The TOURIST platform is a large research programme taking place in several hospitals. It includes a series of clinical trials looking at how best to use thoracic radiotherapy (radiotherapy to the chest) for people with stage IV non‑small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In stage IV disease, radiotherapy is usually given to help with symptoms and improve quality of life, rather than to cure the cancer.

The platform allows different studies to run under one structure. The first two studies within this programme are called PRINCE and QUARTZ.

One of the main studies, PRINCE, is a phase III clinical trial. It will compare:

• Standard care (control group) 
  versus
  
• Early high‑dose palliative radiotherapy (treatment group)

All patients in the study will still receive their usual first‑line cancer drug treatment (systemic therapy). Patients will be randomly allocated to one of the two groups so the results are fair and unbiased.

For those receiving radiotherapy, doctors can choose between two standard schedules:

• 36 Gy in 12 treatments, or
• 39 Gy in 13 treatments

Radiotherapy will start within 84 days after joining the study, and usually between the first and fourth cycle of systemic therapy.

The PRINCE trial will look at:

• How well the treatment works
• Side effects
• Quality of life
• Costs and impact on NHS services
• Biological samples to help understand who might benefit most in the future