Clinical Research Directory

Study of Patritumab Deruxtecan in Participants With Gastrointestinal Cancers (MK-1022-011) (HERTHENA-PanTumor02)

Researchers want to learn if patritumab deruxtecan (MK-1022) can treat certain gastrointestinal (GI) cancers. The GI cancers being studied are advanced (the cancer has spread to other parts of the body). The goals of this study are to learn: * About the safety and how well people tolerate of patritumab deruxtecan * How many people have the cancer respond (get smaller or go away) to treatment

A Study to Test Different Doses of BI 765049 Alone and in Combination With Ezabenlimab in Asian People With Advanced Cancer (Solid Tumours) Positive for B7-H6

This is a study in adults from Asia with different types of advanced cancer (solid tumours). People can join the study if they have cancer of the stomach, large bowel and rectum, pancreas, liver, head and neck or non-small cell lung cancer. This is a study for people for whom previous treatment was not successful or no treatment exists. People can participate if their tumour has the B7-H6 marker. The purpose of this study is to find the highest dose of BI 765049 that people with advanced cancer can tolerate when taken (alone and) together with ezabenlimab. Another purpose is to check whether BI 765049 taken (alone and) together with ezabenlimab can make tumours shrink. Both medicines may help the immune system fight cancer. Participants can stay in the study up to 3 years, as long as they can tolerate it and can benefit from it. During this time, they visit the study site about every 3 weeks. At the study site they get BI 765049 alone or in combination with ezabenlimab as an infusion into a vein. BI 765049 is given in 3-week cycles, ezabenlimab is given once every 3 weeks. The doctors check the health of the participants and note any health problems that could have been caused by BI 765049 or ezabenlimab. Doctors regularly check the size of the tumour and check whether it has spread to other parts of the body.

Safety, PK and Efficacy of QXL138AM in Patients With Solid Tumors and Multiple Myeloma

Study QXL138AM-001 is a Phase 1a/1b study to investigate the safety, pharmacokinetics, and preliminary activity of QXL138AM in subjects with locally advanced un-resectable and/or metastatic solid tumors and multiple myeloma. The study is an open-label, multicenter, first in human study to be conducted in two major parts which are further organized into two sub-parts. Part A Dose Escalation is a modified 3+3 with the first two cohorts consisting of one subject each based on the low clinical starting dose. Dose escalation in solid tumors (Part A1) will be followed by dose finding in multiple myeloma (Part A2). Part B consists of dose expansion in solid tumors (Part B1) and multiple myeloma (Part B2) using the recommended dose for expansion from Part A

Harvesting Cells for Experimental Cancer Treatments

Background: The NCI Surgery Branch has developed experimental therapies that involve taking white blood cells from patients' tumor or from their blood, growing them in the laboratory in large numbers, and then giving the cells back to the patient. Objective: This study will collect white blood cells from normal volunteers and white blood cells and/or tumor cells, from patients who have been screened for and are eligible for a NCI Surgery Branch treatment protocol. The cells collected from normal volunteers will be used as growth factors for the cells during the period of laboratory growth. The cells and/or tumor from patients will be used to make the cell treatment product. Eligibility: Patients must be eligible for a NCI Surgery Branch Treatment Protocol Normal Volunteers must meet the criteria for blood donation Design Both patients and normal Volunteers will undergo apheresis. Patients will then undergo further testing as required by the treatment protocol. There is no required follow up for normal volunteers.

Acquisition of Blood and Tumor Tissue Samples From Patients With Gastrointestinal Cancer

Background: \- Gastrointestinal cancers can occur in the throat, stomach, gallbladder, liver, pancreas, and colon. Researchers are interested in evaluating how active the immune system is in trying to fight the cancer by studying blood and tumor tissue donated from individuals who have been diagnosed with gastrointestinal cancers. Objectives: \- To collect blood and tumor samples from individuals who have been diagnosed with gastrointestinal cancers in order to study the immune system s response to the cancer. Eligibility: \- Individuals at least 18 years of age who have been diagnosed with throat, stomach, gallbladder, liver, pancreatic, or colon cancer, and are scheduled to be treated at the National Institutes of Health. Design: * The study will require at least one but no more than four visits to the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center. * Participants will be screened with a physical examination and medical history, and will provide a baseline blood sample for study. * Participants will provide additional blood samples 2 and 4 months after the baseline sample, as well as a final sample at the completion of the treatment protocol. * Participants will provide tumor tissue samples only if they undergo a surgical procedure related to the treatment for their gastrointestinal cancer. * No treatment will be provided as part of this protocol.

A Study on the Effects of Exercise on Side Effects From Treatment for Gastrointestinal Cancers

The purpose of this study is to find the level of aerobic exercise (AT) that is practical, is safe, and has positive effects on the body that may reduce the side effects of therapy. The study will also look at the way the body responds to exercise and whether there are differences in treatment. This will include looking at the highest treatment dose participants receive, how many people stop, delay, or reduce the treatment, and whether additional medication is needed to treat side effects of therapy.

Individual Response to Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) Treatment of Peritoneal Carcinomatosis From Peritoneal Mesothelioma or Atypical Mesothelial Proliferation or From Ovarian, Colorectal, or Appendiceal Histologies

Background: Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) removes tumors in the abdomen. HIPEC is hyperthermic (heated) chemotherapy that washes the inside of the abdomen. CRS with HIPEC may help people with peritoneal carcinomatosis. These are tumors that have spread to the lining of the abdomen from other cancers. Researchers think they can improve the results of CRS with HIPEC treatment on these tumors by choosing the chemotherapy drugs used in HIPEC. Objective: To see if HIPEC after CRS can be improved, using either a model called the SMART (Sustained Microenvironment for Analysis of Resected Tissue) System or using 3-D cell culture (organoid) models, in order to test different chemotherapy drugs on tumors that were surgically removed prior to HIPEC treatment (these models are not attached to the body) versus tumors that were treated with HIPEC while still inside the body before being immediately surgically removed. Eligibility: Adults ages 18 and older who have peritoneal carcinomatosis that cannot be fully removed safely with surgery. Design: Participants will be screened with: Medical history Physical exam Blood and urine tests Electrocardiogram (EKG) Computed tomography (CT) scan Other imaging scans, as needed Tumor biopsy, if needed Laparoscopy (small cuts are made in the abdomen, and a tube with a light and a camera is used to see the organs in the abdomen), if needed Participants will enroll in NIH protocol #13C0176. This allows their tumor samples to be used in future research. Some screening tests may be repeated in the study. Participants will have CRS. As many of their visible tumors will be removed as possible during surgery except for a few specific tumors left to receive the HIPEC treatment. Then they will receive HIPEC and the remaining tumors will be immediately removed. Participants will be in the hospital for 7-21 days after this surgery (CRS with HIPEC). Participants will give tumor, fluid samples (from the abdomen during surgery), blood, saliva, cheek swab, and stool for research. They will complete surveys about their health and quality of life. Participants with peritoneal mesothelioma (mesothelioma primary only) will have genetic (DNA) testing to determine clinical (CLIA level) germline BAP1 status for research use. Participants will have follow-up visits for up to 5 years from CRS with HIPEC. If there is disease progression, participants may have CRS with HIPEC again. Participants will then have follow-up visits for up to 5 years from the date of last CRS with HIPEC.

Administering Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes Transduced With a Murine T-Cell Receptor Recognizing the G12V Variant of Mutated RAS in HLA-A*11:01 Patients

Background: A new cancer therapy involves taking white blood cells from a person, growing them in the lab, genetically modifying them, then giving them back to the person. This therapy is called gene transfer using anti-KRAS G12V mTCR cells. Objective: To see if anti-KRAS G12 V mTCR cells are safe and can shrink tumors. Eligibility: Adults at least 18 years old with cancer that has the KRAS G12V molecule on the surface of tumors. Design: In another protocol, participants will: Be screened Have cells harvested and grown Have leukapheresis In this protocol, participants will have the procedures below. Participants will be admitted to the hospital. Over 5 days, participants will get 2 chemotherapy medicines as an infusion via catheter in the upper chest. A few days later, participants will get the anti-KRAS G12V mTCR cells via catheter. For up to 3 days, participants will get a drug to make the cells active. A day after getting the cells, participants will get a drug to increase their white blood cell count. This will be a shot or injection under the skin. Participants will recover in the hospital for 1-2 weeks. They will have lab and blood tests. Participants will take an antibiotic for at least 6 months. Participants will have visits every few months for 2 years, and then as determined by their doctor. Visits will be 1-2 days. They will include lab tests, imaging studies, and physical exam. Some visits may include leukapheresis or blood drawn. Participants will have blood collected over several years.

Study of High-Precision Evaluation of Molecular ResiduaL Disease Through a PlatfOrm for Cancer TracKing and Interception (SHERLOCK)

This study will collect, annotate, and sequence biospecimens (blood, tissue, urine, saliva and surgery drainage) from patients across different cancer types to detect molecular residual disease (MRD). Imaging scans and clinical data will also be gathered. This will allow for early cancer interception, and hopefully prolong relapse-free survival across tumor types. Results of ctDNA testing will be provided for clinical decisions and to determine eligibility for other linked interventional interception therapeutic studies, each of which will have a separate protocol.

NOMAD-GI: Molecular-guided Non-operative Management and Organ Preservation Strategy After Precision Therapy in Gastrointestinal Cancers

The NOMAD-GI study is a single-center, bidirectional cohort study designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of molecular biomarker-guided non-operative management (NOM) and organ preservation strategies after precision therapy in patients with gastrointestinal cancers. Patients with actionable molecular biomarkers, including dMMR/MSI-H, POLE mutation, PD-L1 high expression, tumor mutational burden-high (TMB-H), Epstein-Barr virus positivity (EBV+), HER2 positivity, CLDN18.2 positivity, and other actionable genomic alterations, will be enrolled. After immune checkpoint inhibitor or targeted therapy, patients achieving favorable clinical responses will undergo multidisciplinary team (MDT) evaluation and receive either non-operative management, local treatment, or radical surgery according to individualized treatment decisions. The study aims to establish a molecular-driven organ preservation paradigm for gastrointestinal cancers and evaluate whether NOM can provide comparable oncological outcomes while improving functional outcomes and quality of life.

Palliadelic Treatment to Reduce Psychological Distress in Persons With Advanced Gastrointestinal Cancers

The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the ability to recruit and retain participants, and to successfully conduct a psilocybin-based protocol, for a study of the treatment of distress related to stage IV or inoperable gastrointestinal cancers. Secondary objectives include pre/post, and longitudinal measurement of distress in intervention participants and a paired family member who is in an observational arm.

DETERMINE Trial Treatment Arm 07: Dabrafenib in Combination With Trametinib in Adult, Paediatric and Teenage/Young Adult Patients With BRAF V600 Mutation-Positive Cancers.

This clinical trial is looking at two drugs called dabrafenib and trametinib. Dabrafenib and trametinib are approved as standard of care treatment for adult patients with melanoma (a type of skin cancer) or lung cancer and in children with glioma (a type of brain tumour). This means they have gone through clinical trials and been approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in the UK. Dabrafenib and trametinib work in patients with a particular mutation in their cancer known as BRAF V600. Investigators now wish to find out if they will be useful in treating patients with other cancer types which have the same mutation. If the results are positive, the study team will work with the NHS and the Cancer Drugs Fund to see if these drugs can be routinely accessed for patients in the future. This trial is part of a trial programme called DETERMINE. The programme will also look at other anti-cancer drugs in the same way, through matching the drug to rare cancer types or ones with specific mutations.

Autologous T-cells Genetically Engineered to Express Receptors Reactive Against KRAS Mutations in Conjunction With a Vaccine Directed Against These Antigens in Participants With Metastatic Cancer

Background: Many cancer cells produce substances called antigens that are unique to each cancer. These antigens stimulate the body s immune responses. One approach to treating these cancers is to take disease-fighting white blood cells from a person, change those cells so they will target the specific proteins (called antigens) from the cancer cells, and return them to that person s blood. The use of the white blood cells in this manner is one form of gene therapy. A vaccine may help these modified white cells work better. Objective: To test a cancer treatment that uses a person s own modified white blood cells along with a vaccine that targets a specific protein. Eligibility: Adults aged 18 to 72 years with certain solid tumors that have spread after treatment. Design: Participants will undergo leukapheresis: Blood is removed from the body through a tube attached to a needle inserted into a vein. The blood passes through a machine that separates out the white blood cells. The remaining blood is returned to the body through a second needle. Participants will stay in the hospital for 3 or 4 weeks. They will take chemotherapy drugs for 1 week to prepare for the treatment. Then their modified white cells will be infused through a needle in the arm. They will take other drugs to prevent infections after the infusion. The vaccine is injected into a muscle; participants will receive their first dose of the vaccine on the same day as their cell infusion. Participants will have follow-up visits 4, 8, and 12 weeks after the cell infusions. They will receive 2 or 3 additional doses of the boost vaccine during these visits. Follow-up will continue for 5 years, but participants will need to stay in touch with the gene therapy team for 15 years. ...

Immunobiology Blood and Tissue Collection of Upper Aerodigestive Malignancies

This research is being done to collect and store biological specimens (biospecimens) from people with cancer, regardless of tumor type, who are receiving treatments known or thought to have an effect on the immune system. The goal of this discovery and exploratory study is to: * Understand changes in the immune system associated with various cancer treatments, in order to better design new therapies or tests to predict how these treatments might work. * Identify risk factors for those who go on to develop side effects from immunotherapy. * Identify the molecular features associated with response and resistance to cancer therapies and immunotherapy using integrative genomic and immune repertoire characterization. * Capture and characterize systemic tumor burden by minimally invasive analyses of circulating tumor DNA. Participants may be asked to: * Donate samples of tumor, blood, lymph nodes, white blood cells, mouth cells (buccal smears) scraped from the inside of participant's cheek, urine, saliva, or other tissue samples. * Complete questionnaires about immunotherapy side effects at baseline and with follow-up appointments. * Undergo knee x-rays. * Allow the use of demographic and clinical information.

Prospective Procurement of Tumor Tissue to Identify Novel Therapeutic Targets and Study the Tumor Microenvironment

Background: Many advances have been made in cancer treatments, but more research is needed. Comparing samples of cancerous tissue to samples of normal, noncancerous tissues may help find differences between them. These differences may help researchers find new ways to treat cancer. Objective: To collect tissues and blood samples from people with known or suspected cancer. The samples will be used to help identify new targets for cancer treatments. Eligibility: People aged 18 years and older with a known or suspected cancer that requires surgery or biopsy. Design: Participants will be screened. They will answer questions about their health. They can do this on the phone or in person. Researchers will collect information from participants medical records. Data may include information about any prior or current cancers. Data about other medical conditions may also be collected. Participants will have blood drawn. Some of the blood will be tested for HIV and hepatitis B and C. Some of the blood will be used for genetic research. Participants will have tissue samples collected during surgeries or biopsies. These are procedures the participants would have had as part of their standard care. No new procedures will be done just for this study. Researchers may also seek out samples from prior procedures the participant had done. Participants will remain in the study for 6 months. They may have blood drawn again. Researchers may also collect tissue samples from any procedures performed during that time.

Dietary Nitrate and Nitrite Intake and Phosphate Biomarkers and Risk of Chronic Diseases

Nitrate, nitrite, and phosphate (NO3, NO2, P) are at all age stages ubiquitous in our everyday foods, including naturally occurring and as food additives, and in our drinking water. These compounds are essential in maintaining human well-being and health, but they have also been linked to detrimental health effects including contribution to cancer initiation and artery calcification, making it difficult to evaluate their overall health impact. Therefore, the overarching aim of this project is to shed light on the potential dual effect of these compounds on a variety of chronic diseases (cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, gastrointestinal cancers) at different life stages and to further elucidate on the molecular mechanisms suggested to underly the pathogenesis of these disease outcomes. This will be achieved by using prospective, longitudinal population-based cohorts linked to comprehensive databases of NO3 and NO2 and using a biomarker of P while also integrating omics data on inflammatory and cardiometabolic biomarkers as well as the microbiome and urine bacterial metabolites. The project will be led by the PI and conducted by a team of PhD students and postdoc in close collaboration with relevant experts. It will be initiated early on and continued throughout a 4-year study period. With this research, the investigators attempt to provide the strongest scientific evidence with etiologically more relevant exposure-disease associations and to shape future health risk assessments.

Prospective Assessment of Alignment Between Multimodal Artificial Intelligence and Multidisciplinary Team Decisions in Gastrointestinal Oncology

This prospective, single-center observational study will evaluate the concordance between a multimodal artificial intelligence system and multidisciplinary team decisions in patients with gastrointestinal tumors. For each enrolled case, the AI system and the MDT will independently review the same available clinical information, including medical history, laboratory findings, imaging, pathology, and other relevant diagnostic data, and will generate recommendations regarding diagnosis, staging, treatment planning, and further examinations. An independent expert panel will assess the agreement, clinical appropriateness, and potential major errors of the two decision pathways. AI-generated recommendations will be used solely for research evaluation and will not directly influence patient care. The study aims to determine the feasibility, reliability, and safety of multimodal AI-assisted decision-making in real-world gastrointestinal oncology workflows.

Study of RAS(ON) Inhibitors in Patients With Gastrointestinal Solid Tumors

The purpose of this platform study is to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics (PK), and preliminary antitumor activity of novel RAS(ON) inhibitors combined with Standard(s) of Care (SOC) or with novel agents. The current subprotocols include the following: Subprotocol A: RMC-6236 + 5-fluorouracil-based regimens Subprotocol B: RMC-6236 + cetuximab with or without mFOLFOX6 Subprotocol C: RMC-6236 + gemcitabine + nab-paclitaxel Subprotocol D: RMC-9805 with or without RMC-6236 + 5-fluorouracil-based regimens Subprotocol E: RMC-9805 with or without RMC-6236 + cetuximab with or without mFOLFOX6 Subprotocol F: RMC-9805 with or without RMC-6236 + gemcitabine + nab-paclitaxel

Evaluating Microarray Pharmacogenetic Testing in Cancer Patients

The purpose of this research is to evaluate the impact of a microarray PGx test on prescribing/dosing of drugs and cancer treatments in patients with cancer who are currently eligible for single-gene DPYD testing.

Butyrate Yogurt for Cancer Constipation

Constipation is a common yet underrecognized supportive care issue in cancer patients. Its consequences extend beyond physical discomfort to include impaired quality of life, reduced opioid adherence leading to inadequate analgesia, and increased risks of fecal impaction, emergency visits, and hospitalization. Current management strategies-including laxatives, stool softeners, prokinetics, and PAMORAs-remain suboptimal due to limited effects on gut dysbiosis, mucosal barrier dysfunction, and chronic inflammation, as well as issues related to polypharmacy, variable efficacy, and long-term tolerability. Hence, there is a clear need for novel, well-tolerated, long-term interventions with nutritional benefits that target the gut microbiota-mucosal barrier-motility axis. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), particularly butyrate, are key microbial metabolites that may improve constipation through multiple mechanisms: enhancing intestinal motility via enteric nervous system regulation, reinforcing mucosal barrier integrity and mitigating low-grade inflammation, and restoring gut microbial-metabolite homeostasis. Butyrate supplementation therefore holds mechanistic promise for cancer-related constipation. The "Small Blue Can High Dietary Fiber Butyrate SCFA Yogurt" (Blueglass) is designed with a "probiotics + prebiotics + acids" synergistic fermentation platform, delivering ≥70 mg/100 g butyrate combined with high dietary fiber. Compared with conventional laxatives or single-agent butyrate, this yogurt-based formulation offers potential advantages in patient acceptability, long-term adherence, dual exogenous and endogenous SCFA support, and multi-target action on motility, microbiome, and barrier function, making it a promising candidate for supportive care in this population.

Ultrasound for the Detection of Oxaliplatin-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy

This pilot clinical trial studies how well ultrasound works in detecting oxaliplatin-induced neuropathy in participants with gastrointestinal cancer. Ultrasound may work better in diagnosing and detecting neuropathy in gastrointestinal cancer participants treated with the chemotherapy drug called oxaliplatin.

Goals of Care Discussion for Patients With Advanced Lung and Gastrointestinal Cancer in the Emergency Department of a Comprehensive Cancer Center

To improve quality of life for participants with advanced cancer, support their families, and lower overall cost of care.

Evaluation of the Preliminary Efficacy and Safety of DR30206 in Combination With Standard Therapy in Patients With Gastrointestinal Cancer

This is a multicenter, open-label phase Ib/IIa clinical study conducted in China, aimed at evaluating the safety tolerance, efficacy, pharmacokinetic (PK) characteristics, and immunogenicity of DR30206 in combination with standard treatment regimens for advanced or metastatic gastrointestinal tumors.

Improving Comprehensive Care of Cancer Patients

Cancer survivors have unique healthcare needs, including managing serious late effects, ongoing surveillance, lifestyle modifications to reduce second cancer risk, and psychosocial support. Nearly 70% of survivors have at least one comorbid chronic condition in addition to cancer, which complicates the delivery of quality cancer care. Medically underserved patients, who bear the highest burden of multiple chronic conditions, are at increased risk for poor outcomes during and after cancer treatment. Enhancing communication and collaboration between oncologists and primary care providers (PCPs) could improve health outcomes and care transitions for these patients, who often lack healthcare knowledge and access to supportive care. This study evaluates a novel shared care model for cancer survivors with chronic comorbidities, called OPTIMISE (Oncology-Primary Care Partnership to Improve Comprehensive Survivorship Care), in the largest safety-net healthcare system in Houston, Texas. Three hundred newly diagnosed breast, gastrointestinal, and hematological cancer patients being treated with curative intent and having comorbidities requiring ongoing management will be randomized to either OPTIMISE or Usual Medical Care (UMC). UMC patients will receive cancer treatment directed by their oncologist, a survivorship care plan (SCP) at the end of active treatment, and surveillance visits based on national guidelines. OPTIMISE patients will: 1) have an oncology nurse navigator assigned to their care team at diagnosis to facilitate oncologist-PCP communication; 2) receive coordinated care between their oncologist and PCP throughout cancer treatment and surveillance, facilitated by structured communication and referral processes; 3) receive an SCP that incorporates comorbidity management; and 4) follow a risk-stratified shared care model where some routine oncologist follow-up visits are replaced by PCP visits. Aim 1a evaluates OPTIMISE's impact on patient chronic disease self-management (primary outcome) and quality of life (secondary outcome). Aim 1b explores OPTIMISE's effects on healthcare use and patient unmet needs during and after treatment. Aim 2 examines OPTIMISE's impact on oncologist and PCP attitudes and care coordination. Aim 3 elucidates patient- and system-level factors influencing implementation outcomes. If effective, OPTIMISE could expand to other cancers and enhance care transitions in various medical settings.