Clinical Research Directory

The Vanguard Study: Testing a New Way to Screen for Cancer

The Vanguard Study is a feasibility study to explore several aspects of evaluating multi-cancer detection (MCD) tests in a future definitive randomized controlled trial. An MCD test measures markers in the blood in order to screen for multiple cancers simultaneously. There is a need to understand how MCDs may work as cancer screening tools. The goal of cancer screening is to reduce the burden of cancer by identifying cancers before they show symptoms or signs, when treatment is likely to be most effective. In this study, adults aged 45-75 without cancer will be randomly assigned to one of 3 groups: 2 separate MCD test groups or a control group. These two MCD tests will not be compared to each other but will be compared to cancers detected in the control group. This study will provide early information on how well MCD tests perform as cancer screening tools. It will also help researchers understand how patients and their doctors make decisions about their care when the MCD test result comes back as normal (negative) or abnormal (positive).

Targeted Therapy Directed by Genetic Testing in Treating Patients With Advanced Refractory Solid Tumors, Lymphomas, or Multiple Myeloma (The MATCH Screening Trial)

This phase II MATCH screening and multi-sub-trial studies how well treatment that is directed by genetic testing works in patients with solid tumors, lymphomas, or multiple myelomas that may have spread from where it first started to nearby tissue, lymph nodes, or distant parts of the body (advanced) and does not respond to treatment (refractory). Patients must have progressed following at least one line of standard treatment or for which no agreed upon treatment approach exists. Genetic tests look at the unique genetic material (genes) of patients' tumor cells. Patients with genetic abnormalities (such as mutations, amplifications, or translocations) may benefit more from treatment which targets their tumor's particular genetic abnormality. Identifying these genetic abnormalities first may help doctors plan better treatment for patients with solid tumors, lymphomas, or multiple myeloma.

The CCANED-CIPHER Study: Early Cancer Detection and Treatment Response Monitoring Using AI-Based Platelet and Immune Cell Transcriptomic Profiling

The purpose of the CCANED-CIPHER study is to develop and validate an AI-based blood test for early cancer detection and to monitor treatment effectiveness in cancer patients. This two-phase, multi-center observational study aims to identify specific transcriptomic biomarkers in platelets and immune cells that distinguish cancer patients from healthy individuals and correlate with treatment outcomes. By analysing blood samples using artificial intelligence, the study seeks to create a safe, non-invasive method to enhance cancer diagnosis and monitor treatment responses over time.

Clinical Evaluation of an Augmented Reality Intraprocedural Needle Guidance Platform for Soft Tissue Biopsy

This clinical feasibility evaluation is intended to further characterize and quantify the potential benefits of the FDA-cleared XR90 Augmented Reality (AR )imaging and guidance platform utilization in percutaneous soft tissue biopsy. This study will seek to build on the findings of safety, procedural benefits, and overall clinical feasibility shown in previous bench, cadaveric, and single-site clinical evaluations.

Radiofrequency-responsive Layered Double Hydroxides for Enhanced Arterial Embolization and Thermal Immunotherapy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Liver cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors and the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally. Recent epidemiological studies show that in China, liver cancer ranks fourth in incidence and second in mortality among malignant tumors, posing a serious threat to human health. The common risk factors for liver cancer are chronic inflammatory infections caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV), which lead to liver cirrhosis and eventually develop into liver cancer. The field of liver cancer treatment is characterized by its multidisciplinary approach and the coexistence of various therapeutic methods. Common treatment modalities include liver resection, liver transplantation, ablation therapies, and transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE). Selecting appropriate treatment strategies based on the different stages of liver cancer can maximize therapeutic outcomes. Although surgical intervention is considered the first-line curative treatment for liver cancer, a significant number of patients are unable to tolerate surgery due to varying degrees of liver cirrhosis and impaired liver function. The limited availability of treatment options results in a relatively low 5-year survival rate of approximately 18% for liver cancer patients. Liver cancer is insidious in onset, highly malignant, and progresses rapidly. Most patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage, having missed the optimal window for surgical resection. For these patients, interventional therapies based on transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) have shown excellent antitumor effects and are gradually becoming essential treatment methods for advanced liver cancer. In TAE, embolic agents are injected into the tumor's supplying arteries via a catheter to block the tumor's oxygen and nutrient supply. Currently, embolic agents primarily include liquid embolics (e.g., lipiodol) and solid agents (e.g., microspheres). However, as a palliative treatment, TAE struggles to completely suppress tumor growth. This limitation arises because these embolic agents are unable to fully and permanently block all tumor vasculature, allowing tumors to establish collateral circulation after the procedure. Additionally, the hypoxic tumor microenvironment created post-procedure stimulates rapid proliferation of liver cancer cells. Consequently, it is critical to develop effective strategies to improve the outcomes of TAE. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA), a common thermal ablation method for liver cancer in clinical practice, has been widely applied. Leading medical associations, including the U.S. National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) and the Asia-Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver (APASL), have recognized RFA as a first-line treatment for solitary liver tumors ≤3 cm in size. During RFA, the central region of the tumor reaches temperatures above 50°C, inducing coagulative necrosis of solid tumors, while the surrounding area, referred to as the transition zone, experiences sublethal heat stress. However, incomplete radiofrequency ablation (iRFA) can occur due to factors such as large tumor size, thermal sink effects of blood vessels, and undetected micro-satellite lesions, leading to rapid recurrence or metastasis of residual tumor tissue. Studies have reported that RFA can induce specific immune responses by releasing tumor-associated antigens, damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), and pro-inflammatory cytokines from denatured tumor cells. However, the antitumor immune response elicited by RFA is often transient and weak. Moreover, it may trigger a series of immunosuppressive responses, further complicating the overall therapeutic outcome.