Clinical Research Directory

Enabling Genomic Testing in Cancer of Unknown Primary

Cancer of Unknown Primary (CUP) is where cancer cells are found in the body but the place the cancer began is not known. It is the 6th leading cause of cancer death in the UK and the prognosis is poor with a median survival of 6-9 months. There is a higher than average incidence of CUP in the North West (NW) of England (population of 7.4 million). Precision medicine has transformed treatment strategies in known tumour types, however in CUP there remains an urgent need to better understand CUP molecular characteristics to establish potential roles for novel therapeutic strategies. Treatment options remain limited due to difficulties in determining the primary site of the tumour and the lack of access to validated biomarkers. Access to good-quality tissue for molecular profiling remains a huge challenge in CUP. The emergence of liquid biopsies (sequence DNA in a blood test) as a source of biomarkers is also gaining rapid ground and this study aims to explore the potential utility of liquid biopsies in CUP.

Phase II Trial of Lu-177 FAP-2286 in Patients With Carcinoma of Unknown Primary

The aim of the study is to test if a new radionuclide therapy, called 177-Lu-FAP-2286, works to treat cancer in patients with Cancer of Unknown Primary (CUP).

Agnostic Therapy in Rare Solid Tumors

The ANTARES study is a phase II basket trial designed to evaluate the tissue-agnostic efficacy of the monoclonal anti-PD1 antibody, nivolumab, in patients with advanced or metastatic rare tumors. The study aims to treat rare malignancies with PD-L1 expression (CPS ≥ 10), regardless of the tumor's tissue type or location. Patients who have not responded to standard treatments will be included, and treatment will last for up to 12 months. The study will assess objective response, progression-free survival, and biomarkers such as PD-L1, ctDNA, and microvesicles, in a multicenter collaborative effort to provide innovative therapeutic options for this underrepresented population

Pucotenlimab Combined with MRG002 for HER2-positive Cancer of Unknown Primary

This study is a single-arm, open-label, multicenter Phase II clinical trial designed to observe and evaluate the efficacy and safety of Pucotenlimab in combination with MRG002 in patients with HER2-positive (IHC 2+ or 3+) cancer of unknown primary.

[18F]F-FAPI PET-CT to Identify Carcinoma of Unknown Primary Origin

The investigators will determine the proportion of CUP patients in whom the primary tumor can be identified by \[18F\]F-FAPI PET-CT.