Clinical Research Directory

Testing the Safety of the Anti-cancer Drug, Sn-117m-DTPA, for Advanced Cancers That Have Spread to Bones

This phase I trial tests the safety, side effects and best dose of tin (Sn)-177m-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) and how well it works in treating prostate, breast or non-small cell lung cancer that has spread from where it first started (primary site) to the bones (bone metastases). Sn-117m-DTPA was originally tested in tumors that had spread to the bones to help reduce bone pain. The drug has been improved and is designed to send low-level radiation to tumors in the bone while being gentler on the bone marrow, where blood cells are made. Sn-117m-DTPA may be safe and tolerable, and may slow down or shrink tumors in patients with metastatic prostate, breast, or non-small cell lung cancer that has spread to the bones.

Radiation Medication (Radium-223 Dichloride) Versus Radium-223 Dichloride Plus Radiation Enhancing Medication (M3814) Versus Radium-223 Dichloride Plus M3814 Plus Avelumab (a Type of Immunotherapy) for Advanced Prostate Cancer Not Responsive to Hormonal Therapy

This phase I/II trial studies the best dose of M3814 when given together with radium-223 dichloride or with radium-223 dichloride and avelumab and to see how well they work in treating patients with castrate-resistant prostate cancer that had spread to other places in the body (metastatic). M3814 may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Radioactive drugs, such as radium-223 dichloride, may carry radiation directly to tumor cells and not harm normal cells. Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as avelumab, may help the body's immune system attack the cancer, and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. This study is being done to find out the better treatment between radium-223 dichloride alone, radium-223 dichloride in combination with M3814, or radium-223 dichloride in combination with both M3814 and avelumab, to lower the chance of prostate cancer growing or spreading in the bone, and if this approach is better or worse than the usual approach for advanced prostate cancer not responsive to hormonal therapy.

Testing the Addition of Radium Therapy (Radium-223 Dichloride) to the Usual Chemotherapy Treatment (Paclitaxel) for Advanced Breast Cancer That Has Spread to the Bones

This phase II trial studies how well radium-223 dichloride and paclitaxel work in treating patients with advanced breast cancer that has spread to the bones. Radium-223 dichloride is a radioactive drug that behaves in a similar way to calcium and collects in cancer that has spread to the bones (bone metastases). The radioactive particles in radium-223 dichloride act on bone metastases, killing the tumor cells and reducing the pain that they can cause. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as paclitaxel, 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. Giving radium-223 dichloride and paclitaxel may work better in treating patients with metastatic breast cancer compared to paclitaxel alone.

Immunotherapy With Nivolumab and Ipilimumab Followed by Nivolumab or Nivolumab With Cabozantinib for Patients With Advanced Kidney Cancer, The PDIGREE Study

This phase III trial compares the usual treatment (treatment with ipilimumab and nivolumab followed by nivolumab alone) to treatment with ipilimumab and nivolumab, followed by nivolumab with cabozantinib in patients with untreated renal cell carcinoma that has spread to other parts of the body. The addition of cabozantinib to the usual treatment may make it work better. Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as nivolumab and ipilimumab, may help the body's immune system attack the cancer, and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Cabozantinib may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. It is not yet known how well the combination of cabozantinib and nivolumab after initial treatment with ipilimumab and nivolumab works in treating patients with renal cell cancer that has spread to other parts of the body.

Testing the Addition of a New Anti-cancer Drug, Radium-223 Dichloride, to the Usual Treatment (Cabozantinib) for Advanced Renal Cell Cancer That Has Spread to the Bone, RadiCaL Study

This phase II trial studies whether adding radium-223 dichloride to the usual treatment, cabozantinib, improves outcomes in patients with renal cell cancer that has spread to the bone. Radioactive drugs such as radium-223 dichloride may directly target radiation to cancer cells and minimize harm to normal cells. Cabozantinib may stop the growth of cancer cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Giving radium-223 dichloride and cabozantinib may help lessen the pain and symptoms from renal cell cancer that has spread to the bone, compared to cabozantinib alone.

Combination Chemotherapy With or Without Ganitumab in Treating Patients With Newly Diagnosed Metastatic Ewing Sarcoma

This randomized phase III trial studies how well combination chemotherapy with or without ganitumab works in treating patients with newly diagnosed Ewing sarcoma that has spread to other parts of the body. Treatment with drugs that block the IGF-1R pathway, such as ganitumab, may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as vincristine, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, ifosfamide, and etoposide, 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. It is not yet known whether adding ganitumab to combination chemotherapy is more effective in treating patients with newly diagnosed metastatic Ewing sarcoma.

Comparing Radiation Therapy to Usual Treatment for Patients With High-Risk Bone Metastases That Are Not Causing Pain, PREEMPT Trial

This phase III trial compares the effect of adding radiation therapy to usual treatment on the occurrence of bone-related complications in cancer patients with high-risk bone metastases that are not causing symptoms, such as pain (asymptomatic). High-risk bone metastases are defined by their location (including hip, shoulder, long bones, and certain levels of the spine), or size (2 cm or larger). These bone metastases appear to be at higher risk of complications such as fracture, spinal cord compression, and/or pain warranting surgery or radiation treatment. Radiation therapy uses high energy x-rays to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. The total dose of radiation can be delivered in a single day or divided in smaller doses for up to 5 days of total treatment. Usual treatment for asymptomatic bone metastases may include drugs that prevent bone loss, in addition to the treatment for the primary cancer or observation (which means no treatment until symptoms appear). Evidence has shown that preventative radiation therapy may be effective in lowering the number of bone metastases-related complications, however, it is not known if this approach is superior to usual care. Adding radiation therapy to usual treatment may be more effective in preventing bone-related complications than usual care alone in cancer patients with asymptomatic high-risk bone metastases.

Impact of DNA Repair Pathway Alterations on Sensitivity to Radium-223 in Bone Metastatic Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer

This study investigates how well radium-223 works in treating patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer than has spread to the bones (bone metastases). Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men and the second leading cause of cancer death. Furthermore, many men with notably advanced disease have been found to have abnormalities in DNA repair. The purpose of this research is to study the role of a DNA repair pathway in prostate cancer, specifically in response to administration of radium-223, an FDA-approved drug known to cause DNA damage to cancerous cells. Understanding how defects in the DNA repair pathway affects radium-223 treatment of prostate, may help doctors help plan effective treatment in future patients.

Salvage Oligometastasectomy and Radiation Therapy in Recurrent Prostate Cancer

This phase II trial studies how well surgery and radiation therapy work in treating patients with prostate cancer that has come back or spread to other parts of the body. Radiation therapy uses high energy beams to kill tumor cells and shrink tumors. Surgical procedures, such as oligometastasectomy, may remove tumor cells that have spread to other parts of the body. Surgery and radiation therapy may work better in treating patients with prostate cancer that has come back or spread to other parts of the body.

Collecting and Studying Blood and Tissue Samples From Patients With Locally Recurrent or Metastatic Prostate or Bladder/Urothelial Cancer

This study collects and studies tissue and blood samples from patients with prostate or bladder/urothelial cancer that has recurred (come back) at or near the same place as the original (primary) tumor or has spread to other parts of the body. Studying samples of blood and tissue samples from patients with prostate or bladder/urothelial cancer in the laboratory may help doctors learn more about new biomarkers, potential drug targets, and resistance developing in response to treatment. It may also help doctors find better ways to treat the cancer.

Efficacy of Ra-223 in PSMA PET Optimally Selected Patients

This phase II trial studies how well prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) positron emission tomography (PET) scans (in combination with bone scans) work in selecting patients for Ra-223 radiation therapy that have castration-resistant prostate cancer that has spread from where it first started (primary site) to the bones (bone metastasis). Ra-223 is a type of therapy that emits radiation. Radiation gives off energy which can kill tumor cells and other cells that may support the tumor cells. Ra-223 is given by infusion into the veins, where it is absorbed by the bones. PSMA PET is a type of scan used to detect prostate cancer tumors. PSMA is a radioactive tracer that binds to a specific protein that is found on prostate tumor cells. The PSMA tracer shows the areas on the PET scan where tumor cells are active. A PET scan uses a special camera to detect the energy given off from radioactive tracers (such as PSMA) to make detailed pictures of areas where the tracer accumulates in the body. The PET scan is often combined with a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) scan, which helps to map the locations where PSMA has accumulated. PSMA PET scans may be able to select patients that will benefit the most from Ra-223 treatment.

Cryoablation Combined With Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy for the Treatment of Painful Bone Metastases, the CROME Trial

This trial compares cryoablation combined with stereotactic body radiation therapy to stereotactic body radiation therapy alone to see how well they work in treating patients with pain from cancer that has spread to the bones (bone metastases). Bone is a common site of metastasis in advanced cancer, and bone metastases often result in debilitating cancer-related pain. The current standard of care to treat painful bone metastases is radiation therapy alone. However, many patients do not get adequate pain relief from radiation therapy alone. Another type of therapy that may be used to provide pain relief from bone metastases is cryoablation. Cryoablation is a procedure in which special needles are inserted into the tumor site. These needles grow ice balls at their tips to freeze and kill cancer cells. The goal of this trial is to compare how well cryoablation in combination with radiation therapy works to radiation therapy alone when given to cancer patients to provide pain relief from bone metastases.

Biology-Guided Radiation Therapy for the Treatment of Patients With Bone Metastases

This clinical trial tests the safety and effectiveness of a single-dose treatment of biology-guided radiation therapy (BgRT) in treating patients with painful cancer that has spread from where it first started (primary site) to the bone (bone metastases). Bone metastases can result in significant pain and reduction in quality of life. Single fraction radiation therapy (SFRT) can produce equivalent pain relief compared to multi-fraction radiation therapy, but SFRT treatments generally lead to higher rates of retreatment. BgRT is a new and innovative form of radiation delivery that uses a signal generated by positron emission tomography to guide external beam radiation therapy. It is a technology breakthrough that uses live, continuously updated data throughout the entire treatment session to determine exactly where to deliver radiotherapy to biologically active tumors. Giving BgRT may be safe and effective in treating patients with painful bone metastases.

Low-Dose Radiotherapy in Treating Painful Bone Metastases in Patients With Multiple Myeloma

This phase II trial studies how well low-dose radiotherapy works in treating bone pain in patients with multiple myeloma that has spread to the bone. Radiation therapy uses high energy x-rays, gamma rays, neutrons, protons, or other sources to kill tumor cells and shrink tumors. Low-dose radiotherapy may be more convenient for patients and their families, may not interfere as much with the timing of chemotherapy, and may have less chance for short term or long-term side effects from the radiation.