Clinical Research Directory

Measuring the Effects of Talazoparib in Patients With Advanced Cancer and DNA Repair Variations

This phase II trial studies if talazoparib works in patients with cancer that may have spread from where it first started to nearby tissue, lymph nodes, or distant parts of the body (advanced) and has mutation(s) in deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damage response genes who have or have not already been treated with another PARP inhibitor. Talazoparib is an inhibitor of PARP, a protein that helps repair damaged DNA. Blocking PARP may help keep cancer cells from repairing their damaged DNA, causing them to die. PARP inhibitors are a type of targeted therapy. All patients who take part on this study must have a gene aberration that changes how their tumors are able to repair DNA. This trial may help scientists learn whether some patients might benefit from taking different PARP inhibitors "one after the other" and learn how talazoparib works in treating patients with advanced cancer who have aberration in DNA repair genes.

Tamoxifen Citrate or Z-Endoxifen Hydrochloride in Treating Patients With Locally Advanced or Metastatic, Estrogen Receptor-Positive, HER2-Negative Breast Cancer

This randomized phase II trial studies how well tamoxifen citrate works compared with z-endoxifen hydrochloride in treating patients with breast cancer that has spread to nearby tissue or lymph nodes or other parts of the body and has estrogen receptors but not human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) receptors on the surface of its cells. Estrogen can cause the growth of tumor cells. Hormone therapy using tamoxifen citrate or z-endoxifen hydrochloride may fight breast cancer by lowering the amount of estrogen the body makes. It is not yet known whether tamoxifen citrate or z-endoxifen hydrochloride is more effective in treating patients with breast cancer.

Z-Endoxifen Hydrochloride in Treating Patients With Metastatic or Locally Recurrent Estrogen Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer

This phase I trial studies the side effects and the best dose of Z-endoxifen hydrochloride in treating patients with estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer that has spread to other places in the body (metastatic) or has come back at or near the same place as the original tumor (locally recurrent). Estrogen can cause the growth of breast cancer cells. Hormone therapy using Z-endoxifen hydrochloride may fight breast cancer by blocking the use of estrogen by tumor cells.

Testing the Addition of an Anti-cancer Drug, Berzosertib, to the Usual Treatment (Radiation Therapy) for Chemotherapy-Resistant Triple-Negative and Estrogen and/or Progesterone Receptor Positive, HER2 Negative Breast Cancer

This phase Ib trial studies the best dose of berzosertib when given together with the usual treatment (radiation therapy) in treating patients with triple negative or estrogen receptor and/or progesterone receptor positive, HER-2 negative breast cancer. Berzosertib may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Radiation therapy uses high energy rays to kill tumor cells and shrink tumors. Giving M6620 and radiation therapy may kill tumor cells more effectively than radiation alone or shrink or stabilize breast cancer for longer than radiation therapy alone.

Cyclophosphamide and Veliparib in Treating Patients With Locally Advanced or Metastatic Breast Cancer

This phase I trial studies the side effects and best dose of cyclophosphamide and veliparib when given together in treating patients with breast cancer that has spread from where it started to nearby tissue or lymph nodes or to other places in the body. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as cyclophosphamide, 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. Veliparib may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Giving cyclophosphamide together with veliparib may work better in treating breast cancer.

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.

Study on Recurrent Breast Cancer and Repeated Radiation Therapy

This study explores whether recurrent breast cancer can be safely treated with breast-conserving surgery and repeated radiation therapy in cases where patients have previously undergone radiation. Traditionally, recurrent breast cancer has been treated by removing the entire breast. However, recent research has shown that in certain situations, it may be possible to preserve the breast. The study will collect data on the safety of this treatment approach and its effects on patients. The treatment follows standard breast cancer care practices, involving 30 patients from Helsinki and Turku University Hospitals. Patients are carefully selected based on specific criteria, such as tumor size, localization, and prior treatment history. Special attention is given to the planning of radiation therapy and surgical techniques. The goal is to develop new treatment strategies that allow breast preservation even in cases of recurrent breast cancer, providing patients with high-quality and individualized care.

Estradiol in Treating Patients With ER Beta Positive, Triple Negative Locally Advanced or Metastatic Breast Cancer

This phase II trial studies how well estradiol works in treating patients with estrogen receptor beta (ER beta) positive, triple negative breast cancer that has spread to nearby tissue or lymph nodes (locally advanced) or other places in the body (metastatic). Hormone receptors like ER beta allow the body to respond appropriately to hormones. Triple negative means that the breast cancer does not express other hormone receptors called ER alpha, progesterone, and HER2. In some people with triple negative breast cancer, ER beta is overexpressed. Tumor cells that overexpress ER beta grow slower in the laboratory and this growth is slowed in the presence of estrogen. Estradiol is a form of estrogen. This study may help doctors determine whether tumor cells that overexpress ER beta shrink in the presence of estradiol.

Collection of Specimens and Clinical Data for Patients With Recurrent or Metastatic Breast Cancer or Male Breast Cancer

This study is being done to create a resource of samples and information that can be used to improve our understanding of the development, progression and treatment of recurrent or metastatic breast cancer or male breast cancer.

Vaccine Therapy in Treating Patients With HER2-Negative Stage III-IV Breast Cancer

This phase I trial studies the side effects and best dose of multiantigen deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) plasmid-based vaccine in treating patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative stage III-IV breast cancer. Multiantigen DNA plasmid-based vaccine may target immunogenic proteins expressed in breast cancer stem cells which are the component of breast cancer that is resistant to chemotherapy and has the ability to spread. Vaccines made from DNA may help the body build an effective immune response to kill tumor cells.

Personalized Vaccine Immunotherapy in Combination With Checkpoint Inhibitor for Treatment of Triple Negative Breast Cancer

This phase I trial tests the safety, side effects, and best dose of a personalized vaccine (tumor membrane vesicle or TMV vaccine) by itself and in combination with checkpoint inhibitor (pembrolizumab or ipilimumab) in treating patients with triple negative breast cancer. This vaccine is made by taking a piece of patient's triple negative breast cancer to design a vaccine to stimulate the immune system's memory. Patients are treated with the personalized vaccine immunotherapy with or without monoclonal antibodies, such as pembrolizumab and ipilimumab. This approach may help the body's immune system attack the cancer, and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Giving personalized TMV vaccine with pembrolizumab or ipilimumab may help the immune system attack cancer better and reduce the risk of this breast cancer coming back or growing.

A Vaccine (MV-s-NAP) for the Treatment of Patients With Invasive Metastatic Breast Cancer

This phase I trial investigates the side effects and best dose of using a modified measles virus, MV-s-NAP, in treating patients with invasive breast cancer that has spread to other places in the body (metastatic). Both the unmodified vaccination measles virus (MV-Edm) and this modified virus (MV-s-NAP) have been shown to multiply in and destroy breast cancer cells in the test tube and in research mice. MV-s-NAP has been altered by having an extra gene (piece of deoxyribonucleic acid \[DNA\]) so that virus can make a protein called helicobacter pylori neutrophil activating protein (NAP) which is normally expressed in inflammatory reactions. Monitoring blood, urine, tissue, and throat swab samples, and using imaging tests may help to determine whether MV-s-NAP has any impact on the amount of disease present in metastatic breast cancer patients.

mTORC1/2 Inhibitor AZD2014 or the Oral AKT Inhibitor AZD5363 for Recurrent Endometrial and Ovarian

This phase Ib/II trial studies the side effects and best dose of olaparib and vistusertib (AZD2014) or olaparib and capivasertib (AZD5363) when given together in treating patients with endometrial, triple negative breast cancer, ovarian, primary peritoneal, or fallopian tube cancer that has come back (recurrent). Olaparib, vistusertib, and capivasertib may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth.

Exemestane With or Without Entinostat in Treating Patients With Recurrent Hormone Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer That is Locally Advanced or Metastatic

This randomized phase III trial studies exemestane and entinostat to see how well they work compared to exemestane alone in treating patients with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer that has spread to nearby tissue or lymph nodes (locally advanced) or another place in the body (metastatic). Estrogen can cause the growth of breast cancer cells. Endocrine therapy using exemestane may fight breast cancer by lowering the amount of estrogen the body makes. Entinostat may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. It is not yet known whether exemestane is more effective with or without entinostat in treating breast cancer.

Veliparib and Carboplatin in Treating Patients With HER2-Negative Metastatic Breast Cancer

This phase I trial studies the side effects and best dose of veliparib when given together with carboplatin and to see how well they work in treating patients with human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2)-negative breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body. Carboplatin kills cancer cells by damaging the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) that lets the cancer cell survive and reproduce. The body has proteins that try to repair the damaged DNA. Veliparib may prevent these proteins from repairing the DNA so that carboplatin may be able to kill more tumor cells. Giving veliparib with carboplatin may kill more tumor cells than carboplatin alone.

177Lu-DOTATATE for the Treatment of Stage IV or Recurrent Breast Cancer

This phase II trial investigates how well 177Lu-DOTATATE works in treating patients with breast cancer that is stage IV or has come back (recurrent). 177Lu-DOTATATE may shrink or destroy the tumor or circulating breast cancer stem cells if they show evidence of the SSTR2. 177Lu-DOTATATE is a targeted therapy that uses DOTATATE, linked to a radioactive agent called 177Lu. DOTATATE attaches to tumor cells with SSTR2 and delivers 177Lu to kill them. Giving 177Lu-DOTATATE may help decrease the number and size of tumors and the number of circulating cancer stem cells in patient's blood for the treatment of patients with breast cancer positive for SSTR2.

Bevacizumab and Temsirolimus Alone or in Combination With Valproic Acid or Cetuximab in Treating Patients With Advanced or Metastatic Malignancy or Other Benign Disease

This phase I trial studies the side effects and best dose of bevacizumab and temsirolimus alone or in combination with valproic acid or cetuximab in treating patients with a malignancy that has spread to other places in the body or other disease that is not cancerous. Immunotherapy with bevacizumab and cetuximab, may induce changes in body's immune system and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Temsirolimus may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as valproic acid, 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 bevacizumab and temsirolimus work better when given alone or with valproic acid or cetuximab in treating patients with a malignancy or other disease that is not cancerous.

S1501 Dual Observational and Randomized Cohort Study of Patients With Metastatic HER-2+ Breast Cancer at Risk of Cardiac Toxicity

This trial has two cohorts of patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER)-2-positive breast cancer that has spread to other places in the body. All patients must be receiving trastuzumab-based treatment. Both cohorts are being observed for cardiac toxicity. The largest cohort (currently open to accrual) is observational, and contains patients who are taking a beta blocker, ACE inhibitor, or ARB as well as their trastuzumab-based treatment. The goal is to understand how common cardiac problems are in this group of patients at high risk. The smaller cohort (currently closed to accrual) is randomized. Patients in this second cohort are randomized to either carvedilol or no treatment, with the goal of seeing whether carvedilol (used to treat heart failure and high blood pressure) may prevent the heart from side effects of chemotherapy.

Preoperative Partial Breast Reirradiation and Repeat Breast-conserving Surgery in Patients With Recurrent Breast Cancer: the REPEAT Trial

Over the past decades, interest in second breast-conserving therapy (BCT) has increased due to, among others, advancements in radiotherapy techniques. Preoperative partial breast irradiation (PBI) is an experimental treatment for patients with low-risk primary breast cancer. This approach can downstage the tumor, and may possibly reduce toxicity and improve cosmetic outcomes compared to postoperative radiotherapy. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility of single-dose preoperative PBI and second breast-conserving surgery (BCS) for patients with an ipsilateral recurrent breast event (IRBE) after previous BCT. The REPEAT trial is a multicenter, prospective, single-arm trial investigating ablative single-dose preoperative PBI in patients with an IRBE. Eligible patients are ≥ 50 years, have a unifocal non-lobular invasive breast cancer ≤ 2 cm, Bloom-Richardson grade 1 or 2, estrogen receptor-positive, HER2-negative and clinically negative axillary lymph nodes. The study plans to enroll 25 patients. Radiotherapy planning will involve the use of CT and MRI in the treatment position. Single-dose PBI of 20 Gy to the tumor and 15 Gy to the surrounding 2 cm of breast tissue will be delivered using a conventional or MR-guided linear accelerator. Tumor response will be monitored preoperatively using MRI and liquid biopsies to identify biomarkers for evaluating radiosensitivity. BCS will be performed 3 weeks post-PBI. The primary endpoint is the incidence of grade 2 or higher treatment-associated acute toxicity within 90 days. Secondary endpoints include the evaluation of acute (grade 1) and late toxicity, radiologic and pathologic response, mastectomy rate, patient-reported outcomes, cosmetic outcome, local, regional and distant recurrence rates, survival outcome, and biomarkers in liquid biopsies and tumor tissue. Patients will be followed up to 5 years after PBI. This trial will evaluate the feasibility of single-dose preoperative PBI and BCS for patients with IRBE. This treatment approach is expected to minimize the irradiated volume, reduce toxicity, and improve cosmetic outcomes compared to postoperative PBI after second BCS. Identifying biomarkers for radiosensitivity will help in selection patients and tailoring treatment.

Testing the Addition of Copanlisib to Usual Treatment (Fulvestrant and Abemaciclib) in Metastatic Breast Cancer

This phase I trial studies the effects (good and bad) of adding copanlisib to the usual therapy of fulvestrant and abemaciclib in treating patients with hormone receptor positive and HER2 negative breast cancer that has spread from where it first started (breast) to other places in the body (metastatic). Some breast cancer cells have receptors for the hormones estrogen or progesterone. These cells are hormone receptor positive and they need estrogen or progesterone to grow. This can affect how the cancer is treated. Hormone therapy using fulvestrant may fight breast cancer by blocking the use of estrogen by the tumor cells. Abemaciclib and copanlisib may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Adding copanlisib to the usual therapy of fulvestrant and abemaciclib may work better than giving fulvestrant and abemaciclib alone in treating patients with breast cancer.

Nab-Paclitaxel in Treating Older Patients With Locally Advanced or Metastatic Breast Cancer

This phase II trial studies the side effects of nab-paclitaxel in treating older patients with breast cancer that has spread from where it started to nearby tissue or lymph nodes (locally advanced) or to other places in the body (metastatic). Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as nab-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.

Avelumab With Binimetinib, Sacituzumab Govitecan, or Liposomal Doxorubicin in Treating Stage IV or Unresectable, Recurrent Triple Negative Breast Cancer

This phase II trial studies how well the combination of avelumab with liposomal doxorubicin with or without binimetinib, or the combination of avelumab with sacituzumab govitecan works in treating patients with triple negative breast cancer that is stage IV or is not able to be removed by surgery (unresectable) and has come back (recurrent). Immunotherapy with checkpoint inhibitors like avelumab require activation of the patient's immune system. This trial includes a two week induction or lead-in of medications that can stimulate the immune system. It is our hope that this induction will improve the response to immunotherapy with avelumab. One treatment, sacituzumab Govitecan, is a monoclonal antibody called sacituzumab linked to a chemotherapy drug called SN-38. Sacituzumab govitecan is a form of targeted therapy because it attaches to specific molecules (receptors) on the surface of tumor cells, known as Tumor-associated calcium signal transducer 2 (TROP2) receptors, and delivers SN-38 to kill them. Another treatment, liposomal doxorubicin, is a form of the anticancer drug doxorubicin that is contained in very tiny, fat-like particles. It may have fewer side effects and work better than doxorubicin, and may enhance factors associated with immune response. The third medication is called binimetinib, which may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth, and may help activate the immune system. It is not yet known whether giving avelumab in combination with liposomal doxorubicin with or without binimetinib, or the combination of avelumab with sacituzumab govitecan will work better in treating patients with triple negative breast cancer.

Genetic Analysis in Blood and Tumor Samples From Patients With Advanced or Metastatic Estrogen Receptor Positive and HER2 Negative Breast Cancer Receiving Palbociclib and Endocrine Therapy

This research trial studies genetic profiles in blood and tumor samples from patients with estrogen receptor positive and HER2 negative breast cancer that has spread to other places in the body who are receiving palbociclib and endocrine therapy. Examining the genetic changes associated with the cancer and comparing the genetic material from the cancer tissue with the genetic material found in the blood may help doctors to develop customized treatment for breast cancer.

Pembrolizumab and Carboplatin in Treating Patients With Circulating Tumor Cells Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer

The purpose of the study is to evaluate the impact on progression-free survival (PFS) with the combination carboplatin - pembrolizumab in patients with CTC (circulating tumor cells) positive, HER2 negative metastatic breast cancer previously treated with anthracyclines and taxanes. Previous studies have indicated that recurrent breast cancers are more resistant to chemotherapy and maybe associated with a weak immune system. This study is investigating the use of an immune therapy drug, pembrolizumab, that has the ability to restore the capacity of controlling and killing cancer cells of an important component of your immune system called T-cells. Pembrolizumab has been found effective in other types of cancer and has already been approved by FDA for those indications, but the efficacy in breast cancer is still unknown. In this study, pembrolizumab will be combined with chemotherapy to increase the cancer cell killing. There is no control or placebo treatment in this study.