CCTG at the heart of pan-Canadian initiatives to advance the national understanding of immunotherapy

The Canadian Cancer Trials Group (CCTG) is at the forefront of national efforts to advance the evaluation of novel immunotherapies through its clinical trials. To better determine which patients benefit from these treatments, CCTG has a strategic partnership with the Marathon of Hope Cancer Centres Network (MOHCCN). The Network is leading several pan-Canadian initiatives aimed at improving the effectiveness, safety, and personalization of immunotherapy. This collaboration is critical to understanding how best to use immunotherapies to increase survival, minimize toxicities, and improve quality of life for Canadian cancer patients.

According to Dr. Janet Dancey, “CCTG investigators have designed multiple trials to determine the optimal immunotherapy, doses, schedules, or treatment duration. To determine better which patients may benefit, CCTG and MOHCCN are partnering to improve precision medicine by identifying markers that predict treatment response.” These markers can be used to tailor treatment strategies to individual patients, with potentially shorter treatment duration, fewer side effects, and improved overall well-being without compromising survival outcomes.

CAN-IMPACT-IO is the CCTG PM2 study to facilitate the collection and analysis of samples and clinical data from patients enrolled in CCTG-led immunotherapy trials. This national immunotherapy bio-specimen collection platform provides a foundation for linked research programs across Canada. Patients who consent to participate will allow their clinical trial data and bio-specimens to be analyzed as part of the MOHCCN cohort studies: CAN-PREDICT-IT and CAN-PIVOT.

CAN-PREDICT-IT aims to enhance the personalization of cancer treatment by identifying biomarkers that predict which patients are most likely to benefit from specific immunotherapy interventions. By collecting and analyzing diverse data types—including clinical, genomic, and imaging information—this initiative seeks to develop multi-modal predictive biomarkers to support more targeted and effective treatment strategies. Through collaboration with CCTG’s clinical trials portfolio, researchers will be able to recruit participants directly from ongoing trials. The insights generated will not only guide patient selection in current studies but will also inform future clinical trial designs, helping to match patients to therapies tailored to their tumor biology. This represents an important step forward in advancing precision medicine and optimizing outcomes for Canadian cancer patients receiving immunotherapy.

CAN-PIVOT is a national platform focused on investigating both primary and acquired resistance to cancer immunotherapy. This project will generate whole-genome and transcriptome sequencing (WGTS) data, combined with comprehensive clinical information such as diagnosis, treatment regimens, and outcomes. The goal is to identify molecular and clinical factors associated with resistance to immunotherapy. Understanding these mechanisms will enable researchers to design new therapies that overcome resistance and sensitize tumors to treatment, ultimately improving survival and cure rates. At the same time, this approach will help avoid potentially life-threatening toxicities in patients who are unlikely to benefit from immunotherapy.

ME.13 (STOP-GAP) and its associated bio-marker sub study, is another major initiative supported through this partnership. ME.13 (STOP-GAP) is a phase III randomized trial investigating the optimal duration of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy in patients with metastatic melanoma. A key challenge in this disease area is the inability to predict which patients will respond to ICIs. Through the sub study, researchers will collect and analyze blood and tissue specimens from consenting trial participants to perform Whole-Genome and Transcriptome Sequencing (WGTS), and integrate this data with detailed clinical histories, including treatment response. This work aims to identify predictive bio-markers that can determine which patients are likely to benefit from ICI therapy, and whether shorter treatment durations can preserve efficacy while reducing toxicity and improving quality of life.

Taken together, these initiatives position the Canadian Cancer Trials Group and the Marathon of Hope Cancer Centres Network as leaders in building the scientific evidence, infrastructure, and collaborative frameworks necessary to transform immunotherapy in cancer care. The partnership exemplifies how coordinated, patient-centered research can advance precision medicine, personalize treatment, and improve outcomes for cancer patients across Canada. These efforts will accelerate scientific discovery and ensure that future generations of patients benefit from more effective, tailored, and compassionate cancer therapies.

CCTG network of Cancer Centres