A major research study using radiotherapy in the treatment of metastatic lung cancer is being offered to patients outside of the UK for the first time.

The TOURIST platform trial is the world’s largest lung cancer clinical trial, funded by a £3.4 million grant from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), and is now open to recruitment in the Republic of Ireland, the first international location, meaning more people with the disease will have the chance to take part in this world-leading research.

The trial, which is sponsored by The Christie NHS Foundation Trust in Manchester and managed by Southampton Clinical Trials Unit, is looking at whether modern radiotherapy treatments can improve outcomes for patients with advanced disease, who often have a poor prognosis and typically have about a year to live.

The TOURIST platform has recently opened to recruitment at the St Luke’s Radiation Oncology Network (SLRON) in Dublin, where it is being led by Principal Investigator Gerry Hanna, Consultant in Radiation Oncology at SLRON, Marie Curie Professor of Clinical Oncology at Trinity College Dublin, and Vice-Clinical Lead of Cancer Trials Ireland.

Between 85 and 90 per cent of lung cancer cases diagnosed are non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and nearly half of these cancers are diagnosed at a late stage when the disease has spread and is incurable, meaning treatment focuses on controlling symptoms and extending life, rather than curing patients.

TOURIST is the first trial in 20 years to look at how radiotherapy could benefit late-stage metastatic lung cancer patients.

It uses a technique called ‘VMAT’ (volumetric modulated arc therapy) which is a form of radiotherapy that uses multiple beams of varying strengths to treat cancer. A device called a linear accelerator (LINAC) delivers high-energy beams while rotating around the patient to treat the tumours.

Angela Clayton-Lea, CEO at Cancer Trials Ireland, said: “Cancer Trials Ireland is proud to act as the local Sponsor for the TOURIST study and delighted to open this important international trial across our national network. As sponsor in Ireland, we led contract and budget negotiations and completed the regulatory submissions required to enable site activation. We look forward to providing ongoing national governance and coordination for TOURIST, working closely with IRROG to ensure patients in Ireland can access innovative radiotherapy treatment.”

A video of the TOURIST trial platform is available by searching ‘The TOURIST Platform Trial’ on YouTube.