A Phase 2 interventional study of Nivolumab and Pemetrexed in Non Small Cell Lung Cancer, Complete Surgical Resection and Circulating Tumor DNA, sponsored by University Health Network, Toronto. Recruiting at 1 site in Canada. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-12-18.
Sponsored by University Health Network, Toronto · Phase 2, Interventional, and Treatment
This is a study to look at whether the presence of circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) in the blood can help to predict whether giving adjuvant treatment after surgery can decrease the chance of the cancer coming back in people with lung cancer.
For people who have early stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the usual treatment is surgery. For many people, surgery is enough to get rid of all the cancer. However, for some people, there may be a little bit of cancer remaining. If there is some cancer left over, it may lead to the cancer regrowing. This is called relapse.
Many cancers shed little bits of their DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid, molecules that contain instructions for how cells develop and function) into the bloodstream. A blood test can be used to test for the amount of circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA). Some studies have shown that the presence of ctDNA in the blood may predict cancer recurrence.
The purpose of this research study is to see if adjuvant treatment (additional treatment given after primary treatment) can help decrease the risk of the cancer recurring in people with lung cancer who have ctDNA detected in their blood after surgery.
6,488 studies on the registry are indexed under Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; 1,632 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 66 is close to the median of 62 across 5,213 interventional studies indexed under Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung.
Browse Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung studies →University Health Network, Toronto is the lead sponsor of 1,411 studies on the registry; 292 are open to participants now.
Of its 17 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 3 (18%) have results posted.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
4.1.2 Exclusion Criteria
Active autoimmune disorders within the past 3 years prior to the scheduled first dose of study treatment. The following are exceptions to this criterion:
Have known uncontrolled human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1/2 infection.
Current or prior use of immunosuppressive medication within 14 days prior to the scheduled first dose of study treatment. The following are exceptions to this criterion:
Subjects who are involuntarily incarcerated or are unable to willingly provide consent or are unable to comply with the protocol procedures.
Any condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, would interfere with safe administration or evaluation of the investigational products or interpretation of subject safety or study results
All participants will have blood taken for ctDNA testing. A cycle is 21 days. Pemetrexed (for participants with non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer), intravenously (by vein) on Day 1 of Cycles 1-4, OR gemcitabine (for all other participants) on Days 1 and 8 of Cycles 1-4. Cisplatin\*, intravenously (by vein) on Day 1 of Cycles 1-4 Nivolumab, intravenously (by vein) on Day 1 of Cycles 1-4 \*If cisplatin is not tolerated, carboplatin may be given instead
Drug: Nivolumab · Drug: Pemetrexed · Drug: Gemcitabine · Drug: Cisplatin · Drug: Carboplatin · Procedure: ctDNA blood test
All participants will have blood taken for ctDNA testing. Participants will be followed as per standard of care every 3 months.
Procedure: ctDNA blood test
Antineoplastic agent
Also known as: Opdivo, ONO-4538, BMS-936558, MDX1106
Antineoplastic agent
Also known as: Alimta, Pemfexy
Antineoplastic agent
Also known as: Gemzar, 2', 2'-difluoro 2'deoxycytidine, dFdC
Antineoplastic agent
Also known as: Cisplatinum, platamin, neoplatin, cismaplat, cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) (CDDP), Platinol, Platinol-AQ
Antineoplastic agent
Also known as: Paraplatin, Paraplatin-AQ, CBDCA, JM8, NSC 241240, Paraplatin NovaPlus
Blood will be collected for ctDNA testing
Relapse Free Survival
To demonstrate the impact of intensified adjuvant therapy on relapse-free survival (RFS) in patients at high risk of relapse post-resection identified by pre- or post-operative detectable ctDNA plasma levels in patients with resected T1-T4 (T3-4 multifocal only) N0M0 NSCLC.
Time frame: 2 years
Rate of ctDNA clearance
To estimate and compare the ctDNA detection rates at 12 weeks post-randomization in those receiving adjuvant chemo-immunotherapy versus observation.
Time frame: 12 weeks
Overall survival
To compare overall survival (OS) of patients receiving adjuvant chemo-immunotherapy versus observation.
Time frame: 3 years
Number of adverse events
To determine safety and tolerability of adjuvant chemo-immunotherapy with the combination of nivolumab with cisplatin and pemetrexed or nivolumab with cisplatin and gemcitabine.
Time frame: 3 years
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Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung→
University Health Network, Toronto