Champalimaud Clinical Centre

The Champalimaud Clinical Centre is evaluating new combination regimens to improve overall survival for patients with extensive‑stage small cell lung carcinoma. The trials aim to compare novel agents with standard chemotherapy and to assess long‑term benefit.

• Novel agent plus etoposide/platinum versus standard therapy
• Overall survival and progression‑free survival endpoints
• Safety and quality‑of‑life monitoring

With 34 investigators, the department leverages its lung‑cancer expertise to advance treatment options for this aggressive disease.

Researchers are testing immunotherapy in the neoadjuvant setting for triple‑negative breast cancer, seeking higher rates of pathologic complete response (pCR) and better event‑free survival.

• Pembrolizumab combined with chemotherapy before surgery
• Assessment of pCR at definitive surgery
• Follow‑up for long‑term disease‑free outcomes

The trials contribute to the growing evidence base for immune‑based strategies in early‑stage breast cancer.

The unit is conducting immunotherapy trials across several gynecologic squamous cell carcinomas, including cervical, vulvar, and anal cancers, to determine the benefit of checkpoint inhibition in these tumor types.

• Pembrolizumab versus physician’s choice therapy
• Evaluation of overall response rate across tumor sites
• Biomarker analysis for PD‑L1 expression

These studies address an unmet need for effective systemic options in squamous cancers of the lower genital tract.

A series of trials focus on patients with advanced solid tumors that harbor specific biomarkers such as MSI‑high, dMMR, or TMB‑high. The goal is to evaluate the activity of pembrolizumab across these molecular subgroups.

• Objective response rate in MSI‑H/dMMR cohorts
• Response assessment in TMB‑high, non‑MSI‑H tumors
• Central radiologic review using RECIST criteria

By targeting genomic instability, the research aims to broaden the applicability of immunotherapy for patients with limited treatment options.

The department investigates targeted therapies for less common malignancies such as mesothelioma, thyroid carcinoma, salivary gland carcinoma, and neuroendocrine tumors of the lung and gastrointestinal tract. Studies assess agents like telisotuzumab vedotin and futibatinib for molecularly defined subsets.

• c‑Met overexpressing non‑squamous NSCLC treated with antibody‑drug conjugate
• FGFR‑targeted therapy in advanced cholangiocarcinoma
• Efficacy of novel agents in neuroendocrine and thyroid cancers

These trials highlight the centre’s commitment to precision oncology for rare and challenging tumor types.