Clinical Research Directory

Adding an Immunotherapy Drug, MEDI4736 (Durvalumab), to the Usual Chemotherapy Treatment (Paclitaxel, Cyclophosphamide, and Doxorubicin) for Stage II-III Breast Cancer

This phase III trial compares the addition of an immunotherapy drug (durvalumab) to usual chemotherapy versus usual chemotherapy alone in treating patients with MammaPrint High 2 Risk (MP2) stage II-III hormone receptor positive, HER2 negative breast cancer. Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as durvalumab, may help the body's immune system attack the cancer, and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Chemotherapy drugs, such as paclitaxel, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading. There is some evidence from previous clinical trials that people who have a MammaPrint High 2 Risk result may be more likely to respond to chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Adding durvalumab to usual chemotherapy may be able to prevent the cancer from returning for patients with MP2 stage II-III hormone receptor positive, HER2 negative breast cancer.

Testing the Addition of an Anti-cancer Drug, Berzosertib, to the Usual Treatment (Radiation Therapy) for Chemotherapy-Resistant Triple-Negative and Estrogen and/or Progesterone Receptor Positive, HER2 Negative Breast Cancer

This phase Ib trial studies the best dose of berzosertib when given together with the usual treatment (radiation therapy) in treating patients with triple negative or estrogen receptor and/or progesterone receptor positive, HER-2 negative breast cancer. Berzosertib may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Radiation therapy uses high energy rays to kill tumor cells and shrink tumors. Giving M6620 and radiation therapy may kill tumor cells more effectively than radiation alone or shrink or stabilize breast cancer for longer than radiation therapy alone.

Testing Whether Hormone Therapy With Ribociclib is as Effective as Chemotherapy Followed by Hormone Therapy With Ribociclib for the Treatment of High Anatomic Stage Breast Cancer With Low Recurrence Risk, The RxFINE-Low Trial

This phase III trial compares standard of care hormone therapy plus ribociclib to chemotherapy followed by hormone therapy plus ribociclib for the treatment of patients with high anatomic stage breast cancer with low risk of the cancer returning (low risk recurrence). Ribociclib may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Hormone therapy, with letrozole, anastrozole or exemestane, lowers the amount of estrogen made by the body. This may help stop the growth of tumor cells that need estrogen to grow. Chemotherapy drugs work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading. Hormone therapy plus ribociclib may work as well as chemotherapy followed by hormone therapy plus ribociclib for the treatment of high anatomic stage breast cancer with low recurrence risk.

Mobile Health for Adherence in Breast Cancer Patients

This clinical trial compares the use of the connected customized treatment platform (CONCURxP), consisting of using a medication monitoring device called WiseBag along with text message reminders for missed or extra medication events, to enhanced usual care (EUC), where patients only use the WiseBag, to monitor medication adherence in patients with metastatic breast cancer who are taking a CKD4/6 inhibitor. To ensure CDK4/6 inhibitors achieve their full clinical benefit, patients need to take them as prescribed, following a complex treatment schedule. Forgetfulness was the most common reason reported for medication non adherence. Using the WiseBag along with CONCURxP or enhanced usual care may improve medication adherence in patients with metastatic breast cancer who are taking a CKD4/6 inhibitor.

Turkey Tail Mushroom for Treating Post-Menopausal Women With HER2-Negative ER-Positive Breast Cancer Undergoing Surgery

This phase II trial tests how well turkey tail mushroom (TTM) works in treating post-menopausal women with HER2-negative, estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer undergoing surgery. TTM is a common mushroom. In traditional Chinese medicine, it is used for enhancing function and removing toxins, as well as for cancer, hepatitis, and infections. There is previous evidence of significant tumor shrinkage occurring in the 2-month window between diagnosis and surgery in women who have taken TTM. Giving TTM may be effective in treating post-menopausal women with HER2-negative, ER-positive breast cancer undergoing surgery.

Preoperative Chemotherapy, Pembrolizumab and Low or High Dose RADiation in an Expansion Cohort of Node(+), Triple Negative Breast Cancer

This is a prospective radiation dose-finding, phase 2 expansion study of the Triple Negative (TN) cohort of the multicenter randomized study P-RAD (A Randomized Study of Preoperative Chemotherapy, Pembrolizumab and No, Low or High Dose RADiation in Node-Positive, HER2-Negative Breast Cancer; NCT04443348) that seeks to establish the optimal dose of radiation therapy (RT) to elicit an immune response when combined with immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) in breast cancer patients. Eligible subjects include women or men with operable, lymph node-positive, triple negative (TN) breast cancer who are candidates for standard of care neoadjuvant chemo-immunotherapy (NAC) based on the KEYNOTE-522 clinical trial. Thirty-two (n=32) patients will be randomized 1:1 to receive either low RT boost (9Gy total) or high RT boost (24Gy total). All RT will be delivered to the intact breast tumor in 3 daily fractions over 3 days. In the Neoadjuvant Phase, the first cycle (C1) of pembrolizumab (200 mg i.v.) will be administered within 0-2 days of initiating RT. Participation in this study requires availability of residual diagnostic tissue biopsies of the primary tumor and metastatic lymph node for research use. If this tissue is not available, baseline research biopsies will be performed. Additionally, a research biopsy of the breast tumor and lymph node is required on Day 10-14 of C1 of pembrolizumab. After completion of the research biopsy in Week 2, the participants can commence standard-of-care neoadjuvant chemotherapy and pembrolizumab at the discretion of their medical oncology provider. After completing NAC, participants will undergo standard of care surgical resection of the breast and axillary lymph nodes, at the discretion of their surgical oncology provider. In the Adjuvant Phase, participants will receive standard of care adjuvant systemic therapy and standard of care adjuvant radiotherapy (if indicated), although recognizing that the breast tumor boost portion of this treatment has already been administered preoperatively. Except for late radiation adverse reactions of special interest, which will be followed yearly for up to 5 years, follow-up will occur every 6 months for 3 years.

Feasibility Study of Biobehavioral Stress Reduction Intervention in Patients With Triple Negative Breast Cancer

This clinical trial aims to see if patients with triple negative breast cancer can complete a biobehavioral stress reduction program that also addresses health related social needs (e.g., utilities, transportation, etc.). The stress reduction program is over ten weeks and includes stress reduction (e.g., progressive muscle relaxation), coping, problem solving, communication, and social support. Health related social needs will be evaluated at the beginning of the study, and referrals will be made to social work to help address those needs. The study will examine stress as reported by the patients and also use biological markers.

Acutherapy to Prevent Aromatase Inhibitor-Associated Arthralgias in Non-Hispanic Black Postmenopausal Women With Early-Stage Breast Cancer

This clinical trial evaluates if in-person acupuncture or virtual acupressure therapy prevents aromatase inhibitor-associated joint pain in Non-Hispanic Black postmenopausal women with stage I-III (early-stage) hormone receptor positive (HR+) breast cancer. Aromatase inhibitors (AI) are medications that prevent the formation of the hormone estrogen. They are used in the treatment of postmenopausal women who have hormone-dependent breast cancer. AI therapy prolongs life among patients with early-stage HR+ breast cancer. Many postmenopausal women stop AI therapy early due to debilitating joint pain (arthralgias). Non-Hispanic Black women are more likely to experience side effects and stop their hormonal therapy compared to Non-Hispanic white women. Acupuncture therapy involves inserting thin needles through the skin at specific points on the body to control pain. Acupressure therapy uses the application of pressure or localized massage to specific sites on the body to control symptoms such as pain. Acupuncture and acupressure are types of complementary and alternative medicine. Undergoing in-person acupuncture or participating in virtual acupressure may prevent AI-associated arthralgias (AIAA) in Non-Hispanic Black postmenopausal women with early-stage HR+ breast cancer.

Dose-Reduced Docetaxel With Cyclophosphamide for the Treatment of Vulnerable Older Women With Stage I-III HER2 Negative Breast Cancer, the DOROTHY Trial

This phase II trial tests how well dose-reduced docetaxel combined with cyclophosphamide works in treating older women with early stage (stage I-III) HER2 negative breast cancer vulnerable to toxicity. Chemotherapy drugs, such as docetaxel and cyclophosphamide, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading. Docetaxel and cyclophosphamide are commonly used, but is not well tolerated at the standard dose and can affect the way older patients feel physically and emotionally. Giving dose-reduced docetaxel combined with cyclophosphamide may be an effective treatment option and improve quality of life in vulnerable older women with stage I-III HER2 negative breast cancer.

Gemcitabine and Ex Vivo Expanded Allogenic Universal Donor, TGFβi Natural Killer (NK) Cells With or Without Naxitamab (Danyelza) for the Treatment of Patients With Metastatic, GD2 Expressing, HER2 Negative Breast Cancer

This phase Ib/II trial tests the safety, best dose and how well gemcitabine and ex vivo expanded allogenic universal donor TGFBi NK cells with or without naxitamab work for the treatment of patients with GD2 expressing, HER2 negative breast cancer that has spread from where it first started (primary site) to other places in the body (metastatic). Gemcitabine is a chemotherapy drug that blocks the cells from making deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and may kill cancer cells. TGFBi NK cells are manufactured cells that are a part of your natural immunity. NK cells can recognize missing or incorrect proteins on tumor cells and then eliminate these tumor cells and TGFBi NK cells are created to be able to better kill the tumor cells. Naxitamab is a monoclonal antibody that targets GD2, which is a protein or sugar present on tumor cells but not very commonly found on normal cells. This antibody helps draw the attention of the immune system to the tumor cells that have GD2 to help attack the tumor cells. Giving gemcitabine and TGFBi NK cells with or without naxitamab may kill more tumor cells in patients with metastatic GD2 expressing, HER2 negative breast cancer.

Letrozole With and Without Simvastatin for the Treatment of Stage I-III Hormone Receptor Positive, HER2 Negative Breast Cancer

This early phase I trial tests whether letrozole with simvastatin works better than letrozole alone to stop tumor cell proliferation in patients with stage I-III hormone receptor positive, HER2 negative invasive breast cancer. Letrozole and simvastatin may stop the growth of cancer cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. The addition of simvastatin to letrozole may be more effective at stopping the growth of cancer cells than letrozole alone.

A Feasibility Trial of a Web Based App Intervention in Hormone Positive Breast Cancer Patients to Improve Adherence to Endocrine Therapy

This clinical trial looks at the use of an internet-based application (app) intervention in improving adherence to endocrine therapy (ET) among patients with early stage hormone receptor-positive HER2-negative breast cancer. ET can significantly reduce the return of the cancer in patients who are compliant with their treatment regimen. Despite this, adherence to ET is poor due to side effects, lack of social support and timely access to clinicians, and poor patient understanding of the necessity and effectiveness of the therapy. An internet-based app may help patients improve their adherence to ET by providing reminders, side effect mitigation strategies available in the educational videos and from contacting providers/ nurse on the research team directly via the app.