NewsResearch
RTOG 9402: What the Brain tumors Trial Found
RTOG 9402 tested chemotherapy added to radiation in oligodendroglioma in brain tumors, measuring overall survival. Plain-language summary of a result widely described as practice-influencing — and what it doesn't mean.
Original commentary from the Cancer Explained editorial team.
Historical context: this page explains an event dated 2013. It was published as an explainer on July 12, 2026 and is not breaking news.
Please note: this page is educational only — it is not medical advice, and it does not speculate about anyone’s health beyond reliable public reporting. For questions about your own health, talk with your healthcare team.
In brief
RTOG 9402 was phase 3, randomized in brain tumors that compared chemotherapy added to radiation in oligodendroglioma and measured overall survival. It reported a result widely described as practice-influencing.
Trial at a glance
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Trial | RTOG 9402 |
| Identifier | Not recorded here |
| Phase | Phase 3 |
| Design | phase 3, randomized |
| Cancer type | Brain tumors |
| Comparator | chemotherapy added to radiation in oligodendroglioma |
| Primary endpoint | overall survival |
| Reported result | A result widely described as practice-influencing |
Who took part
The trial enrolled the population described in its report for brain tumors.
The main result
The trial's main finding concerned overall survival: RTOG 9402 reported a result widely described as practice-influencing. Full numbers, follow-up, and statistical detail are held for verification against the peer-reviewed report or trial registry.
What the result means
Results like this help shape research and, sometimes, care — but a trial's finding is one piece of evidence, tied to the specific people and design it used.
What this story cannot tell you
- A positive trial does not automatically mean a treatment is approved or available; approval and access are separate steps.
- Improvement on one measure does not always translate into every outcome that matters to patients.
- Trial participants are selected by specific criteria, so results may not apply to everyone with this cancer.
Questions worth asking
- Does this apply to my specific cancer type and situation?
- Is this treatment approved and available, or still investigational?
- What are the main side effects, and how would they be managed?
Sources
This article was written from the sources below, which were checked on the source-check date shown above.
How this article was prepared
Prepared by Cancer Explained's AI-assisted editorial system and checked against the sources listed below. This article has not been reviewed by a healthcare professional unless a named reviewer is specifically shown.
Cancer Explained is published by the National Cancer Information Foundation as a nonprofit-oriented public-interest education project. It is not a diagnostic service, does not recommend treatments, and is not for emergencies.
Found an error, a broken source link, outdated information, or wording that feels insensitive? Report it here — we log and act on material corrections.