The TOURIST platform is a large research programme taking place in several hospitals across the UK. It includes a number of clinical trials looking at how best to use 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 manage symptoms and improve quality of life.

The first two studies running in this programme are called PRINCE and QUARTZ.

The QUARTZ Lung study is a phase III clinical trial. It aims to find out whether giving early, low‑dose palliative radiotherapy alongside usual symptom‑based supportive care is better than supportive care alone.

Patients who join the study will be randomly placed into one of two groups:

• Supportive and palliative care only, or
• Supportive and palliative care plus early low‑dose radiotherapy

Radiotherapy can be given in one of two standard schedules:

• 16–17 Gy in 2 treatments, or
• 20 Gy in 5 treatments

The choice of schedule is made by the treating doctor. Radiotherapy should start as soon as possible and no later than 21 days after joining the study.

This study will look at how the treatments affect symptoms, quality of life, side effects, and overall value to the NHS.