Clinical Research Directory

The Phoenix Trial: Phase II Trial of Cemiplimab for the Non-operative Management of Localized dMMR Colon Cancer

To learn if cemiplimab can help to control dMMR colon cancer.

A Study of Imaging, Blood, and Tissue Samples to Guide Treatment of Colon Cancer and Related Liver Tumors

The purpose of this study is to explore novel ways of diagnosing colon cancer and predicting its propensity to spread to other organs such as the liver.

Oncology, Undernutrition and Sensoriality: Links, Mechanisms and Levers for Action

Cancers of the upper aerodigestive tract account for around 4% of all malignant tumours worldwide. Colon and liver cancer are the most common digestive cancers. The epidemiology of liver cancer is changing, and the number of deaths from liver cancer has increased by 25% worldwide. In France, around 19,000 cancers of the upper aerodigestive tract and 88,000 new cases of digestive cancer are diagnosed each year (colon cancer remains the most common). Patients with these two types of cancer are at particularly high risk of undernutrition. In cancer patients, changes in diet may result from constraints linked to the cancer or possible after-effects, but also from personal choices (for example, adopting a healthier diet). Cancer and its treatment lead to changes such as increased nutritional requirements and hypercatabolism, or sensory changes (taste and smell), reducing pleasure and food intake. These problems will impair quality of life and intensify undernutrition, a major problem in the management of the disease since it increases the risk of complications, therapeutic failure and mortality. It is estimated that 10-20% of deaths in cancer patients are attributable to the consequences of undernutrition rather than to the disease itself. In the VICAN study, 41% of patients changed their diet after diagnosis: 29% because of changes in taste and 82% to have a healthier diet. These changes were associated with the treatment received, the presence of sequelae and anxiety. Taste and smell disorders are common in different types of cancer (any solid or haematological type) and treatments (chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery. The mechanisms involved in sensory changes are not fully understood, especially in cancer, and with different types and treatments. Several hypotheses have been proposed: altered expression of enzymes of the oral sphere, altered expression of sensory receptors, saliva composition and function, and impact of the oral microbiota. The early identification of undesirable effects linked to nutrition, and the early or anticipated diagnosis of undernutrition are important issues in the management of cancer patients. The pleasure (or displeasure) produced by food guides desire and eating behaviour. The mechanisms involved are linked to hedonic sensations: conditioned satiety, specific sensory satiety, negative alliesthesia and the reward system (hedonic system). The latter is influenced by the environment and can be consciously controlled, with several dimensions: liking (the patient likes or dislikes a given food) and wanting (evaluates the desire to consume a given food at a given moment). All these parameters, together with sensory and dietary learning throughout life (habits, beliefs and constraints), influence food preferences and therefore eating behaviour. Individual sensitivities and the personal history of the disease (treatment and care pathway, sequelae, presence of co-morbidities, etc.) must therefore be taken into account when setting up preventive actions for cancer patients. It seems important to explore these factors, the experience of patients and the consequences for eating behaviour in daily life, in order to improve support and communication with healthcare professionals, as well as prevention and early detection of undernutrition. It would be interesting to conduct more in-depth studies on nutritional status, quality of life and changes in taste and smell, which in most studies have been considered separately.

Genomic Services Research Program

Background: Genes are the instructions a person s body uses to function. Genome sequencing reads through all of a person s genes. Everyone has many gene variants, and most do not cause disease. Some gene variants called secondary findings may be important for a person s health even if they are not related to the reason why a person had genome sequencing done. Researchers want to learn more about what it means to have a secondary finding. Objectives: To learn about how gene variants may affect a person s health. To learn about how people understand their genetic test results. Eligibility: People with secondary findings from genetic testing done as part of a research study, clinical care, or other methods. Design: Participants may be asked to do an online survey and phone interview to ask what they think about their results, their healthcare, and if they talk with their family about the result. Eligible participants may be offered a visit to the NIH Clinical Center where they will be evaluated for health problems related to the secondary finding. DNA samples that were already collected may be studied. Participants may be asked to send in a second DNA sample (blood or saliva). These will be used to verify any findings. Participants who have a secondary finding can get genetic counseling.

The Exercise And Colorectal Cancer Treatment Trial

This study will examine the biologic processes through which exercise may prevent disease recurrence in patients who have completed treatment for colorectal cancer.

ctDNA and TEP Levels in Colon Cancer

This interventional cohort study will evaluate circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) and tumor-educated platelets (TEP) as blood-based biomarkers in adults with stage III colon cancer who are planned to receive neoadjuvant systemic therapy followed by surgical resection. Treatment will be given according to routine clinical practice and will depend on the biological characteristics of the tumor, including mismatch repair status. Participants will provide additional blood samples at predefined time points before, during, and after treatment and surgery. These samples will be used to analyze ctDNA and TEP and to assess whether changes in these biomarkers are associated with radiological response, pathological response, and disease-free outcomes. Approximately 80 participants will be enrolled at the Institute of Oncology Ljubljana. Participants will not receive experimental drugs as part of this study.

Mobile Sensor Technologies to Assess General Symptomology of People With Cancer

Background: Many digital devices, such as smartphones and activity monitors, have sensors to collect and track health data. Researchers believe these devices may be able to transform the quality of clinical research and healthcare. They believe they may be able to help assess the symptoms, response to therapy, and quality of life of people with cancer. Objective: To collect data from people with cancer using an Apple iPhone alone or together with an Apple Watch in order to assess their symptoms and activity levels. Eligibility: People ages 18 years and over who have cancer and receiving treatment for their cancer in another NIH protocol Design: Participants will be screened with their medical records. Participants will have a baseline visit. They will have visits every 2 4 weeks based on the treatment protocol in which they are co-enrolled. Then they will have a follow-up visit 4 months after the baseline visit. Visits include: Medical history Physical exam Karnofsky Performance Scale/Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status to see how their disease affects daily activities The study team will use an iPhone to collect data. This includes a 6-minute walk test and tests of hearing, reaction time, and cognitive status. Questionnaires If participants have an iPhone, an Apple Watch will be provided to them after training at the baseline visit. Continuous measurement of their activity will be recorded by the watch between 2 visits. They will wear the watch while they are on study. They will wear the watch while it is not being charged. They should charge the watch at night time. They will have the watch for 4 months.

Improving Nutrition and Physical Activity for Cancer Survivors (Tools To Be Fit)

This clinical trial studies the effect of four different intervention components "tools" on body weight, nutrition, and physical activity in cancer survivors. Studies indicate that people with a history of cancer whose nutrition and physical activity habits are consistent with the American Cancer Society's Nutrition and Physical Activity Guidelines may have longer disease-free survival. The four different intervention components may help patients with a history of cancer adopt recommended health behaviors after they have completed treatment.

Distance-Based Exercise to Preserve Function and Prevent Disability

This clinical trial studies whether an exercise program can be successfully delivered to patients receiving treatment for cancer through virtual sessions and allow patients to exercise in their own home. Treatments for cancer can cause side effects such as fatigue and loss of strength. These side effects can make it difficult to work, take care of family, and do other things the patient wants to do. Preliminary research shows that exercise can help prevent some of these side effects, but it can be more difficult to start an exercise program when a patient is receiving cancer treatment. The exercise program in this study is delivered through telehealth (TH) video calls. The TH sessions are delivered by trained staff that supervise resistance exercises. The trained staff also provide guidance to the patient on completing unsupervised aerobic sessions on their own. This may be a successful way to deliver an exercise program and make it easier for cancer patients to exercise in their own home during treatment.

Virtual Incision Robotically Assisted Surgical Device Use in Minimally Invasive Colectomy

For patients with colon polyps (clumps of cells in the lining of the colon) treatment often requires removal of the affected portion of the colon. Both conventional laparoscopic and robotically assisted minimally invasive surgery have been shown to have reduced complication rates and shorter hospital stays. This study aims to look at the use of the VI RASD as a robotic surgical device in right or left colectomy procedures to see if the device performs as intended and is safe for use.

ONS USE IN COLON CANCER

This retrospective observational cohort study examined oral nutritional supplement (ONS) use and associated factors in patients receiving adjuvant mFOLFOX6 chemotherapy after curative surgery for stage III colon cancer. Medical and routine nutrition follow-up records from Osmaniye Training and Research Hospital between January 2021 and January 2026 were reviewed. The study included 362 patients prescribed ONS. The main outcomes were ONS non-initiation or early discontinuation and failure to meet a study-defined consumption criterion among ONS users. Demographic, clinical, nutritional, and psychosocial factors associated with these outcomes were evaluated.

PRE-ISPY Phase I/II Oncology Platform Program

PRE-ISPY Phase I/II (I-SPY-P1) is an open-label, multisite platform study with multiple ongoing drug regimen arms added by protocol amendment which is designed to evaluate single agents or combinations in locally advanced, incurable, or metastatic solid tumors and/or oligometastatic malignancy and/or a high risk of recurrence following prior treatment with curative intent. The overall goal is moving promising drug regimens into a larger phase II (or III) trial and in general could feed the neoadjuvant breast I-SPY 2 Trial (NCT01042379) and/or other oncology solid tumor trial in a timely manner.

A Study of PHN-012 in Patients With Advanced Solid Tumors

This first-in-human study will evaluate safety, tolerability, anti-tumor activity, immunogenicity, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of PHN-012, a novel antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), in patients with advanced solid tumors.

Collection of Blood From Patients With Cancer

This study will collect blood from patients with cancer to study the level of cells which decrease the immune response (suppressor cells) before and after chemotherapy. Patients 18 years of age and older with cancer may participate. This study does not involve treatment. Participants will have about 50 ml (3 tablespoonfuls) of blood drawn. Depending on their condition, patients may be invited to enroll in a clinical research study involving chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or surgery. Additional 40-ml blood samples may be drawn during the course of treatment. ...

RCT of Mobile Apps & FitBit v. Usual Care

This is a randomized clinical trial to evaluate the use of mobile devices in preventing readmission in patients undergoing major GI cancer operations.

A Study of CTX-009 in Adult Patients With Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

This study is designed as an open-label, adaptive Simon Two-Stage study to evaluate the efficacy of CTX-009 in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. A Simon Two-Stage adaptive design will enroll approximately 37 patients into Stage 1, and if criteria are met to move to Stage 2, an additional 47 patients will be enrolled.

Liquid Biopsy Evaluation and Repository Development at Princess Margaret

The objective of this protocol is to develop an institution-wide liquid biopsy protocol that will establish a common process for collecting blood and corresponding archived tumor specimens for future research studies at the University Health Network's Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. Circulating cell-free nucleic acids (cfNA), including cell-free DNA (cfDNA) and cell-free RNA (cfRNA), are non-invasive, real-time biomarkers that can provide diagnostic and prognostic information before cancer diagnosis, during cancer treatment, and at disease progression. Cancer research scientists and clinicians at the Princess Margaret are interested in incorporating the collection of peripheral blood samples ("liquid biopsies") into research protocols as a means of non-invasively assessing tumor progression and response to treatment at multiple time points during a patient's course of disease.

Copper Cu 64 Anti-CEA Monoclonal Antibody M5A PET in Diagnosing Patients With CEA Positive Cancer

This pilot clinical trial studies copper Cu 64 anti-carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) monoclonal antibody M5A positron emission tomography (PET) in diagnosing patients with CEA positive cancer. Diagnostic procedures, such as copper Cu 64 anti-CEA monoclonal antibody M5A PET, may help find and diagnose CEA positive cancer that may not be detected by standard diagnostic methods.

A Phase I/II Study of Combination Immunotherapy for Advanced Cancers Including HPV-Associated Malignancies, Small Bowel, and Colon Cancers

Background: Often, metastatic human papillomavirus (HPV) associated cancers cannot be cured. They also do not respond well to treatment. Some forms of colon cancer also have poor responses to treatment. Researchers want to see if a new drug treatment can help people with these types of cancers. Objective: To find a safe dose of entinostat in combination with PDS01ADC and bintrafusp alfa and to see if this treatment will cause tumors to shrink. Eligibility: Adults ages 18 and older who have cervical, oropharyngeal, anal, vulvar, vaginal, penile, squamous cell rectal, or another cancer that may be associated with HPV infection or microsatellite stable small bowel or colorectal cancer. Design: Participants will be screened with a medical history and physical exam. Their ability to do daily activities will be assessed. They may have imaging scans of the brain and/or chest, abdomen, and pelvis. They may have nuclear bone scans. They will have an electrocardiogram to test heart function. They will have blood and urine tests. They may have a tumor biopsy. Participants with skin lesions may have them photographed. Some screening tests will be repeated during the study. Treatment will be done in 28-day cycles. Participants will get bintrafusp alfa through an intravenous catheter every 2 weeks. They will get PDS01ADC as an injection under the skin every 4 weeks. They will take entinostat by mouth once a week. They will complete a medicine diary. Participants will get treatment for 2 years. They will have 1-2 follow-up visits in the 30 days after treatment ends. Then they will be contacted every 6 months to check on their health....

Characterization of Biophysical Stromal Properties in Human Cancer: Towards Personalized Computational Oncology

Drug delivery in solid tumors, whether administered systemically or locoregionally, is hindered by an elevated interstitial fluid pressure (IFP). Stromal targeting therapies are in active development, aiming to enhance drug transport after systemic or locoregional delivery. To date, no clinical methods are available to quantify tumor biophysical properties (including IFP). The investigators aim to use a combination of dynamic contrast enhanced MRI and computational fluid modeling (CFD) to measure stromal IFP in patients with pancreatic cancer and in patients with ovarian or colonic peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC). Computational data will be correlated with therapy response, platinum drug penetration, and invasively measured biophysical parameters after intravenous (pancreas) or intraperitoneal (ovarian/colonic PC) administration of a platinum compound. This would be the first in depth clinical study addressing this important topic, and could pave the way to developing personalized computational based treatment approaches aimed at targeting the biophysical environment of the tumor stroma in order to enhance cancer drug delivery.

A Study of SHY-ONC6, a Novel Proteasome Inhibitor, in Adults With Advanced or Metastatic Solid Tumors

This is a Phase 1, first-in-human (FIH), open-label, multicenter study designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability, PK, and preliminary anti-tumor activity of SHY-ONC6 in participants with advanced or metastatic solid tumors who have progressed on or are intolerant to standard therapies. The study will consist of 2 parts: a dose escalation part (Phase 1a) and a dose expansion part (Phase 1b).

Effectiveness of Nutritional Interventions for Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy

This study aims to estimate the effects of nutritional interventions on the improvement of nutritional status and quality of life (QoL) among gastrointestinal patients in Vietnam

The Role of Total Abdominal Autonomic Nerve Preservation During the Resection of Right/Left Colon Cancer: Prospective Clinical Trial

Preservation of pelvic autonomic nerves to retain genitourinary function without compromise of oncologic clearance of tumor has been extensively studied in rectal cancer surgery. However, there is still not much information about preservation of autonomic nerves after colectomy for right and left colon cancer. Because the abdominal deep-seated neural structures, such as abdominal plexus (superior hypogastric plexus), neurovascular bundles of SMA, SMV and IMV were within the boundary of dissection, traditional colectomy for right and left colon cancer extended simultaneous dissection of the lateral bundles and entire circle of the neural plexuses surrounding the SMV and IMV. However, a severe and persistent diarrhea, enterospasm, or enteroparalysis developed in almost some patients. It is therefore opinion that during the colectomy for right and left colon cancer, preservation of autonomic nerves may be a priority-that is, autonomic nerve preservation is appropriate unless there are oncologic reasons for the resection of nerves. Therefore, the investigators conducted the present study to test the feasibility of laparoscopic approach in performing the total abdominal autonomic nerve preservation during the standard oncologic resection of right/left colon cancer. The investigators hypothesized that given a well-illuminated magnified view by laparoscopy, the autonomic nerves can be well protected from inadvertent surgical damage. Therefore, the investigators aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of the total abdominal autonomic nerve preservation (TNP) versus traditional CME of right/left colon cancer.

Feasibility Study: IGNITE-TX (Identifying Individuals for Genetic Testing & Treatment) Intervention

This is a community-based study requiring participant-self-enrollment, that can help to increase the rates of genetic testing among the family members of people who have been diagnosed with a hereditary cancer syndrome. The two main factors in this study are the IGNITE-TX intervention (website and navigator) and the free genetic counseling and testing. The IGNITE-TX Intervention is an innovative multi-modal intervention, with two components: a) interactive web "IGNITE-TX Hub" and b) genetic family navigators.