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rEECur - Information for patients and carers

The aim of the rEECur trial is to compare four different chemotherapy regimens to find out which is most effective and/or has fewest side effects.

***Update***

The GD arm is now closed to recruitment, following the first planned interim analysis. The rEECur data monitoring committee made this recommendation on the basis that the GD regimen is not as promising as the other treatment arms, based on response and progression-free survival. There were no safety concerns. The outcomes of patients recruited to the GD arm were presented at ASCO 2019.

The IT arm closed in March 2020 on the basis that it was performing worse than the remaining two arms based on response as well as progression free and overall survival.

The TC arm closed in October 2021 as IFOS is likely to be more effective than TC at prolonging survival (95% probability).

Why is this trial being run?

The trial initially compared four treatments, also known as regimens or arms, called TC, IT, GD and IFOS. These regimens were the four commonly used treatments for recurrent Ewing sarcoma. Three of the original four treatment arms have permanently closed (IT, GD and TC) on the basis that they had not shown sufficient evidence of activity based on response, progression-free survival and overall survival compared to Ifosfamide, (IFOS). We also introduced the Carboplatin and Etoposide (CE) arm to the study, which is currently being directly compared to IFOS. The trial is being run as it is not known which is the best treatment for this group of patients.
 

Can I take part in the trial?

If you have Ewing sarcoma that has come back after treatment or have primary Ewing sarcoma that is not responding to therapy, you may be able to take part in the trial. Your doctor will explain whether you are able to take part. Your doctor will review your diagnostic tests and medical notes to see if you are eligible to take part in the trial.

Eligibility

What treatment will I receive?

 Ifosfamide (IFOS)

If you are in this group you will receive four cycles of chemotherapy. This means that every three weeks you will have chemotherapy for five days in a row and this will happen four times. Once you have completed the four cycles your doctor may choose to give you some more treatment.

Carboplatin and Etoposide (CE)

If you are in this group you will receive at least six cycles of chemotherapy. This means that every three weeks you will have chemotherapy for three days in a row and this will happen six times. Once you have completed the six cycles your doctor may choose to give you some more treatment, either more chemotherapy, radiotherapy or surgery.

Topotecan and cyclophosphamide (TC)

***Update*** This treatment arm has been dropped

Irinotecan and temozolomide (IT)

***Update*** This treatment arm has been dropped

Gemcitabine and docetaxel (GD)

***Update*** This treatment arm has been dropped

For more detailed information, please visit Cancer Research UK

Can I choose which treatment arm I receive?

No. rEECur is a randomised trial so you will be randomly assigned to a treatment arm by a computer. This is done so that neither you nor your doctor will be able to influence which treatment arm you receive and means that the results of the trial are not biased in any way.

Randomised trials
Computer randomisation (scroll down page and click on 'types of cancer clinical trials' and then click on 'randomised controlled trials'

Where is the trial running?

At present (September 2022), the trial is recruiting patients at hospitals in the UK, Spain, Italy, Finland, Norway, Denmark, France, Hungary, Belgium, Poland, Czech Republic, Netherlands, Switzerland, New Zealand,  Australia, Austria and Germany across many sites.

How many patients will take part?

650 patients will be recruited from across Europe, Australia and New Zealand from 2015.

How can I find out more information?

  • Read more at Cancer Research UK
  • Print out this information and discuss it with your doctor who will be able to find out more information for you.

How can I take part in the trial?

Talk about the trial with your doctor who will find out if you are eligible and if so, help you to take part.

If you have any questions about this trial, please contact the Cancer Research UK Clinical Trials Unit at the University of Birmingham reecur@trials.bham.ac.uk

***The Trial Office cannot give advice on personal clinical questions***