Clinical Research Directory

The Pancreas Interception Center (PIC) for Early Detection, Prevention, and Novel Therapeutics

The long-term goal of our PIC is to develop effective strategies that can be applied clinically at the point-of-care to prevent, intercept, or detect PDAC at an early stage, thereby reducing PDAC burden and saving lives.

Combination Therapy in Cancers With Mutations in DNA Repair Genes

The purpose of this phase 1 clinical trials is to determine whether niraparib (a Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor (PARPi)) can be safely combined with irinotecan with manageable toxicity and reasonable efficacy. Emerging evidence suggest that PARPi is an effective therapeutic strategy in a wider subset of solid tumors that may have defective homologous recombination (HR) or DNA repair gene mutations. BReast CAncer gene (BRCA), partner and localizer of BRCA2 (PALB2), and various other DNA repair germline mutations predispose carriers to cancers of the breast, ovaries, pancreas, prostate and melanoma. A number of preclinical studies have demonstrated that PARP inhibitors can work as chemopotentiators. There is significant interest in this combination, and the recommended phase II dose will be used in the upcoming NCI ComboMatch trial.

Olaparib and ASTX727 in BRCA1/2- and Homologous Recombination Deficient (HRD)-Mutated Tumors

This is a single center, phase I/Ib clinical trial evaluating the combination of the poly adenosine diphosphate-ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitor olaparib with the DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) inhibitor ASTX727, which is an oral formulation of decitabine with cedazuridine (a cytidine deaminase inhibitor that allows for oral administration). The study population consists of adults with advanced/metastatic solid tumor malignancies with germline or somatic mutations in the HRR pathway (i.e., BReast CAncer gene 1 (BRCA1), BReast CAncer gene 2(BRCA2), Partner And Localizer of BRCA2 (PALB2), ATM, and/or Checkpoint kinase 2 (CHEK2) mutations).

SHARON: A Clinical Trial for Metastatic Cancer Using Chemotherapy and Patients' Own Stem Cells

The clinical trial is a phase 1, single-arm trial that will evaluate the safety of the investigational treatment on metastatic pancreatic cancer and metastatic breast cancer. The investigational treatment will involve 2 cycles of a combination of intravenous melphalan, BCNU, vitamin B12b, and vitamin C with autologous hematopoietic stem cell infusion. A dose-escalation schedule is being employed for the vitamin C.

Olaparib In Metastatic Breast Cancer

This research study is for patients with metastatic breast cancer. * Metastatic means that the cancer has spread beyond the breast. In addition, through genetic testing of the blood or tumor, an altered gene has been found that suggests the tumor may not be able to repair its genetic material (DNA) when it becomes damaged. * This aspect of the cancer may cause it to be more sensitive - that is, more effectively killed by certain types of drugs such as the study agent being evaluated in this trial, Olaparib. * Olaparib is a type of drug known as a PARP inhibitor. Some types of breast cancer and ovarian cancer share some basic features that make them sensitive to similar treatments. Information from those other research studies suggests that this drug may help to treat metastatic breast cancer. * This study will evaluate whether olaparib is effective in breast cancer patients whose tumor has a mutation in one of the other genes that function with BRCA1 and BRCA2 to repair damaged DNA .This mutation may have been inherited from a parent, or may have developed only in the tumor. * This study will also evaluate whether olaparib is effective in breast cancer patients whose tumor has a mutation in BRCA1 or BRCA2 that was acquired by the tumor, but not inherited.

Talazoparib in Treating Patients With Recurrent, Refractory, Advanced, or Metastatic Cancers and Alterations in the BRCA Genes

This phase II trial studies how well talazoparib works in treating patients with cancers that have returned after a period of improvement, do not respond to treatment, or have spread to other parts of the body, and have alterations in the breast cancer, early onset (BRCA) genes. Talazoparib may cause tumor cells to die by blocking an enzyme that protects the tumor cells from damage.

The GENPET Study - An Imaging Study of FCH-PET-CT in Men With Prostate Cancer and a DNA Repair Gene Mutation.

The aim of the study is to determine if PET-CT imaging (using contrast recommended in clinical guidelines) is superior to combined bone scan and MRI/CT of the abdomen \& pelvis in detecting the increased incidence of metastasis (nodal/distant outside the pelvis) in men with prostatic carcinoma with mutations in any of the following germline DNA repair genes BRCA1, BRCA2, MSH2, MSH6, MLH1, PMS2, CHEK2, PALB2, ATM.

Study of NABPLAGEM vs. Nab-Paclitaxel/Gemcitabine in BRCA1/2 or PALB2 Pancreatic Cancer

This study will compare two different regimens for patients with BRCA1/2 or PALB2 mutated metastatic pancreatic cancer after progression on first-line FOLFIRINOX.

An Intervention to Increase Genetic Testing in Families Who May Share a Gene Mutation Related to Cancer Risk and An Intervention to Help Patients and Their Primary Care Providers Stay Up-to-date About Uncertain Genetic Test Results

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of new cancer genetic counseling models that aim to increase patient engagement with the genetics team. To do this, the study consists of two trials to evaluate two related interventions. The first trial is the EfFORT Trial, which evaluates a cascade genetic testing intervention. Cascade testing is the process of offering genetic testing to people who are at risk of having inherited a possibly harmful gene change that has been found in their family. The study will look at how often genetic testing occurs when healthcare providers have permission to reach out to family members to recommend genetic testing and to help those who are interested get tested. The study will look at whether this cascade testing intervention is practical and effective. The study would like to see how this approach of healthcare providers reaching out directly to family members compares with the usual approach of patients telling their family members about the recommendation to get genetic testing. The second trial is the STRIVE Trial, which evaluates an intervention designed to help patients who receive an uncertain result from genetic testing (also called a "variant of uncertain significance") stay connected with their genetics care team, and to help patients and their primary care providers stay up-to-date about the meaning of uncertain genetic test results. The study will look at whether an intervention that consists of a study online portal for patients with uncertain genetic test results and their primary care providers will help them to stay up-to-date on the meaning of uncertain genetic test results. The study would like to see how this intervention compares to the usual approach of encouraging patients to re-contact their genetics care team on their own about a year after getting genetic testing."

Low Dose TamOxifen and LifestylE Changes for bReast cANcer prevenTion

Circulating levels of Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG) are significantly associated with a decreased risk of breast cancer. The main aim of this clinical trial is to verify whether Low Dose Tamoxifen (LDT) increases circulating levels of SHBG more than lifestyle intervention (LI) with or without intermittent caloric restriction (ICR) after 6 months in women at increased risk of breast cancer (i.e., healthy participants carriers of a germline pathogenic/likely pathogenetic variant in at least one of the following genes: BRCA1, BRCA2, PALB2, ATM, CHEK2, CDH1, RAD51C or RAD51D, or with \> 5% breast cancer risk at 10 years, using the Tyrer Cuzick or the Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium Risk models or with a recently resected intraepithelial neoplasia of the breast (IEN). The secondary aims are: * to verify whether ICR significantly modulates primary and secondary endpoints such as Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA) index, immune and inflammatory markers, lipid profile, Adiponectin/Leptin (A/L) ratio, quality of life (QoL), Body mass index (BMI), fat body composition, safety and toxicity; * to verify whether LDT significantly modulates secondary endpoints, such as HOMA-index, immune and inflammatory markers, lipid profile, A/L ratio, QoL, BMI, fat body composition, safety and toxicity; * to investigate differences in microbiome composition by arms and the effect of changes in microbiome on QoL taking into account circulating biomarkers, cytokines, immune modulators, and inflammatory proteins in serum; * to investigate MD (Mammographic Breast Density) changes by LDT vs. LI, with or without ICR. This aim will be performed in a subgroup of participants (not all the participants will undergo mammography due to younger age).