr. Roger von Moos. He presented the milestones of
the past and some results of the first SAKK trials and explained how the SAKK founders tried to bring cancer on
the political agenda with the Motion Schaller in 1969 (see
for details: http://sakk.ch/en/50-years/history-of-sakk/).
To complete the history to date, he presented some facts
To mark the 50th anniversary of SAKK, Fribourg cantonal
hospital (HFR) organized an open day entitled «Cancer –
from diagnosis to treatment» on 14 November.
The HFR opened up to the public and one could take a
glance behind the scenes of the oncology unit. The event
addressed cancer prevention, early detection, the latest
treatment methods and support for cancer patients and
The Swiss Oncology Research Network
December 17, 2015 7
SAKK Newsletter
SAKK ANNIVERSARY
and figures, major SAKK publications and stressed out the
collaborations with foreign organizations. He thanked all
collaborators in the SAKK network.
Prof. Vincent Mooser, Head Lab Department at the Cen-
tre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudoise in Lausanne, continued with his talk on the topic «Targeted Medicine vs
Big Data». He states: «Data protection is a serious issue,
but demonstration of clinical utility is a much bigger challenge». This means challenges are to collect, store and
secure high quality data, convert data into knowledge,
and convert knowledge
into clinical utility. In
addition he reports
promising experiences
from the CHUV with a
general consent for a
prospective, systematic biobank designed
to support research
in genomic medicine,
what resulted in a high Prof. V. Mooser
participation rate.
Ernst Hafen,
Deputy Head at the
Institute for Molecular Systems Biology in
Zurich, presented the
project MIDATA.coop
which shall be democratizing the personal
data economy and
Prof. E. Hafen
implementing personalized medicine in the
existing healthcare systems. MIDATA.coop is a federation
of national personal data cooperatives (PDC) with a common data structure and exchange platform (like SWIFT).
All profit stays in the national PDCs and this solution
is accepted within Europe and could be implemented
worldwide. MIDATA.coop enables citizens to securely
store, manage and control access to their personal data
by helping them to establish and own national/regional
not-for-profit MIDATA cooperatives. This project is still in
developing process, three pilot projects will start in 2016.
See also the website: http://www.midata.coop/.
Extracting meaningful information from this data
deluge is challenging, but
holds unparalleled potential for epidemiology. Thus,
there is great potential to
deepen understanding of
disease dynamics through
the analysis of digital
traces. See Salathé et al. Prof. M. Salathé
on http://journals.plos.org/
ploscompbiol/article?id=10.1371/journal.pcbi.1002616.
The legal point of view was presented by Prof. Beat
Rudin, representative of data protection of the Canton
of Basel-Stadt. He explained why an informed consent of
the patient is needed even if people themselves are displaying their lives carelessly on social media platforms.
He stated: «research needs and deserves trust but trust
needs to be earned».
Prof.
Prof. Marcel Salathé, École polytechnique fédérale in
Lausanne, spoke of digital epidemiology. An increasingly
large fraction of what we do and say – including epidemiologically relevant behaviors is stored electronically.
Prof. B. Rudin
Jubilee Apéro – 50 years ago
The jubilee apéro had the motto «50 years ago» – food
and decoration sent the guests on a travel back in time to
the sixties, the founding years of SAKK. The apéro was
opened by CEO Dr. Peter Brauchli and moderated by Tanja
Gutmann, TV and event presenter. In the podium discussion,
Prof. Dr. Hans-Jörg Senn, SAKK founding father and past
president, reported on SAKK’s past and development.
Prof. Felix Gutzwiller, councilor of states and social and pre-
ventive and medicine specialist, spoke of the importance of
political support for cancer research. Last but not least, ambassador Mathias Seger, ice hockey player ZSC Lions and
captain of the national ice hockey team, talked about his motives to support SAKK and cancer research. The future was
The Swiss Oncology Research Network
8 December 17, 2015
SAKK Newsletter
SAKK ANNIVERSARY
represented by President elect, PD Dr. Roger von Moos. The
approximately 250 guests included many members of our
network, representatives of partner groups and pharmaceutical companies, the media, past presidents and collaborators
as well as SAKK CC staff.
More pictures can be found on http://sakk.ch/en/50-years/
sakk-jubilee-apero/.
Guests with sixties ladies and T. Gutmann
T. Gutmann, Dr. P. Brauchli
M. Seger
T. Gutmann, Prof. H.-J. Senn, Prof. F. Gutzwiller,
M. Seger (from left to right)
Travelling back in time to the swinging sixties
The Swiss Oncology Research Network
December 17, 2015 9
SAKK Newsletter
SAKK GENERAL ASSEMBLY & SEMI-ANNUAL MEETING
SAKK General Assembly
Revised SAKK publication guideline
Meeting of the SAKK board, group
presidents, SAKK CC executive committee and head physicians of the member
centers
The publication guideline has been revised and the members of the General Assembly have accepted the changes.
Primarily, the timelines for the first author of a manuscript
and the consequence to lose the right of first authorship in case he/she does not adhere to the timeline have
changed. The revised guideline can be found on http://
sakk.ch/en/sakk-provides/for-research/scientific-publications/.
The SAKK board invited to this meeting to exchange opinions between the project group presidents, representatives of the SAKK members and head physicians of the
centers and the SAKK board. The participants discussed
animatedly on strategy, further development and lessons
learnt.
New SAKK president elected
During the General Assembly, which took place on
November 25 at the Marriott Hotel in Zurich, the member
representatives elected PD Dr. Roger von Moos from the
Cantonal Hospital Graubünden – the current vice-president – as new SAKK president. Von Moos will take over
the duties from Prof. Beat Thürlimann end of June 2016.
The SAKK board will have to choose a new vice-president
in its next board session in
January 2016 and the vacant
board position will be open
for application in Spring 2016.
An announcement with the requirements for candidates will
follow in the next newsletter.
The members already thanked
Thürlimann for his great contribution over the past years
and wished him success for his
future projects.
PD Dr. R. von Moos
Semi-annual meeting in Zurich
The SAKK winter semi-annual meeting took place in Zurich, on November 26 and 27. The various research groups
of SAKK met to discuss and develop new proposals for
trials. The meeting also offers the opportunity for further
training and participation in scientific symposia. The Gateway/RTF-CCR/SAKK Research Grant was presented at this
year's winter semi-annual meeting. During the event, the
SAKK/Amgen Research Grant and the GIST Group Switzerland's GIST Prize were awarded, and the new SAKK/
Celgene Grant introduced. SAKK's 50th anniversary celebrations were concluded with a symposium and a jubilee
apéro.
USD 1'500'000 for cancer researchers in Switzerland and Spain
The 2015 SAKK/RTFCCR/Gateway Research Grant has
been awarded to five different research projects addressing pivotal challenges in clinical cancer research. This
joint research grant is being awarded for the third year
by SAKK, the Rising Tide Foundation for Clinical Cancer
Research (RTFCCR) and the U.S.-based non-profit organization, Gateway for Cancer Research (Gateway).
Prof. Dr. Stephan Bodis from the Cantonal Hospital Aarau
resigned from his board membership and Prof. Dr. Ludwig
Plasswilm, Cantonal Hospital St. Gallen, was elected as
new representative of radiation oncology in the board.
Solothurner Spitäler AG (soH) becomes
new member of SAKK
As of this year, the Solothurn region is part of the network
of SAKK. The General Assembly admitted the new member in the form of Solothurner Spitäler AG, which includes
Solothurn public hospital, Olten cantonal hospital and
Dornach hospital.
Awardees with representatives of
RTFCCR and SAKK
The Swiss Oncology Research Network
10 December 17, 2015
SAKK Newsletter
SEMI-ANNUAL MEETING
Founded in 2011, this strategic partnership seeks to accelerate innovative and relevant oncology research that may
lead to more potent, less toxic and potentially life-saving
treatment options for cancer patients.
Eveline Mumenthaler, Director of RTFCCR, presented
search in a number of categories is eligible for support:
«The aim of the grant is to support five academic research
projects. This is entirely in keeping with the SAKK's mission. As an academic research institute, we have been
committed for the past 50 years to finding the best possible cancer therapy for patients in Switzerland».
the grant awards to the winners during the semi-annual
meeting of SAKK in Zurich. This included
Dr. Sacha Rothschild, Basel University Hospital,
PD Dr. Nicholas Mach, Geneva University Hospital,
Prof. Dr. Adrian Ochsenbein, Inselspital Bern,
Monica Ruggeri of the International Breast Cancer Study
Group (IBCSG) Coordinating Center in Bern and
Dr. Jordi Rodón, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital in
Barcelona, Spain.
Prof. B. Thürlimann, E. Mumenthaler,
Prof. A. Ochsenbein
Prof. B. Thürlimann, E. Mumenthaler, M. Ruggeri
«Cancer remains a worldwide health problem. With over
100 different known cancers that affect humans, factors
such as an aging population together with the evolution
of lifestyle continue to make cancer a major societal challenge. While new discoveries have brought about innovative diagnostic approaches and effective therapies, a continuous strong financial support is required to advance
novel and evidence-based research. This is why we are
enthusiastic about the prospects of our third-year of grant
partnership with SAKK and Gateway, which increased
from 450’000 USD for one project to USD 1,500,000 for
five projects», said Eveline Mumenthaler.
Scientists applying for the research grant were able to
submit their projects in five categories: increasing the
efficacy of cancer diagnostics and therapeutics through
targeted and personalized medicine; development of approaches for metastatic disease; overcoming drug resistance; improving quality of life; and use of repurposed
drugs. All submissions were reviewed in a two-stage process by an international committee comprising scientific
experts from SAKK, RTFCCR and Gateway. The final decision was reached in October 2015. Details on the project
titles can be found on http://sakk.ch/en/about-sakk/news/
listview/news/2015/11/26/usd-1500000-for-cancer-researchers-in-switzerland-and-spain/.
Prof. Beat Thürlimann, SAKK President, is especially de-
lighted that the grant endowment has been increased to
mark the SAKK's 50th anniversary in 2015 and that re-
The Swiss Oncology Research Network
Prof. B. Thürlimann, E. Mumenthaler,
Dr. S. Rothschild
SAKK Newsletter
December 17, 2015 11
SEMI-ANNUAL MEETING
Satellite symposium by Astellas
Pharma AG
A highlight of the SAKK semi-annual meeting was the
satellite symposium with the title «On the way to personalized medicine in prostate cancer – where do
we stand» held with the presentations of the experts
Dr. Richard Cathomas, Chur, Prof. Dr. Nicolas James,
Coventry, UK, and Dr. Christian Ruiz, Basel. Today, many
new therapies are entering the market bringing various
therapeutic options to the oncologists and their patients.
Alongside with the discussion of the potential optimal
sequencing of the treatments, the demand for predictive
markers arises. It is believed that the new treatment options together with the development of biomarkers will
shape the management of patients with prostate cancer
considerably and help to define personalized treatment
strategies as it has become a standard in Lung Cancer.
The satellite symposium was kindly sponsored by Astellas
Pharma AG.
Researchers from Basel receive
SAKK/Amgen Research Grant
The researchers are awarded for their translational research project that investigates the impact of physical
activity on adaptive and innate immune functions of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. They hypothesize
that exercise-induced enhanced immune functions – both
of the adaptive and innate immune system – account for
better clinical outcomes in physically active patients.
Researchers or a research team independent of their
nationality and age, working at a Swiss hospital or institution can apply for the SAKK/Amgen research grant.
The grant should contribute to an independent research
project and cover a relevant scientific part of the project.
The next SAKK/Amgen Research Grant will be awarded
in 2017.
SAKK and Celgene to award their
new Life Grant
SAKK and Celgene will be awarding a joint research grant
worth CHF 20'000. The Life Grant will be awarded to projects that aim to improve the quality of life of patients
with pancreatic cancer. Eligible research projects should
have the potential to reduce the disease-related burden
on patients and/or their families and must be conducted in
Switzerland. Members of the medical and nursing professions in Switzerland can apply. The grant will be awarded
for the first time at the summer semi-annual meeting of
SAKK in June 2016.
More information can be found on http://sakk.ch/en/sakkprovides/for-research/research-grants/.
Dr. C. Balmelli, Dr. C. Merkle, Amgen Switzerland
AG, Prof. V. Hess
This year’s SAKK/Amgen Research Grant went to three researchers from the University Hospital Basel: Dr. Cathrin
Balmelli, Dr. Christoph Berger and Prof. Dr. Viviane Hess.
SAKK and Amgen Switzerland AG distribute the grant
every two years for outstanding and novel translational
cancer research in Switzerland that improves patient’s
lives. The grant is endowed with CHF 50'000.
The Swiss Oncology Research Network
12 December 17, 2015
SAKK Newsletter
SEMI-ANNUAL MEETING
The 2015 GIST award goes to
Prof. Sebastian Bauer
The GIST Group Switzerland, the support group for patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST), has
awarded its science prize for the sixth time. The 2015 GIST
prize, worth CHF 10'000, was awarded to Prof. Sebastian
Bauer, University Hospital, Essen, Germany, for his paper
«Phase I study of panobinostat and imatinib in patients
with treatment-refractory metastatic gastrointestinal
stromal tumors» published in the British Journal of Cancer
(Br J Cancer. 2014 Mar 4;110(5):1155-62). In awarding
this prize to Bauer, the group also recognized his many
other publications and his commitment to patients with
GISTs.
Prof. B. Thürlimann, Dr. M. Montemurro, H. Meyer,
GIST Group, Prof. S. Bauer
NETWORK FOR OUTCOMES RESEARCH
«Choosing Wisely» Symposium,
September 25 in Lugano
In the 1990s investigators from
McMaster's University
began
using the term
«Evidence Based
Medicine» (EBM), defined as «a systemic approach to analyze published research as the basis of clinical decision
making». Later on Sacket et al. defined the term more
formally and stated that EBM was «the conscientious
and judicious use of current best evidence from clinical
care research in the management of individual patients».
Within the paradigm of EBM modern medical guidelines
based on an examination of current evidence emerged.
They usually include summarized consensus statements
on best practice in healthcare. A healthcare provider is
thought to be obliged to know the medical guidelines
of his or her profession, and has to decide whether or
not to follow the recommendations of a guideline for an
individual treatment. Clinical guidelines in addition aim
to standardize medical care, to raise quality of care, to
reduce several kinds of risk (to the patient, to the healthcare provider, to medical insurers and health plans) and
to achieve the best balance between cost and medical parameters such as effectiveness, specificity, sensitivity and
The Swiss Oncology Research Network
many more. However, the introduction of these new approaches and instruments guiding clinicians and patients
in medical decision making did not decrease disparities in
patient care and many patients today are confronted with
over-diagnosis and over-treatment issues.
Despite EMB and guidelines, currently it is thought that
30 % of given care does not improve value or may even
harm patients. The reasons are manifold and have to be
sought at the physicians as well as at the patient’s side.
Whether driven by financial incentives or consumer behaviour, the idea that, «more is better», is well established in the head of physicians and patients alike.
As a consequence, a new initiative was proposed by Howard Brody in 2010. He published the article «Medicine’s
Ethical Responsibility for Health Care Reform – The Top
Five List» in the New England Journal of Medicine. In this
piece, Dr. Brody called on U.S. medical specialty societies
to identify five tests and treatments that were overused
in their specialty and did not provide meaningful benefit
for patients. Building on this work in 2012, the «Advancing Medical Professionalism to Improve Health Care and
the Consumer Reports», formally launched the Choosing
Wisely campaign with the release of the «Top Five» lists
with «DON’Ts» from nine specialty societies.
To participate in Choosing Wisely, each medical society
December 17, 2015 13
SAKK Newsletter
NETWORK FOR OUTCOMES RESEARCH
has to develop a list of five (or more) tests, treatments, or
services which that specialty commonly overuses. The society shares this information with their members, as well
as organizations who can publicize to local community
groups, and in each community patients and doctors can
consider the information as they like. As of February 2013,
there were 135 recommendations targeting a range of
procedures to either question or to avoid without special
consideration.
At the symposium, examples of the implementation of the
Choosing Wisely campaign from different countries were
presented. In Canada it became clear that patients have
to be educated as well, for example with this video campaign: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqQ-JuRDkl8.
Furthermore, when a diagnostic test or clinical intervention is ordered, the health care professional is directed to
the choosing wisely website of the hospital. In Italy, the
campaign is called «Slow Medicine» and some hospitals
have made a list of «DON’Ts» for routine hospital care.
Further examples from the Netherlands, Germany or the
UK were presented. They also stressed out the need for
health services research in order to detect geographic disparities in care delivery, which might indicate an over- (or
under-) use of medical care.
In Switzerland the campaign is called «Smarter Medicine»
and hospitals in Ticino, Geneva and Bern are actively implementing lists. In Oncology, the American Society of
Clinical Oncology published a first list of 5 DON’Ts in cancer patients (Additional 6-10 points were added in 2013).
The list can be found on http://www.choosingwisely.org/
societies/american-society-of-clinical-oncology/
How far the ideas of «Choosing Wisely» will be able to
change medical practice remains unsettled. As many
stakeholders profit from established practises and patients have been educated for years to «consume», it will
take a while until these new approaches take effect. However, with health care consuming more and more of tight
national budgets, the time has come to find solutions before the entire system collapses.
«Less is More», SAMW Symposium,
November 9 in Bern
A second symposium with a similar subject was held in
the framework of the health services research program
of the SAMW and the national research program 74 «Gesundheitsversorgung». One of the topics presented was
on what appropriate care is and how to find over-, under- or misuse of care. Appropriateness implies ethical,
financial, clinical, individual issues and is a socio-political
process in which all stakeholders should be involved.
Prof. Steve Pearson (National Institute of Health, USA)
addressed the issue of «Waste» (inefficient system or material, administrative and/or clinical waste) in health care
and how difficult it may be to reduce waste. In many situations the reason for waste may be the lack of evidence.
Experimental treatments without comparative evidence
are used because patients are desperate and are willing
to do anything. Also, the off-label use of drugs is accepted due to desperate situations of patients. On the other
hand, physicians rely on useless care, as they claim that
their patients are unique and do not fit the study results
found so far or patients are willing to pay high prices to
gain very small benefit. From the top-five lists as mentioned above, most of the items belong to issues where
the evidence is available.
Prof. Thomas Rosemann, presented results on the over
use of heart catheterization. He stressed the fact that
even if we now talk about over-use, we should not forget
that many procedures and drugs do save lives and help
patients to get cured. Still also in heart diseases the gap
between performed numbers of diagnostic procedures
and those which are followed by an intervention is getting increasingly larger.
Another contribution by Dr. Klaus Eichler showed the
impact of recommendations by the Swiss medical Board
on routine care in Switzerland. He concluded that such
recommendations are not sustainable and after a short
effect, interventions go on as usual.
In the afternoon Roberto Grilli talked about Health Services Research HSR in Italy and the problem of doing «nothing». Physicians are reimbursed for performing which increases the passion to order procedures, even if they add
no value to the given care. Furthermore he stressed out
the HSR communication between researchers and policy
makers. Without a consensus between these parties the
complex HSR cannot have an impact.
Doing something instead of nothing, even if that would
be a better choice in the given circumstances, was also
the topic of the panel discussion. With the DRG-system in
place, doing «nothing» does not seem to be an option for
many physicians. But it was also stated that one should
not only speak of overuse. Certain interventions may as
The Swiss Oncology Research Network
14 December 17, 2015
SAKK Newsletter
NETWORK FOR OUTCOMES RESEARCH
well be underused and especially geographic disparities
in the delivery and use of health care interventions should
be studied to detect variability in supply sensitive, preference based or effective care.
The symposium was accompanied by a poster session.
Fifty eight posters were presented and the participants of
the symposium were invited to vote. The poster presented
by the Network for Outcomes Research «A retrospective
database study investigating days spent in acute care
hospitals during the last 90 days of life of cancer patients
from four Swiss cantons (SAKK 89/09)» was awarded
with the third price.
References
http://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2012/12/17/richard-smith-the-case-forslow-medicine
http://consumerhealthchoices.org/campaigns/choosing-wisely
http://www.choosingwisely.org
http://www.choosingwiselycanada.org
http://www.kwaliteitskoepel.nl/assets/structured-files/Verstandig%20
Kiezen/Choosing%20Wisely%20Netherlands.pdf
http://www.oecd.org/health/healthpoliciesanddata
http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/social-issues-migration-health/health-ata-glance-2011_health_glance-2011-en
http://www.slowmedicine.it/fare-di-piu-non-significa-fare-meglio/
pratiche-a-rischio-di-inappropriatezza-in-italia.html
Dr. Klazien Matter-Walstra,
Network Outcomes Research, SAKK / ECPM
[email protected]
TRIAL NEWS
SAKK 36/13 patients needed
The trial SAKK 36/13 for patients with relapsed or refractory mantle cell lymphoma is open for accrual since August 2015.
Two patients were already accrued in this trial and tolerate the treatment so far well. We would appreciate if we could collaborate with you on a new treatment option for mantle cell lymphoma especially for elderly patients.
The attractiveness of the treatment can be explained by the non-overlapping toxicities and in the in vitro synergy of the combination of ibrutinib and bortezomib. Bortezomib inhibits among others the NF-kB- signalling cascade. MCL patients with low or no response to ibrutinib have
mutations in diverse genes in this signaling cascade. This combination
therapy is especially for elderly patients not eligible for allogeneic stem
cell transplantation and high dose chemotherapy. The trial is supported
by Janssen-Cilag AG and both drugs are provided free of charge by the
pharma company.
The phase I of the trial is currently offered at the university hospitals of
Bern and Geneva, (the CHUV will follow in Q2 2016), and at the Cantonal hospitals in Bellinzona, Luzern, Liestal, Aarau, Chur, St. Gallen and
the Hirslanden in Zürch. In the phase II part of the trial, further centers
in Italy and Switzerland will be activated.
If you have any questions to this trial, I would be pleased to be at your
disposal.
PD Dr. Urban Novak, coordinating investigator SAKK 36/13
[email protected]
The Swiss Oncology Research Network
SAKK Newsletter
December 17, 2015 15
TRIAL NEWS
Trials to be activated 2016
Trial
Trial Name
Opening of
the first site
SAKK 16/14
Perioperative anti-PD-L1 antibody MEDI4736 in addition to standard neoadjuvant chemo- Q1 2016
therapy in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with mediastinal lymph node metastases (stage IIIA, N2)
SAKK 41/13
Adjuvant aspirin treatment in PIK3CA mutated colon cancer patients. A randomized, double- Q1 2016
blinded, placebo-controlled, phase III trial.
SAKK 41/14
Active-2
Physical activity program in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer who receive palliative Q1 2016
first-line chemotherapy. A multicenter open label randomized controlled phase III trial
GRAALL-2014
Treatment of adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), evaluating the addition of a second Q1 2016*
late intensification course in B-lineage PH-negative ALL, the addition of Nelarabine in highrisk T-lineage ALL, and the reduction of chemotherapy intensity in Ph+ ALL
IBCSG 50-14/
BIG 6-13
A randomised, double‐blind, parallel group, placebocontrolled multi‐centre Phase III study to Q1 2016*
assess the efficacy and safety of olaparib vs placebo as adjuvant treatment in patients with
high risk germline BRCA mutated HER2‐negative breast cancer who have completed definitive local and systemic neoadjuvant/adjuvant treatment
IELSG-42
An international phase II trial assessing tolerability and efficacy of sequential Methotrexate- Q1 2016*
Aracytin-based combination and R-ICE combination followed by high-dose chemotherapy
supported by autologous stem cell transplant in patients with systemic DLBCL with CNS
involvement at diagnosis or relapse (MARIETTA regimen)
IELSG-43
High-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplant consolidating conventional Q1 2016*
chemotherapy in primary CNS lymphoma -randomized phase III trial
SAKK 08/14
IMPROVE
Enzalutamide in combination with metformin vs. enzalutamide in patients with CRPC pro- Q1-2 2016
gressing on androgen deprivation therapy (ADT)
SAKK 21/12
(Phase II part)
A Phase I and stratified, multicenter Phase II trial of transdermal CR1447 (4-OH-tes­tosterone) Q1-2 2016
in endocrine responsive-HER2 negative and triple negative-androgen receptor positive metastatic or locally ad­vanced breast cancer
HOVON 103 SEL
SAKK 30/10
A randomized phase II multicenter study with a safety run-in to assess the tolerability and Q2 2016*
efficacy of the addition of oral selinexor (KPT-330) to standard induction therapy in AML high
risk myelodysplasia (MDS) (IPSS-R risk score >4.5) in patients aged ≥ 66 years
SAKK 67/15An open-label Phase 1/2a study of BAL101553 administered as a continuous intravenous Q2 2016
CDA CDI-CS-003 infusion in adult patients with advanced solid tumors
HD21
Treatment optimization trial in the first-line treatment of advanced stage Hodgkin Lympho- Q2 2016*
ma: comparision of 6 cycles of escaleted BEACOPP with 6 cycles of BrECADD
PRODIGE 32
Randomised phase II-III strategic trial in operable oesophageal cancer in case of clinical Q2 2016*
complete response after chemoradiation: systematic surgery vs surveillance with selective
salvage surgery in case of operable recurrence
MCL young/
TRIANGLE
Efficacy of Ibrutinib during R-CHOP/R-DHAP induction and after or in comparison to au- Q2-3 2016*
tologous stem cell transaplantation (ASCT) in previously untreated patients with mantle cell
lymphoma
SAKK 24/14
A phase II study of anti-EGFR-ILs loaded with doxorubicin in patients with advanced triple Q3 2016
negative breast cancer (TNBC)
*Dependent on the cooperative group, just an estimated opening for accrual
The Swiss Oncology Research Network
16 December 17, 2015
SAKK Newsletter
TRIAL NEWS
Trials to be activated 2016
SAKK 41/16
Impact of neoadjuvant treatment with Regorafenib and Capecitabine combined with radio- Q3 2016
therapy in locally advanced rectal cancer. A Phase Ib trial (RECAP)
SAKK 35/15
A phase I study of GA101 in combination with ABT199 in follicular lymphoma patients
SAKK 08/15
ProMET
Multicenter, Randomized, Double Blind, Placebo Controlled Phase II Trial of Salvage Radio- on hold due to
therapy +/- Metformin HCL after Prostatectomy Failure
financial reasons
Q3-4 2016
Trials Open for Accrual November 2015
Disease
Group
Trial Name
Trial Description
Accrual Current Estimated
Target Accrual* Closure for
Accrual
Trial Coordinator
Urogenital
Cancers
SAKK 01/10
Involved Node Radiotherapy and Car- 115
boplatin Chemotherapy in Stage IIA/B
Seminoma
52
15.06.2017
stavros.milatos@sakk.
ch
Urogenital
Cancers
SAKK 06/14
A phase I/II open label clinical trial as- 39
sessing safety and efficacy of intravesical instillation of VPM1002BC in patients
with recurrent non-muscle invasive bladder cancer after standard BCG therapy
1
31.12.2016
[email protected]
Urogenital
Cancers
SAKK 63/12
Prospective cohort study with collection 1930
of clinical data and serum of patients
with prostate disease
194
15.10.2016
[email protected]
Urogenital
Cancers
SAKK 96/12
Prevention of Symptomatic Skeletal 1380
Events with Denosumab Administered
every 4 Weeks versus every 12 Weeks – A
Non-Inferiority Phase III Trial
103
(total
202)
16.01.2019
[email protected]
Urogenital
Cancers
STAMPEDE
Systemic Therapy in Advancing or Metastatic Prostate Cancer: Evaluation of Drug
Efficacy A 5-stage multi-arm randomised
controlled trial
54
31.12.2016
estelle.cassoly
@sakk.ch
Lung
Cancers
SAKK 15/12
Early prophylactic cranial irradiation with 42
hippocampal avoidance in patients with
limited disease small-cell lung cancer. A
multicenter phase II trial
10
31.12.2016
[email protected]
Lung
Cancers
SAKK 16/08
Preoperative chemotherapy and radio- 69
therapy with concomitant Cetuximab
in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
patients with IIIB disease. A multicenter
phase II trial
65
31.03.2016
heike.kenner
@sakk.ch
Updated
*Current accrual as of end of November, 2015. Accrual for non-SAKK trials only includes patients enrolled at SAKK centers.
The Swiss Oncology Research Network
December 17, 2015 17
SAKK Newsletter
TRIAL NEWS
Trials Open for Accrual November 2015
Disease
Group
Trial Name
Trial Description
Accrual Current Estimated
Target Accrual* Closure for
Accrual
Lung
Cancers
SPLENDOUR
A randomised, open-label phase III trial 1000
evaluating the addition of denosumab to
standard first-line anticancer treatment in
advanced NSCLC
53
30.03.2018
SPLENDOUR@etop-eu.
org
Lung
Cancers
EORTC
LungArt
Phase III study comparing post-operative 700
conformal radiotherapy to no post-operative radiotherapy in patients with completely resected non-small cell lung cancer and mediastinal N2 involvement
2
31.08.2018
oussama.karroum@
eortc.be
Breast
Cancers
SAKK 22/10
A randomized phase II trial of pertu- 208
zumab in combination with trastuzumab
with or without chemotherapy, both followed by T-DM1 in case of progression,
in patients with HER2-positive metastatic
breast cancer
198
30.01.2016
marie-aline.
[email protected]
Breast
Cancers
SAKK 23/13
Randomized Controlled Trial to Evaluate 142
the Impact of a Surgical Sealing Patch on
Lymphatic Drainage after Axillary Lymph
Node Dissection for Breast Cancer
49
31.03.2017
estelle.cassoly@sakk.
ch
Breast
Cancers
SAKK 25/14
Eribulin as 1st line treatment in elderly 77
patients (>= 70 years) with advanced
breast cancer: a multicenter phase II trial
7
15.08.2018
stavros.milatos@sakk.
ch
Breast
Cancers
SAKK 96/12
Prevention of Symptomatic Skeletal 1380
Events with Denosumab Administered
every 4 Weeks versus every 12 Weeks – A
Non-Inferiority Phase III Trial
99 (total
202)
16.01.2019
[email protected]
Breast
Cancers
EORTC 10085 EORTC 10085 prospective part, Clinical
PRO
and biological characterization of Male
Breast Cancer: an international EORTC,
BIG and NABCG intergroup study
26
30.06.2016
estelle.cassoly@sakk.
ch
Breast
Cancers
IBCSG 43-09
HOHO
84
Q1 2016
Monica.Ruggeri
@ibcsg.org
Breast
Cancers
IBCSG 48-14/ A study evaluating the pregnancy out- 500
BIG 8-13
comes and safety of interrupting endocrine therapy for young women with
endocrine responsive breast cancer who
desire pregnancy
3
31.12.2018
Monica.Ruggeri
@ibcsg.org
Prospective observational study of young 300
women (£ 40 years at diagnosis) with
breast cancer. Data analyzed will include
serial patient surveys and medical record
information
Trial Coordinator
Updated
*Current accrual as of end of November, 2015. Accrual for non-SAKK trials only includes patients enrolled at SAKK centers.
The Swiss Oncology Research Network
18 December 17, 2015
SAKK Newsletter
TRIAL NEWS
Trials Open for Accrual November 2015
Disease
Group
Trial Name
Trial Description
Accrual Current Estimated
Target Accrual* Closure for
Accrual
Leukemias
SAKK 33/14
Effects of sympathicomimetic agonists on 39
the disease course and mutant allele burden in patients with JAK2-mutated myeloproliferative neoplasms A multicenter
phase II trial
36
31.01.2016
[email protected]
Leukemias
APL 2006
Randomized phase III trial assessing 800
the role of arsenic trioxide and/or ATRA
during consolidation course in newly diagnosed acute promyelocytic leukemia
(APL)
65
15.05.2016
vincent.tchang
@sakk.ch
Leukemias
CML V
Treatment optimization of newly diag- 628
nosed Ph/BCR-ABL positive patients with
chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in chronic phase with nilotinib vs. nilotinib plus
interferon alpha induction and nilotinib
or interferon alpha maintenance therapy
21
30.06.2016
moritz.jacobshagen@
sakk.ch
Leukemias
EBMT HCT
vs CT
Compare conventinal chemotherapy to 231
low dose total body irradiation-based
conditioning and hematopoietic cell
transplantation as consolidation therapy
10
30.06.2016
joerg.brechbuehl@
sakk.ch
Leukemias
HOVON 103TOS
A randomized phase II multicenter study 200
with a safety run-in to assess the tolerability and efficacy of the addition of oral
tosedostat to standard induction chemotherapy in AML and high risk myelodysplasia (MDS) (IPSS-R > 4.5) in patients
aged ≥ 66
21
15.10.2016
[email protected]
Leukemias
HOVON 132
Randomized study with a run-in dose- 860
selection phase to assess the added value
of lenalidomide in combination with standard remission-induction chemotherapy
and post-remission treatment in patients
aged 18-65 years with previously untreated acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or high
risk myelodysplasia (MDS) (IPSS-R risk
score > 4.5)
51
30.06.2018
[email protected]
Lymphomas
SAKK 35/14
Rituximab with or without ibrutinib for 190
untreated patients with advanced follicular lymphoma in need of therapy. A randomized, double-blinded, SAKK and NLG
collaborative Phase II trial
1
31.10.2017
[email protected]
[email protected]
Updated
*Current accrual as of end of November, 2015. Accrual for non-SAKK trials only includes patients enrolled at SAKK centers.
The Swiss Oncology Research Network
Trial Coordinator
December 17, 2015 19
SAKK Newsletter
TRIAL NEWS
Trials Open for Accrual November 2015
Disease
Group
Trial Name
Trial Description
Accrual Current Estimated
Target Accrual* Closure for
Accrual
Trial Coordinator
Lymphomas
SAKK 36/13
Combination of ibrutinib and Bortezomib 73
followed by ibrutinib maintenance to
treat patients with relapsed and refractory mantle cell lymphoma. A multicenter
Phase I/II trial
2
31.03.2018
katrin.eckhardt@sakk.
ch
Lymphomas
SAKK 39/10
Nelfinavir and lenalidomide/dexametha- 33
sone in patients with progressive multiple
myeloma that have failed lenalidomidecontaining therapy. A single arm phase I/
II trial
27
31.03.2016
piera.gargiulo@
sakk. ch
Lymphomas
SAKK 39/13
Nelfinavir as Bortezomib-sensitizing drug 34
in patients with proteasome inhibitornonresponsive myeloma
20
31.08.2016
catherine.berset@
sakk.ch
Lymphomas
HD 17
Therapieoptimierungsstudie in der Primär- 1100
therapie des intermediären Hodgkin Lymphoms: Therapiestratifizierung mittels
FDG-PET
58
01.12.2016
katrin.eckhardt@
sakk. ch
Lymphomas
IELSG-37
A randomized, open-label, multicentre, 540
two-arm phase III comparative study assessing the role of involved mediastinal
radiotherapy after Rituximab containing
chemotherapy regimens to patients with
newly diagnosed Primary Mediastinal
Large B-Cell Lymphoma (PMLBCL)
8
31.12.2016
simona.berardi
@sakk.ch
Lymphomas
T-cell project
Das T-Cell project ist eine Registrierstudie
mit Referenzpathologie um Daten zu
seltenen malignen Erkrankungen der TZell Linie zu gewinnen
34
31.12.2016
simona.berardi
@sakk.ch
Gastrointestinal
Cancers
Alliance/
PROSPECT
A phase II/III trial of neoadjuvant folfox, with 1000
selective use of combined modality chemora-diation vs. preoperative combined modality chemoradiation for locally advanced rectal cancer patients undergoing low anterior
resec-tion with total mesorectal excision.
5
30.06.2017
[email protected]
New Drugs
SAKK 66/12
A Phase I, open-label, multi-center, dose
escalation study of oral CGM097, a p53/
HDM2-interaction inhibitor, in adult patients
with se-lected advanced solid tumors characterized by wild-type TP53
6
30.06.2016
simona.berardi
@sakk.ch
New Drugs
SAKK 66/13
INC280 Combination with BKM120 for 58
glioblastoma patients, Phase I/II trial
2
02.05.2016
simona.berardi
@sakk.ch
Updated
*Current accrual as of end of November 2015. Accrual for non-SAKK trials only includes patients enrolled at SAKK centers.
The Swiss Oncology Research Network
20 December 17, 2015
SAKK Newsletter
TRIAL NEWS
Trials Open for Accrual November 2015
New Drugs
SAKK 69/13
Phase IB of oral BGJ398 (pan FGFR inhibitor)
and oral BYL719 (a specific PI3K inhibitor)
in adult patients with selected solid tumors
1
30.04.2016
simona.berardi
@sakk.ch
Gynaecological
Cancers
Mito/
Mango 16b
A multicenter phase III randomized study 400
with second line chemotherapy plus or minus bevacizumab in patients with platinum
sensitive epithelial ovarian cancer recurrence
after a bevacizumab/chemotherapy first line
11
01.07.2016
heidi.baumgartner@
sakk.ch
Gynaecological
Cancers
INOVATYON
Phase III international, randomized study of tra- 588
bectedin plus Pegylated Liposomal Doxorubicin
(PLD) versus Carboplatin plus PLD in patients
with ovarian cancer progressing within 6-12
months of last platinum
18
30.06.2017
moritz.jacobshagen@
sakk.ch
Updated
*Current accrual as of end of November 2015. Accrual for non-SAKK trials only includes patients enrolled at SAKK centers.
Activated trials
SAKK 35/14
Activated
Coordinating investigator
Clinical project manager
Rituximab with or without ibrutinib for untreated patients with advanced follicular lymphoma in need of therapy. A randomized, double-blinded, SAKK and NLG collaborative Phase II trial
October 15, 2015
Emanuele Zucca, Bellinzona
[email protected], [email protected]
Authorized trials
SAKK 41/13
Adjuvant aspirin treatment in PIK3CA mutated colon cancer patients. A randomized,
double-blinded, placebo-controlled, phase III trial
Approved by EC
Submitted to Swissmedic
Coordinating investigator
Clinical project manager
August 12, 2015
August 31, 2015
Ulrich Güller, Basel
[email protected]
Approval pending
HOVON 103 - SEL
A randomized phase II multicenter study with a safety run-in to assess the tolerability and efficacy of the addition of oral selinexor (KPT-330) to standard induction chemotherapy in AML and high
risk myelodysplasia (MDS) (IPSS-R > 4.5) in patients aged 66 years
Submitted to EC
Submitted to Swissmedic
Coordinating investigator
Clinical project manager
August 14, 2015
August 14, 2015
Georg Stüssi, Bellinzona
[email protected]
The Swiss Oncology Research Network
December 17, 2015 21
SAKK Newsletter
TRIAL NEWS
Approval pending
SAKK 41/14 ACTIVE-2
Submitted to EC
Coordinating investigator
Clinical project manager
Physical activity program in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer who receive palliative first-
line chemotherapy. A multicenter open label randomized controlled phase III trial
September 16, 2015
Viviane Hess, Basel
[email protected]
|www| All information on SAKK trials can also be found under www.sakk.ch in the members’ section
PUBLICATIONS Q4 2015
Urogenital Cancer
SAKK 09/10
Ghadjar P, Hayoz S, Bernhard J, Zwahlen DR, Hölscher T, Gut P, Guckenberger M, Hildebrandt G, Müller AC, Plasswilm L, Papachristofilou A, Stalder L, Biaggi-Rudolf C, Sumila M, Kranzbühler H, Najafi Y, Ost P, Azinwi NC, Reuter C, Bodis S, Kaouthar
K, Wust P, Thalmann GN, Aebersold DM. Acute Toxicity and Quality of Life After Dose-Intensified Salvage Radiation Therapy for
Biochemically Recurrent Prostate Cancer After Prostatectomy: First Results of the Randomized Trial SAKK 09/10. Nov 02 J CLIN
ONCOL. IF 18.428
Lung Cancer
SAKK 17/04
Stahel RA, Riesterer O, Xyrafas A, Opitz I, Beyeler M, Ochsenbein A, Früh M, Cathomas R, Nackaerts K, Peters S, Mamot C, Zippelius A, Mordasini C, Caspar CB, Eckhardt K, Schmid RA, Aebersold DM, Gautschi O, Nagel W, Töpfer M, Krayenbuehl J, Ribi
K, Ciernik LF, Weder W. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy and extrapleural pneumonectomy of malignant pleural mesothelioma with
or without hemithoracic radiotherapy (SAKK 17/04): a randomised, international, multicentre phase 2 trial. Oct 30. LANCET
ONCOL. IF 24.69
Breast Cancer
BIG 1-98
Leyland-Jones B, Gray KP, Abramovitz M, Bouzyk M, Young B, Long B, Kammler R, Dell'Orto P, Biasi MO, Thürlimann B, Harvey
V, Neven P, Arnould L, Maibach R, Price KN, Coates AS, Goldhirsch A, Gelber RD, Pagani O, Viale G, Rae JM, Regan MM; BIG
1-98 Collaborative Group. ESR1 and ESR2 polymorphisms in the BIG 1-98 trial comparing adjuvant letrozole versus tamoxifen
or their sequence for early breast cancer. Nov 21. BREAST CANCER RES TR. IF 3.94
IBCSG TEXT & SOFT
Regan MM, Pagani O, Francis PA, Fleming GF, Walley BA, Kammler R, Dell'Orto P, Russo L, Szke J, Doimi F, Villani L, Pizzolitto S,
Öhlschlegel C, Sessa F, Peg Cámara V, Rodríguez Peralto JL, MacGrogan G, Colleoni M, Goldhirsch A, Price KN, Coates AS, Gelber
RD, Viale G; SOFT and TEXT Investigators and International Breast Cancer Study Group. Predictive value and clinical utility of
centrally assessed ER, PgR, and Ki-67 to select adjuvant endocrine therapy for premenopausal women with hormone receptorpositive, HER2-negative early breast cancer: TEXT and SOFT trials. Oct 22. BREAST CANCER RES TR. IF 3.94
Lymphoma
CORAL
Van Den Neste E, Schmitz N, Mounier N, Gill D, Linch D, Trneny M, Milpied N, Radford J, Ketterer N, Shpilberg O, Dührsen U,
The Swiss Oncology Research Network
22 December 17, 2015
SAKK Newsletter
PUBLICATIONS & PRESENTATIONS Q4 2015
Ma D, Brière J, Thieblemont C, Salles G, Moskowitz CH, Glass B, Gisselbrecht C. Outcome of patients with relapsed diffuse large
B-cell lymphoma who fail second-line salvage regimens in the International CORAL study. Sep 14. BONE MARROW TRANSPL.
IF 3.57.
Palliative Care
SAKK 95/06
Strasser F, Blum D, von Moos R, Cathomas R, Ribi K, Aebi S, Betticher D, Hayoz S, Klingbiel D, Brauchli P, Haefner M, Mauri S,
Kaasa S, Koeberle D; Swiss Group for Clinical Cancer Research (SAKK). The effect of real-time electronic monitoring of patientreported symptoms and clinical syndromes in outpatient workflow of medical oncologists: E-MOSAIC, a multicenter clusterrandomized phase III study (SAKK 95/06). Dec 8. ANN ONCOL. IF 7.04.
Other
Feller A, Mark MT, Steiner A, Clough-Gorr KM. Time trends in avoidable cancer mortality in Switzerland and neighbouring European countries 1996-2010. Oct 02. SWISS MED WKLY. IF 1.895.
Volk V, Cathomas R, Mark M, von Moos R, Klingbiel D, Brossart P, Mey U. Weekly carboplatin in combination with weekly paclitaxel in the treatment of metastatic non-small cell lung cancer: a single center 10-year experience. Nov 09. SUPPORT CARE
CANCER. IF 2.364.
Baty F, Klingbiel D, Zappa F, Brutsche M. High-throughput alternative splicing detection using dually constrained correspondence analysis (DCCA). Oct 16. J Biomed Inform.
Presentations Q4 2015
2015 ASTRO's Annual Meeting
Poster
Herrmann E. et al. External Beam Radiotherapy For Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma. An International Multicenter
Phase I Trial, SAKK 77/07.
2015 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium
Poster discussion
Borgquist S. et al. Cholesterol, cholesterol lowering medication use, and breast cancer outcomes in the BIG 1-98 study
Posters
Zweifel M. et al. Phase 1 evaluation of the androgen receptor modulator CR1447 in patients with advanced
breast cancer (SAKK 21/12).
Pruneri G. et al. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) are a powerful prognostic marker in patients with triple negative
breast cancer treated by induction chemotherapy with or without oral low dose cyclophosphamide-methotrexate maintenance chemotherapy (CMM) (IBCSG 22-00)
Pagani O. et al. POSITIVE: A study evaluating pregnancy and disease outcome and safety of interrupting endocrine therapy
for young women with endocrine responsive breast cancer who desire pregnancy (IBCSG 48-14/BIG 8-13)
Denkert C. et al. Systematic analysis and modulation of Ki67 interobserver variance in 9069 patients from three clinical
trials – How much pathologist concordance is needed for meaningful biomarker results?
Willis S. et al. Immune related gene expression signatures predict benefit of letrozole over tamoxifen in BIG 1-98
The Swiss Oncology Research Network
December 17, 2015 23
SAKK Newsletter
PRESENTATIONS Q4 2015
2015 ASH Annual Meeting
Oral presentation
Davies A. et al. A prospective randomised trial of targeted therapy for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) based upon
real-time gene expression profiling: The REMoDL-B study of the UK NCRI and SAKK lymphoma groups, ISRCTN51837425
IBCSG
Clinical trials
ers». It is a longitudinal cohort study of 300 young women
with breast cancer (early or advanced) in selected institutions in Europe. All eligible patients treated at each center
are invited to join the cohort. Patient surveys and medical
record review are utilized. Women are surveyed every 6
months for the first 3 years after diagnosis, then yearly
thereafter for an additional 7 years (for a total follow-up
of 10 years following diagnosis).
IBCSG 42-12 SNAP
The trial evaluates in a randomized phase II fashion three
different schedules of nab-Paclitaxel in patients with histologically or cytologically confirmed HER2-negative metastatic (stage IV) breast cancer who have not received any
prior chemotherapy. Based on a recommendation from
the DSMC, IBCSG decided to increase the total sample
size from 240 to 258. The corresponding protocol amendment in early 2015. On August 7, 2015, the recruitment
was stopped after having successfully reached the revised
recruitment goal. The recruitment rate was higher than
originally anticipated and reached about 15 per month
in 2014. Amendment 2 was not activated by all sites, and
the accrual rates dropped quite a bit in 2015. Swiss sites
have contributed 75 patients, ICORG 61, SOLTI 42, Italy
40, Belgium 33 and Slovenia 7. Kantonsspital St.Gallen
was the highest recruiter with a total of 27 patients. We
would like to thank all Swiss investigators for their great
effort and commitment to this trial. The treatment of patients and the follow-up is continuing as planned. The final evaluation of the trial is planned for early 2017.
The study has two main objectives:
1. To identify in selected institutions in Europe a cohort
of young women (age 18-40) newly diagnosed with
breast cancer (early or advanced) to assess a broad
range of variables at baseline and over the course of
the ensuing 10 years.
2. To characterize this population at diagnosis and in
follow-up regarding disease and psychosocial outcomes (e.g., presentation and disease characteristics,
fertility and menopausal issues, and long term outcome).
At present 12 centers in Italy and 6 centers in Switzerland
are participating in the trial and have accrued 295 patients up to end of November 2015, 84 of them by Swiss
sites.
IBCSG’s Program for Young Patients:
IBCSG 43-09 HOHO
IBCSG 43-09 is the Young Women’s Breast Cancer Study,
and HOHO stands for «Helping Ourselves Helping Oth-
IBCSG 48-14/BIG 8-13 POSITIVE
The best available evidence suggests that pregnancy
after breast cancer does not negatively impact disease
Accrual of open clinical trials
(As of November 30, 2015)
Trials
Current accrual
Current accrual SAKK
Total target accrual
42-12 SNAP
258
75
258; closed for accrual
43-09 HOHO
295
84
300
48-14 POSITIVE
26
3
500
The Swiss Oncology Research Network
24 December 17, 2015
SAKK Newsletter
IBCSG
outcome and is safe for the offspring but no definitive
information is available to recommend a safe interval
from BC diagnosis to pregnancy. The POSITIVE trial will
investigate endocrine therapy (ET) interruption to enable
conception for young women between 18 and 42 years
of age with endocrine responsive early breast cancer who
received adjuvant ET for 18 to 30 months and wish to attempt pregnancy. The main objectives are:
1. To assess the risk of breast cancer relapse associated
with temporary interruption of endocrine therapy to
permit pregnancy
2. To evaluate factors associated with pregnancy success after interruption of endocrine therapy.
The trial will also allow for the testing of biologic correlates of pregnancy and disease outcome.
A psycho-oncological companion study evaluating psychological distress, fertility concerns and decisional conflict in young women who participate in POSITIVE has
been developed and will be activated in sites interested
and capable to conduct it.. As of now, the trial has been
activated in 27 sites from 8 countries (Switzerland-SAKK,
Australia, Italy, Belgium, Spain-SOLTI, Greece-HORG,
Slovenia and USA) In these countries, several sites are
going to be activated or are in the IRB process. Other 9
participating countries are anticipated in the near future
(Canada-CTG, Portugal, Japan-JBCRG, Hungary, Israel,
Netherlands-BOOG, Sweden-SABO and UK-ICR). Groups/
sites from some other countries have shown great interest
in the trial.
A total of 500 patients are planned to be recruited into
the trial from centers worldwide in approximately 4 years.
The trial is currently being activated in Switzerland, 12 out
of 13 planned sites are open. The Institute of Oncology of
Southern Switzerland is the first site which has opened
the trial worldwide, and has accrued the first patient in
December 2014; Brustkrebszentrum Zürich and Kantonsspital Baden have accrued the 2nd and the 3rd patient
respectively.
Latest IBCSG publications
Early Breast Cancer Trialists’ Collaborative Group
(EBCTCG). Aromatase inhibitors versus tamoxifen in early
breast cancer: patient-level meta-analysis of the randomised trials. Lancet 2015 Jul 23.
Regan MM. Predicting benefit of endocrine therapy for
early breast cancer. The Breast 2015, Aug 5.
The Swiss Oncology Research Network
Metzger Filho O, Giobbie-Hurder A, Mallon EA, Gusterson
B, Viale G, Winer EP, Thurlimann B, Gelber RD, Colleoni
M, Ejlertsen B, Debled M, Price KN, Regan MM, Coates
AS, Goldhirsch A. Relative effectiveness of letrozole compared with tamoxifen for patients with lobular carcinoma
in the BIG 1-98 trial. J Clin Oncol 33:2772-2779, 2015.
(BIG 1-98).
Coates AS, Winer EP, Goldhirsch A, Gelber RD, Gnant M,
Piccart-Gebhart M, Thürlimann B, Senn HJ; Panel members. Tailoring therapies - improving the management of
early breast cancer: St Gallen International Expert Consensus on the Primary Therapy of Early Breast Cancer
2015. Ann Oncol. 26: 1533-1546, 2015. (Commentary).
Sonnenblick A, Francis PA, Azim HA Jr, de Azambuja E,
Nordenskjöld B, Gutiérez J, Quinaux E, Mastropasqua MG,
Ameye L, Anderson M, Lluch A, Gnant M, Goldhirsch A, Di
Leo A, Barnadas A, Cortes-Funes H, Piccart M, Crown J. Final 10-year results of the Breast International Group 2–98
phase III trial and the role of Ki67 in predicting benefit
of adjuvant docetaxel in patients with oestrogen receptor
positive breast cancer. Eur J Cancer. 51:1481-1489, 2015
(IBCSG 20-98).
Bernhard, J, Luo W, Ribi K, Colleoni M, Burstein HJ, Tondini
C, Pinotti G, Spazzapan S, Ruhstaller T, Puglisi F, Pavesi L,
Parmar V, Regan MM, Pagani O, Fleming GF, Francis PA,
Price KN, Coates AS, Gelber RD, Goldhirsch A, Walley BA.
Patient-reported outcomes with adjuvant exemestane
versus tamoxifen in premenopausal women with early
breast cancer undergoing ovarian suppression (TEXT and
SOFT): a combined analysis of two phase 3 randomised
trials. Lancet Oncol 16:848-858, 2015. (IBCSG 24-02 and
25-02).
Goldhirsch A, Colleoni M, Regan M. Improved adjuvant
endocrine therapy for premenopausal women with endocrine responsive disease. Ecancermedicalscience. 2015
Jun 9;9:544. eCollection 2015 (Review).
The complete IBCSG publication list can be downloaded
from http://www.ibcsg.org/Member/Publi/IBCSG_Publi/
Pages/default.aspx
Dr. Rudolf Maibach
IBCSG Coordinating Center (www.ibcsg.org)
December 17, 2015 25
SAKK Newsletter
ETOP
Clinical trials
ETOP 4-12 STIMULI
ETOP 2-11 BELIEF: selected as
«Best Abstract Presentation» at the
ECC2015 in Vienna
ETOP / IFCT 4-12 STIMULI – A randomised open-label
phase II trial of consolidation ipilimumab in limited-stage
SCLC after chemo-radiotherapy
BELIEF is an open-label, single-arm, phase II multicenter
trial exploring whether first line erlotinib plus bevacizumab improves PFS in NSCLC patients with activating EGFR
mutations (del19 or L858R). The outcomes are tested
overall and separately in patients with (sub-study 1) and
without (sub-study 2) a pre-treatment T790M EGFR gatekeeper mutation.
The ETOP / IFCT 4-12 STIMULI trial has been activated
in France, Switzerland, Spain and the Netherlands. As of
27 November 2015, 33 patients have been enrolled and
16 randomized so far. The recruitment is clearly behind
schedule and the trial committee has decided to take action. Several changes will be introduced to the protocol,
in particular to relax the inclusion criteria in order to enhance recruitment of patients into the STIMULI trial. At
the same time, recently published results suggest that
the combination of ipilimumab with nivolumab may yield
substantially higher efficacy.
The accrual goal of 102 patients was reached in October
2014. An abstract with the results for the T790M cohort
(sub-study 1) has been submitted to the 18th ECCO – 40th
ESMO European Cancer Congress (ECC2015) in Vienna
and was selected as best abstract for oral presentation
in one of the presidential sessions. Rolf A. Stahel, ETOP
president and trial co-chair presented the work on behalf
of the trial team.
Pre-treatment T790M mutations were centrally identified
based on laser micro-dissection and TaqMan assays in
the presence of a specific peptide–nucleic acid to inhibit
the amplification of the wild-type allele. DNA from PC9
cells containing an ultra-low allele frequency (0.004%) of
T790M mutation were used as negative and NCI-H1975
(T790M+) cells as positive controls. With this sensitive
PC9 cutoff method, the presence of T790M at diagnosis
was documented in 37 (34%) of the 109 recruited patients with classical activating EGFR mutations.
The combination of erlotinib and bevacizumab resulted
in an overall 1-year PFS of 56.7% and a median PFS of
13.8 months (95% CI: 10.3 - 21.3). In patients with documented T790M mutation at diagnosis, the 1-year PFS was
72.4% and the median PFS 16.0 months (95% CI:13.1 NE), which means that the predefined endpoint criterion
for success was reached.
Further investigation using multiple orthogonal methods
including digital PCR and multiplex next generation sequencing is ongoing and the final analysis with updated
efficacy results overall and by sub-study will be performed
as soon as all patients have reached one year of followup.
In accordance with BMS, the manufacturer of both drugs,
the STIMULI trial protocol will be amended to revise
the induction phase of the immunotherapy by adding
nivolumab to ipilimumab, and to continue in the maintenance phase with a flat dose of nivolumab alone. The
introduced changes present a chance to make the trial
substantially more attractive. The amended protocol was
released on 21 September 2015 and site activation is ongoing
ETOP 5-12 SPLENDOUR
SPLENDOUR is a randomised, open-label phase III trial evaluating the ad¬dition of denosumab to standard
first-line anticancer treatment in advanced NSCLC
Denosumab is a monoclonal antibody targeting and inhibiting RANKL, a protein that acts as the primary signal for bone resorption. The purpose of this study is to
investigate the potential of the combination of standard
treatment (chemotherapy) with denosumab as compared
to the standard treatment alone to increase survival of
patients with advanced NSCLC with or without bone metastasis in advanced unselected treatment-naïve patients.
ETOP is the sponsor of this trial, which is conducted in
collaboration with EORTC as coordinating group. 1000
patients will be enrolled within approximately 3 years.
Meanwhile, all 8 participating SAKK sites have been activated and the current overall accrual as of 27 November
2015 is 261 patients, with 53 being contributed by SAKK
sites.
The Swiss Oncology Research Network
26 December 17, 2015
SAKK Newsletter
ETOP
ETOP 7-14 NICHE
The primary objective of this trial is to evaluate the ability of afatinib, a selective irreversible small molecule inhibitor of the
erbB family of proteins, to control disease in pretreated patients with advanced NSCLC harbouring HER2 exon 20 mutations.
The trial will be conducted at six sites from five different countries, with Spain and Switzerland being already activated. In
Switzerland, the University Hospital Zürich and the CHUV Lausanne will participate in the NICHE trial. The first patient was
enroled in September 2015 in Spain.
Prof. Dr. Solange Peters
Scientific Coordinator
Heidi Roschitzki
ETOP Coordinating Office
www.etop-eu.org
SWISS CANCER LEAGUE
Report «Cancer Research in Switzerland», Edition 2015
Despite the numerous advances that medicine has made in the fight against tumours, these diseases cause more than 16 000 deaths in Switzerland each year, making cancer the second most
common cause of death. This is why research is as important as ever: It is the basis of the hope that
survival rates and the quality of life of persons with cancer will continue to improve.
The new edition of the report «Cancer Research in Switzerland» has appeared. The report documents the concerted commitment of the Swiss Cancer Research foundation (SCR), the Swiss Cancer League (SCL), as well as the cantonal and regional cancer leagues in funding patient-centred
cancer research projects. In 2014 the partner organizations provided a total of 22.9 million francs
– a new record sum.
The new edition appears in a somewhat slimmer form than before. The report renounces for the first time to list the abstracts of all funded research work, but presents instead the results of some completed research projects. The abstracts of
all funded research projects since 2005 can now be found online in a public research project database at www.swisscancer.
ch/researchprojects.
To download the report go to:
http://www.krebsliga.ch/de/fachpersonen/literatur/krebsforschung_in_der_schweiz/
Contact
Dr. Ori Schipper
Communications Manager
[email protected]
The Swiss Oncology Research Network
December 17, 2015 27
SAKK Newsletter
FUND & TRAINING
SAKK fund for academic clinical cancer research
The SAKK fund for academic clinical cancer research is aimed at funding scientific research projects that are
insufficiently supported by pharmaceutical companies, foundations or other donators. By this fund, SAKK finances
particu-larly academic clinical trials independet from the pharmaceutical industry, translational research as well as
education of researchers. Funds are only provided, if there exists a connection with an SAKK project.
SAKK thanks its main donator of the fund in 2015:
Roche Pharma (Schweiz) AG
Applicants for the SAKK fund for academic clinical cancer research are researchers from the SAKK network or other
persons involved in SAKK activities.
SAVE-THE-DATE
SAKK Investigators'education
March 10 & 17, 2016
October 27 & November 3, 2016
For members of the SAKK network and SPOG the course is free of charge. More information:
http://sakk.ch/en/calendar/education/
Supported by
The Swiss Oncology Research Network
28 December 17, 2015
SAKK Newsletter
TRAINING & GRANTS
SAKK Training course
for CRCs & CTNs
January 28, 2016
&
August 25, 2016
For members of the SAKK network and SPOG the course is free of charge. More information:
http://sakk.ch/en/calendar/education/
Supported by
SAKK/Celgene Grant
Key information about the grant:
•
•
•
Grant is endowed with CHF 20'000
Application deadline is April 30, 2016
Read more on the application form, rules and regulations here:
http://sakk.ch/en/sakk-provides/for-research/research-grants/
You
• are a practising physician, clinical researcher or professional in a patient care institution or patient society
• have your primary place of research in Switzerland
For more information please contact: Dennis Ammann, SAKK Coordinating Center, «Life Grant»
Effingerstrasse 40, 3008 Bern, Tel +41 31 389 94 72
E-Mail: [email protected]
The Swiss Oncology Research Network
December 17, 2015 29
SAKK Newsletter
GRANTS & EVENTS
SAKK/Dr. Paul Janssen Fellowship
SAKK and Janssen-Cilag AG have decided to jointly award a fellowship endowed with CHF 30'000. The educational grant is aimed at offering young doctors the opportunity to spend three to four months at a renowned
research center abroad to gain experience and acquire the necessary know-how and tools to develop and conduct
top-quality clinical trials in oncology / hematology .
Doctors who train as oncologists / hematologists at Swiss hospitals and are associated with SAKK are herewith
invited to apply for the educational grant. The research grant will be awarded at the SAKK semi-annual meeting on
June 30, 2016.
Submission deadline: April 30, 2016
submission to [email protected]
The SAKK / Dr. Paul Janssen Fellowship regulations can be obtained at
http://sakk.ch/en/sakk-provides/for-research/research-grants/.
Contact: Dennis Ammann, Marketing Manager, [email protected]
10th Swiss PostASCO
June 16, 2016
Event & Kongresszentrum, Stade de Suisse
Champions Lounge, Bern
Information and registration: www.swisspostasco.ch
SAVE-THE-DATE
Orphan Malignancies Seminar
August 26, 2016, Zurich
Information and registration: http://sakk.ch/en/calendar/
The Swiss Oncology Research Network
30 December 17, 2015
EVENTS
SAKK DATES 2016
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
January 26, Board Meeting
January 28, Training course for CRCs and CTNs
March 10 & 17, Investigators'Education
March 17, 2nd SLC Symposium Bern
May 12 & 13, Board Meeting and Retreat
June 16, 10th Swiss PostASCO Bern
June 29, General Assembly
June 30 & July 1, Semi-Annual Meeting Zurich
August 25, Training course for CRCs and CTNs
August 26, Orphan Malignancies Seminar Zurich
August 30, Board Meeting
October 27 & November 3, Investigators'Education
November 8, Board Meeting
November 23, General Assembly
November 24 & 25, Semi-Annual Meeting Zurich
The Swiss Oncology Research Network
SAKK Newsletter
31 December 17, 2015
SAKK Newsletter
Flag
Swiss Group for Clinical Cancer Research
Coordinating Center
Effingerstrasse 40
3008 Bern
Tel. +41 31 389 91 91
Fax +41 31 389 92 00
E-mail: [email protected]
www.sakk.ch
Claudia Herren
[email protected]
Peter Brauchli