Clinical Research Directory

Organotypic Platform for Therapeutic Investigation (OPTin) for Guiding Cancer Patients Treatment

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether a new laboratory method called OPTin can help doctors select the most effective, personalized cancer therapies for patients with advanced or treatment-resistant tumors. The study will also learn about the safety and feasibility of using OPTin to guide treatment decisions across different cancer types. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does OPTin accurately identify which drugs or drug combinations work best for each patient's tumor? Does OPTin-guided therapy improve tumor response or remission rates when the patients don't have any standard treatment selection? Study Design: Researchers will collect treatment outcomes in patients whose therapy is chosen based on OPTin results or not in cancer patients without standard treatment. Participants will: Provide a small tumor tissue sample for OPTin testing. Receive either a drug or drug combination identified by OPTin, or a physician's decision treatment. Visit the clinic regularly for imaging, blood tests, and side-effect monitoring. Be followed for several months to evaluate treatment response and overall health. Example Case: In a previous proof-of-concept study, OPTin screening in a patient with advanced hypopharyngeal carcinoma identified venetoclax as effective for the primary tumor and lenvatinib as a sensitizing agent for metastasis. Combination therapy led to near-complete remission and a significant drop in serum AFP levels. These results support evaluating OPTin in a prospective clinical trial involving diverse cancer types to confirm its usefulness in guiding precision oncology.

WellSpan-THRIVE Cancer QOL Study

Cancer affects millions of people worldwide and can significantly impact not only survival, but also day-to-day quality of life. Treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation can cause side effects like fatigue, pain, and neuropathy, which may affect physical function, emotional well-being, and social relationships. While many studies have examined factors that influence quality of life; such as age, type and stage of cancer, and treatment-related symptoms; there is still a need for tools that more fully reflect patients' lived experiences. This study aims to develop and implement a patient-centered quality of life (QOL) survey designed specifically for individuals with cancer. By directly involving patients in sharing what matters most to them, the survey seeks to provide a more complete and accurate understanding of how cancer and its treatment affect daily life. The results will help patients, families, and healthcare providers better identify needs, guide supportive care, and improve overall well-being throughout the cancer journey.