Clinical Research Directory

STRICT - Surveillance With TRoponin During Immune Checkpoint Therapy

To learn if monitoring blood levels of heart injury (troponin levels) in cancer participants treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors will lead to decreased heart-related side effects.

Node-Sparing Low-Dose Radiotherapy Concurrent With Chemotherapy and PD-1 Inhibitor in pMMR/MSS High-Risk Locally Advanced Colon Cancer: A Prospective, Single-Arm, Phase II Trial

Most colorectal cancers belong to the microsatellite stable (MSS) or proficient mismatch repair (pMMR) subtypes, with limited response to PD-1 inhibitors. Radiotherapy can increase the release of tumor-associated antigens, thereby improve responsiveness to PD-1 blockade in MSS/pMMR rectal cancer. Tumor-draining lymph nodes are important sites for PD-1 inhibitors to exert antitumor effects, and studies have reported that direct radiation-induced damage and fibrosis can inhibit lymph node drainage and anti-tumor function. Accumulating evidence indicates that low-dose radiotherapy reprograms the tumor microenvironment (TME), transforming immunosuppressive 'cold' tumors into immunostimulatory 'hot' tumors. This transition is mediated by modulating the gut microbiota, eliciting innate and adaptive immune responses, inhibiting immunosuppressive cells, and promoting the infiltration of T and B lymphocytes.Therefore, this study aims to evaluate whether node-sparing low-dose radiotherapy (1Gy/8f) concurrent with chemotherapy and PD-1 inhibitor can improve the pathological complete response (pCR) rate, enhance tolerability, and improve prognosis in patients with pMMR/MSS high-risk locally advanced colon cancer.

Node-Sparing Hypofractionated Radiotherapy Plus Chemotherapy and PD-1 Inhibitor in pMMR/MSS High-Risk Locally Advanced Colon Cancer: A Prospective, Randomized, Phase II Trial

Most colorectal cancers are microsatellite stable (MSS) or mismatch repair-proficient (pMMR) subtypes, which show limited efficacy to PD-1 inhibitors. Radiotherapy can enhance the release of tumor-associated antigens, thereby improving the responsiveness of pMMR/MSS colorectal cancers to PD-1 blockade. Tumor-draining lymph nodes (TDLNs) are critical sites where PD-1 inhibitors exert their antitumor effects; however, previous studies have reported that direct radiation-induced damage and fibrosis may impair lymphatic drainage and antitumor immunity. Early reports have demonstrated a remarkable pathological complete response (pCR) rate of 77.8% with lymph node-sparing short-course radiotherapy (25 Gy in 5 fractions) in locally advanced rectal cancer. In metastatic colorectal cancer, single-fraction high-dose irradiation (6-8 Gy) has been shown to induce robust abscopal effects. Based on these findings, our study aims to evaluate whether lymph node-sparing hypofractionated radiotherapy (25 Gy/5F or 24 Gy/4F) followed sequentially by chemotherapy and PD-1 blockade can increase the pCR rate, improve tolerability, and ultimately enhance outcomes in patients with pMMR/MSS high-risk locally advanced colon cancer.

Node-Sparing Short-Course Radiotherapy Plus Chemotherapy, Bevacizumab and PD-1 Inhibitor in Metastatic pMMR/MSS Colorectal Cancer (MODIFI-CRC)

The current standard first-line treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer is chemotherapy combined with targeted therapy, yet the prognosis remains poor. Although combining immunotherapy, anti-angiogenic agents, and chemotherapy has shown some efficacy in MSS/pMMR metastatic patients, progression-free survival (PFS) remains suboptimal. Radiotherapy-particularly high-dose radiotherapy-can enhance tumor antigen release and potentially improve the response of MSS/pMMR colorectal cancer to PD-1 inhibitors. Tumor-draining lymph nodes (TDLNs) are key sites for PD-1-mediated anti-tumor activity, but radiation-induced damage and fibrosis may impair their immune function. Prior studies have reported a remarkable pathologic complete response (pCR) rate of 77.8% using node-sparing radiotherapy in locally advanced rectal cancer. This phase II/III study aims to evaluate whether node-sparing modified short-course radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy, bevacizumab, and PD-1 blockade can improve objective response rate (ORR) in phase II and progression-free survival (PFS) in phase III, together with treatment tolerance, and overall prognosis in patients with pMMR/MSS metastatic colorectal cancer.

Node-Sparing Short-Course Radiotherapy Sequential Chemotherapy and PD-1 Inhibitor for Mid/Low pMMR/MSS Rectal Cancer (MODIFI-RC-II)

Most rectal cancers are microsatellite stable (MSS) or mismatch repair-proficient (pMMR) and respond poorly to PD-1 inhibitors. Radiotherapy can enhance tumor antigen release and improve responsiveness to PD-1 blockade in MSS/pMMR rectal cancer. Tumor-draining lymph nodes (TDLNs) are critical sites for anti-tumor immune activation, but radiation-induced damage and fibrosis may impair lymphatic drainage and immune responses. Previous studies have reported a remarkable pathologic complete response (pCR) rate of 77.8% using node-sparing radiotherapy in locally advanced rectal cancer. This study aims to evaluate whether node-sparing short-course radiotherapy followed by sequential chemotherapy and PD-1 blockade can improve complete response rate in the phase II part and event-free survival in phase III part, together with sphincter preservation, treatment tolerance, and prognosis in patients with mid-low pMMR/MSS rectal cancer.

Evaluation of Efficacy and Safety of Immune Check Point Inhibitors in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients in Ain Shams University Hospitals

This study aims to evaluate the response to immunotherapy in HCC, assess the toxicity profile and measure overall survival within the study period. The primary end point is evaluation of progression free survival in HCC patients receiving immunotherapy. The secondary end point is to assess overall survival within the study period, duration of response and the response rate. The tertiary end point is to assess the toxicity profile.

Node-Sparing Short-Course Radiotherapy Plus First-Line Therapy and PD-1 Inhibitor in Unresectable/Metastastic pMMR/MSS Gastric Cancer (MODIFI-GC)

For patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic gastric cancer, systemic anti-tumor therapy remains the mainstay of treatment. Combining chemotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors has gradually become the standard first-line treatment for advanced gastric cancer. Radiotherapy can enhance the release of tumor-associated antigens, thereby improving the responsiveness of MSS/pMMR tumors to PD-1 inhibitors. Tumor-draining lymph nodes (TDLNs) are key sites for the anti-tumor activity of PD-1 blockade; however, radiation-induced damage and fibrosis may impair lymphatic drainage and local immune responses. Previous studies have suggested that irradiation of the primary tumor combined with immune checkpoint blockade can produce an abscopal effect, mediating regression of distant metastases. This study aims to evaluate whether node-sparing modified short-course radiotherapy followed by chemotherapy and PD-1 blockade can improve 2-year progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma.

Modified Long-Course Radiotherapy Followed by Chemotherapy and PD-1 Inhibitor for MSS/pMMR High-risk Mid/Low LARC (MODIFI-RC-I)

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether a total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT) regimen combining long-course chemoradiotherapy, sequential chemotherapy, and PD-1 inhibitor can improve response rates, enhance tolerability, and improve prognosis in patients with locally advanced, microsatellite-stable (MSS) rectal cancer. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does this TNT approach improve complete response (CR) rates? How does selective reduction of clinical target volume (CTV) to S2/S3 level compare with conventional CTV irradiation in terms of efficacy and safety? Researchers will compare a selective CTV reduction group and a conventional CTV irradiation group to assess differences in treatment outcomes, including complete response, tumor regression grading (TRG), organ preservation, R0 resection rates, and long-term survival. Participants will: Receive long-course chemoradiotherapy with either conventional or reduced CTV irradiation. Undergo sequential chemotherapy. Receive PD-1 inhibitor treatment. Be monitored for safety, tumor regression, and long-term survival outcomes.

A Prospective Real World Evidence Study (PROWES) for Concordance Rate of Blood-based 3D Genome Conformation Mapping (Episwitch CiRT®) to Identify Likelihood of Response and Actual Response Rates to PD-(L)-1 Checkpoint Inhibitors Across Multiple Oncological Indications.

The purpose of this research is to test whether a blood-based 3D genome conformation mapping test called the Episwitch CiRT® can help to identify likelihood of response to PD-(L)-1 checkpoint inhibitors (a class of cancer drugs) across multiple oncological indications by comparing the results to actual treatment responses for cancer patients.