Clinical Research Directory

Onco-primary Care Networking to Support TEAM-based Care

The proposed ONE TEAM Study is an 18-month, cluster randomized controlled trial. This study will use a sequential multiple assignment randomized trial (SMART) design with a second randomization for the intervention group using a dynamic treatment regimen approach. The investigators propose to randomize 800 adults with newly-diagnosed selected cancers treated with curative intent (breast, prostate, colorectal, endometrial, non-small cell lung, and endometrial) and with \>1 selected cardiovascular disease (CVD) comorbidity (hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia). Participants will be enrolled through Duke Cancer Institute and two community-based oncology practices, both settings serving socio-demographically diverse populations. The unit of randomization will be the PCP clinic; there will be \~80 PCP clinics across North Carolina involved in the study. The overarching goals of this study are to improve chronic disease management and communication among cancer survivors by engaging PCPs as active members of the cancer care team and reframing the message to cancer survivors and providers. A diversity supplement with retrospective and qualitative components has been added to abstract older adults with solid tumors who underwent cancer surgery at DUHS. Aims include (1) to estimate the prevalence of cardiovascular complications ≤90 postoperative days among older adults with solid tumors undergoing surgery, and its association with care coordination between surgical providers and PCPs ; (2) to develop a risk index for cardiovascular complications ≤90 days of surgery among older adult patients with a solid tumor; and (3) to Assess experience and perceptions of PCPs on care coordination with surgical providers of older adults with a solid tumor following cancer surgery.

A Comprehensive Approach to Head and Neck Cancer Prehabilitation

Head and neck cancer accounts for 3% of malignancies in the United States. However, the diagnosis and treatment for head and neck cancer is considered to be debilitating. Not because of its morbidity, but due to the extremely rigorous treatment course which has a profound impact on patients physical, social, and emotional functioning. Disfigurement and sensorimotor deficits further compound this impact. Head and neck cancer patients contend with treatments that can significantly affect their quality of life. Treatment regularly results in decreased functional capacity and decreased quality of life. Physical impairments are manifested through, but not limited to, disfigurement, deconditioning, communication issues, "swallowing, speech, breathing, and cancer-related fatigue". Premorbid factors such as preexisting anxiety and depression, chemical dependency, financial barriers, and lack of social support system are unique obstacles to the head and neck cancer population impacting treatment and outcomes. Due to these factors, patients experience higher rates of anxiety and depression, psychological distress, and fear of cancer recurrence. In fact, "compared with other survivors of cancer, head and neck cancer survivors are almost 2 times more likely to die from suicide". In view of the aforementioned research, Roger Maris Cancer Center's head and neck cancer will implement a prehabilitation program that evaluates each patient using standardized screening tools and provide personalized education and interventions. This project evaluates a more comprehensive and proactive multidisciplinary approach to improve treatment and outcomes in head and neck cancer patients.

Chemoradiation vs Immunotherapy and Radiation for Head and Neck Cancer

The purpose of this study is to compare any good or bad effects of using pembrolizumab (an experimental drug) and radiation therapy (RT), compared to using cisplatin chemotherapy and radiation therapy (RT) in the treatment of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

Discontinuation of Tobacco Dependence in Smoking Patients With Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head-neck District: Multicenter Prospective Observational Study

The primary objective of our study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a standardized clinical practice counseling strategy for promoting post-diagnosis smoking cessation among patients with SCCHN. Efficacy will be measured as the percentage of patients who succeed in sustained smoking cessation ("sustained quitters," see below) at 6+1 months after enrollment, i.e., after the initiation of anti-smoking counseling.

Tempus Priority Study: A Pan-tumor Observational Study

Observational study that will be collecting clinical and molecular health information from cancer patients who have received comprehensive genomic profiling and meet the specific eligibility criteria outlined for each cohort with the goal of conducting research to advance cancer care and create a dataset that furthers cancer research.

A Multicenter Cancer Biospecimen Collection Study

This study will collect de-identified tumor samples, with correlated clinical/demographic data and tissue histology, from patients selected or scheduled for pre-treatment tumor biopsy or who have had a recent pre-treatment tumor biopsy. These specimens and clinical data may be used in subsequent studies for the development and validation of a diagnostic test.

Artificial Intelligence-based Voice Assessment of Children and Adults Respiratory Conditions

Acute and Chronic respiratory conditions represent a leading cause of death and morbidity in children and adults worldwide. The diagnosis of bronchiolitis and asthmatic exacerbations is based on clinical, and mostly subjective, clinical parameters with moderately accurate prognostic role. Patients undergoing neck radiotherapy need invasive assessments of larynx. A simple biomarker like Voice may facilitate the management of these conditions. Recent studies showed that VOICE may be used as a good and easy biomarker to diagnose and monitor several respiratory and non-respiratory conditions. A prospective study aimed to collected VOICE and other clinical data in adults and children with common acute and chronic respiratory conditions at high impact on healthcare systems will be performed. VOICE-omic data will be linked with clinical findings generating data integration, using artificial intelligence technology to develop a Decision Support Systems to provide the basis for non-invasive personalised early recognition, diagnosis, monitoring and prognosis of patients with these conditions.

Interest of Bilateral Basic Tongue Mucosectomy Assisted by Robot or Laser in Combination with Tonsillectomy in the Assessment of Prevalent Cervical Lymphadenopathy

We are proposing a randomized phase II study to assess the benefit of bilateral robot-assisted or laser basal tongue mucosectomy in combination with tonsillectomy in the assessment of prevalent cervical lymphadenopathy