Clinical Research Directory

CAnadian CAncers With Rare Molecular Alterations (CARMA) - Basket Real-world Observational Study (BROS)

This study will collect data on Canadian cancer patients that have uncommon/rare changes in their tumours, such as alterations/rearrangements in the genetic material inside cells - known as deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA, which acts as a map and gives directions to the cells on how to make other substances the body needs - because some of these changes have been found to respond to different drugs that help to stop the cancer. These rare changes occur in genes such as but not limited to ALK, EGFR, ROS1, BRAF, and NTRK which have targeted drugs in a family known as tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), and KRAS G12C mutation, which now has a targeted inhibitor drug therapy for patients with non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The goals for the study are to compare the natural history of such cancers and the treatment outcomes, including toxicities and patient-reported outcomes, for the different therapies.

Leflunomide or Combination of MEK Inhibitor and Hydroxychloroquine for Refractory Patients With RAS Mutations

There is a huge variety of nucleotide substitutions that activate RAS. The search for new "universal" drugs for the RAS pathway that either interfere with RAS upregulation upstream in the signaling pathway or offset the consequences of RAS activation is important for improving therapeutic outcomes for patients with refractory malignancies. The use of leflunomide or the combination of MEK inhibitor + hydroxychloroquine ± bevacizumab is promising for patients with mutations in RAS cascade genes who have failed all existing treatment standards.