Clinical Research Directory

Cabozantinib-S-Malate in Treating Younger Patients With Recurrent, Refractory, or Newly Diagnosed Sarcomas, Wilms Tumor, or Other Rare Tumors

This phase II trial studies how well cabozantinib-s-malate works in treating younger patients with sarcomas, Wilms tumor, or other rare tumors that have come back, do not respond to therapy, or are newly diagnosed. Cabozantinib-s-malate may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for tumor growth and tumor blood vessel growth.

Feasibility Study on the Effect of a Methionine-Reduced Diet on Serum Levels in Pts w/ Solid Tumors

This is a pilot clinical trial determining the effect of a Methionine-reduced diet on serum levels in subjects with solid tumors. These are subjects who will receive systemic standard of care cancer therapy.

VITAS: Atezolizumab in Combination With Chemotherapy for Pediatric Relapsed/Refractory Solid Tumors

This trial is a multi-center, non-randomized, open-label Phase I/II study evaluating the feasibility and efficacy of vincristine, irinotecan, temozolomide, and atezolizumab in children with relapsed/refractory solid tumors.

Combination Chemotherapy With or Without Temsirolimus in Treating Patients With Intermediate Risk Rhabdomyosarcoma

This randomized phase III trial studies how well combination chemotherapy (vincristine sulfate, dactinomycin, cyclophosphamide alternated with vincristine sulfate and irinotecan hydrochloride or vinorelbine) works compared to combination chemotherapy plus temsirolimus in treating patients with rhabdomyosarcoma (cancer that forms in the soft tissues, such as muscle), and has an intermediate chance of coming back after treatment (intermediate risk). Drugs used 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. Combination chemotherapy and temsirolimus may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. It is not yet known whether chemotherapy plus temsirolimus is more effective than chemotherapy alone in treating patients with intermediate-risk rhabdomyosarcoma.

Selective Antigen Specific T Cells and CAR T Cells in Subjects With Relapsed/Refractory Embryonal Tumors (SABRE)

This is a phase I dose-escalation study to determine the safety and feasibility of autologous CAR-TA T cells (B7-H3 CAR+ T cells administered with DNR-PRAME Tumor Antigen-specific T cells) following lymphodepleting chemotherapy in participants with relapsed/refractory rhabdomyosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, neuroblastoma and Wilms tumor. Patients will be enrolled to one of three planned dose levels with B7-H3 CAR T cell dose determined based on the percentage of B7-H3 transduced cells (B7-H3+ population of cells), and dTBRII-transduced PRAME TA-specific T cell dose based on the total cell population. Both doses will be based on the recipient's body weight. The safety of the CAR-TA T cell product will be evaluated and the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) will be determined. The safety endpoint will be assessed by monitoring for dose limiting toxicities for 28 days following CAR-TA T cell administration.

B7-H3-Specific Chimeric Antigen Receptor Autologous T-Cell Therapy for Pediatric Patients With Solid Tumors (3CAR)

3CAR is being done to investigate an immunotherapy for patients with solid tumors. It is a Phase I clinical trial evaluating the use of autologous T cells genetically engineered to express B7-H3-CARs for patients ≤ 21 years old, with relapsed/refractory B7-H3+ solid tumors. This study will evaluate the safety and maximum tolerated dose of B7-H3-CAR T cells.The purpose of this study is to find the maximum (highest) dose of B7-H3-CAR T cells that are safe to give to patients with B7-H3-positive solid tumors. Primary objective To determine the safety of one intravenous infusion of autologous, B7-H3-CAR T cells in patients (≤ 21 years) with recurrent/refractory B7-H3+ solid tumors after lymphodepleting chemotherapy Secondary objective To evaluate the antitumor activity of B7-H3-CAR T cells Exploratory objectives * To evaluate the tumor environment after treatment with B7-H3-CAR T cells * To assess the immunophenotype, clonal structure and endogenous repertoire of B7-H3-CAR T cells and unmodified T cells * To characterize the cytokine profile in the peripheral blood after treatment with B7-H3-CAR T cells

Flavored, Oral Irinotecan VAL-413 (Orotecan®) Given With Temozolomide for Treatment of Recurrent Pediatric Solid Tumors

A pilot pharmacokinetic trial to determine the safety and efficacy of a flavored, orally administered irinotecan VAL-413 (Orotecan®) given with temozolomide for treatment of recurrent pediatric solid tumors including but not limited to neuroblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, hepatoblastoma and medulloblastoma

Personalized Vaccination in Fusion+ Sarcoma Patients (PerVision)

The PerVision trial utilizes an approach of a patient-individual cancer vaccine with sarcoma-specific peptides in metastasized fusion-driven sarcoma patients determined by next generation whole exome sequencing of tumor and normal tissue as well as RNA sequencing of the tumor. This approach is applicable to all patients independent of the expression of distinct tumor associated antigens, and independent of their human leukocyte antigen-typing (HLA-typing). The results of this study can directly be translated to other tumor entities. It is an interventional, multicenter, open-label, phase I/II feasibility and early proof of concept study evaluating a personalized peptide vaccine. Primary objective is to evaluate safety and success of treatment, the latter be defined as vaccination-induced T-cell response without unacceptable toxicity.

Phase I Trial to Determine the Dose and Evaluate the PK and Safety of Lutetium Lu 177 Edotreotide Therapy in Pediatric Participants With SSTR-positive Tumors

The purpose of the study is to determine the appropriate pediatric dosage and evaluate the pharmacokinetics (PK) and safety of Lutetium Lu 177 Edotreotide Targeted Radiopharmaceutical Therapy (RPT) as a monotherapy or following standard of care (SoC) in participants ≥2 to \<18 years of age with somatostatin receptor (SSTR)-positive tumors.

Molecular-Functional Imaging of Hypoxia in Childhood Sarcomas

This study will test the feasibility of using novel/existing imaging technologies focused on hypoxia measurements to determine "response to therapy" in pediatric soft tissue sarcomas as a pilot study. Specifically, the investigators will compare the sensitivity of Blood Oxygen Level Dependent \[BOLD\], Diffusion-Weighted \[DW\] MRI and Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) with that of conventional MRI to detect measurement changes between the start and completion of neoadjuvant therapy ("response to therapy") in children and adolescents (6-18 years) with suspicion of sarcoma tumors. Clinicians and scientists may use results of the proposed hypoxia-imaging surrogate markers to adjust/modify therapeutic schemes to patients on a personalized basis.

B7H3 CAR T Cell Immunotherapy for Recurrent/Refractory Solid Tumors in Children and Young Adults

This is a phase I, open-label, non-randomized study that will enroll pediatric and young adult research participants with relapsed or refractory non-CNS solid tumors to evaluate the safety, feasibility, and efficacy of administering T cell products derived from the research participant's blood that have been genetically modified to express a B7H3-specific receptor (chimeric antigen receptor, or CAR) that will target and kill solid tumors that express B7H3. On Arm A of the study, research participants will receive B7H3-specific CAR T cells only. On Arm B of the study, research participants will receive CAR T cells directed at B7H3 and CD19, a marker on the surface of B lymphocytes, following the hypothesis that CD19+ B cells serving in their normal role as antigen presenting cells to T cells will promote the expansion and persistence of the CAR T cells. Arm A CAR T cells include the protein EGFRt and Arm B CAR T cells include the protein HER2tG. These proteins can be used to both track and destroy the CAR T cells in case of undue toxicity. The primary objectives of the study will be to determine the feasibility of manufacturing the cell products, the safety of the T cell product infusion, to determine the maximum tolerated dose of the CAR T cells products, to describe the full toxicity profile of each product, and determine the persistence of the modified cell in the participant's body on each arm. Participants will receive a single dose of T cells comprised of two different subtypes of T cells (CD4 and CD8 T cells) felt to benefit one another once administered to the research participants for improved potential therapeutic effect. The secondary objectives of this protocol are to study the number of modified cells in the patients and the duration they continue to be at detectable levels. The investigators will also quantitate anti-tumor efficacy on each arm. Participants who experience significant and potentially life-threatening toxicities (other than clinically manageable toxicities related to T cells working, called cytokine release syndrome) will receive infusions of cetuximab (an antibody commercially available that targets EGFRt) or trastuzumab (an antibody commercially available that targets HER2tG) to assess the ability of the EGFRt on the T cells to be an effective suicide mechanism for the elimination of the transferred T cell products.

Risk-Adapted Focal Proton Beam Radiation and/or Surgery in Patients With Low, Intermediate and High Risk Rhabdomyosarcoma Receiving Standard or Intensified Chemotherapy

This study will treat participants with newly diagnosed, low, intermediate and high risk rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) using multi-modality risk-adapted therapy with standard or intensified dose chemotherapy, radiation and surgical resection. Intermediate and high risk participants will receive an additional 12 weeks (4 cycles) of maintenance therapy with anti-angiogenic chemotherapy. PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: * Estimate event-free survival for intermediate risk participants treated with vincristine, dactinomycin and cyclophosphamide with the addition of maintenance anti-angiogenic therapy. SECONDARY OBJECTIVES: * Estimate the false negative rate and incidence of additional positive lymph nodes in participants undergoing sentinel lymph node biopsy followed by limited nodal dissection. * Maintain a high local control rate in participants treated with surgery and/or limited volume proton and photon radiation without dose escalation. * Define the incidence and type of failure in participants who receive risk-adapted local therapy relative to the primary tumor volume. * Establish the feasibility of delivering 4 cycles of maintenance anti-angiogenic chemotherapy in intermediate and high risk patients following standard chemotherapy. * Estimate the event free survival for high risk patients receiving interval dose compressed therapy and maintenance anti-angiogenic therapy. * Define the incidence of CTC grade 3 and higher toxicities (and specific grade 1-2 toxicities) related to proton beam therapy.

Methionine PET/CT Studies In Patients With Cancer

The purpose of this study is to test the usefulness of imaging with radiolabeled methionine in the evaluation of children and young adults with tumor(s). Methionine is a naturally occurring essential amino acid. It is crucial for the formation of proteins. When labeled with carbon-11 (C-11), a radioactive isotope of the naturally occurring carbon-12, the distribution of methionine can be determined noninvasively using a PET (positron emission tomography) camera. C-11 methionine (MET) has been shown valuable in the monitoring of a large number of neoplasms. Since C-11 has a short half life (20 minutes), MET must be produced in a facility very close to its intended use. Thus, it is not widely available and is produced only at select institutions with access to a cyclotron and PET chemistry facility. With the new availability of short lived tracers produced by its PET chemistry unit, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (St. Jude) is one of only a few facilities with the capabilities and interests to evaluate the utility of PET scanning in the detection of tumors, evaluation of response to therapy, and distinction of residual tumor from scar tissue in patients who have completed therapy. The investigators propose to examine the biodistribution of MET in patients with malignant solid neoplasms, with emphasis on central nervous system (CNS) tumors and sarcomas. This project introduces a new diagnostic test for the noninvasive evaluation of neoplasms in pediatric oncology. Although not the primary purpose of this proposal, the investigators anticipate that MET studies will provide useful clinical information for the management of patients with malignant neoplasms.

Familial Investigations of Childhood Cancer Predisposition

NOTE: This is a research study and is not meant to be a substitute for clinical genetic testing. Families may never receive results from the study or may receive results many years from the time they enroll. If you are interested in clinical testing please consider seeing a local genetic counselor or other genetics professional. If you have already had clinical genetic testing and meet eligibility criteria for this study as shown in the Eligibility Section, you may enroll regardless of the results of your clinical genetic testing. While it is well recognized that hereditary factors contribute to the development of a subset of human cancers, the cause for many cancers remains unknown. The application of next generation sequencing (NGS) technologies has expanded knowledge in the field of hereditary cancer predisposition. Currently, more than 100 cancer predisposing genes have been identified, and it is now estimated that approximately 10% of all cancer patients have an underlying genetic predisposition. The purpose of this protocol is to identify novel cancer predisposing genes and/or genetic variants. For this study, the investigators will establish a Data Registry linked to a Repository of biological samples. Health information, blood samples and occasionally leftover tumor samples will be collected from individuals with familial cancer. The investigators will use NGS approaches to find changes in genes that may be important in the development of familial cancer. The information gained from this study may provide new and better ways to diagnose and care for people with hereditary cancer. PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: * Establish a registry of families with clustering of cancer in which clinical data are linked to a repository of cryopreserved blood cells, germline DNA, and tumor tissues from the proband and other family members. SECONDARY OBJECTIVE: * Identify novel cancer predisposing genes and/or genetic variants in families with clustering of cancer for which the underlying genetic basis is unknown.

Integration of Adaptive Proton Therapy in Pediatric Solid Tumors and Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Pediatric patients receiving proton therapy for solid tumors or Hodgkin's lymphoma may experience anatomical changes during treatment that can affect proton therapy accuracy. This prospective single-arm study uses regular low-dose imaging to monitor these changes and adjust treatment plans as needed. Participants will receive weekly or every-other-week CT scans, with MRI when appropriate, to assess whether the original plan remains accurate. Treatment plans will be updated if tumor coverage decreases by more than 5% or if radiation dose to normal tissues increases by more than 10%; otherwise, the original plan will continue. The study aims to determine how often plan adjustments are needed and to identify which disease sites are most likely to experience significant anatomical changes during treatment. Primary Objective: * Define the frequency of replanning necessary to ensure tumor coverage never falls below 95% (or 5% drop) of the prescribed daily dose in participants with intact (gross) tumors to keep the tumor control optimal throughout the multi-week treatment regimen. * Define the frequency of replanning necessary to ensure organs-at-risk (critical organs) do not deviate by more than 10% of the initially approved dose constraints to keep the normal tissue complication minimal throughout the multi-week treatment regimen. Secondary Objectives * Establish a cone beam CT (CBCT)-based framework for quantifying body surface changes throughout the treatment course. This goal will be achieved by developing a novel algorithm that detects and tracks external anatomical variations longitudinally, without requiring CBCT image enhancement, enabling precise assessment of daily participant setup consistency and anatomical stability. * Overcome daily CBCT quality limitations by generating synthetic CT images that accurately represent daily anatomy and support proton dose recalculation or verification planning. This goal will be achieved by developing a hybrid pipeline that integrates deep learning models with the deformable image registration algorithm, trained and validated on disease site-specific data. This will enable precise dose mapping and tissue density estimation, directly supporting adaptive planning decisions without the need of diagnostic- quality CT images.

Tumor-Lymph Node Mapping

The purpose of this study is to assess the feasibility and safety of ICG-guided intraoperative lymphography for detecting sentinel lymph nodes (SLN) in pediatric patients with solid tumors who require retroperitoneal lymph node dissection/sampling. This trial is a single-site cross-sectional study. The injection of ICG directly into lymphatics draining the primary tumor will take place at the time of operation after the patient is under anesthesia.

Targeted Oligometastatic Radiation in Pediatric and Young Adult Patients With Soft Tissue and Bone Sarcoma

This study is designed for children, adolescents and young adults undergoing radiation therapy for metastatic sarcoma. The aim of the study is to investigate if the investigators can improve the overall survival of these patients by targeting metastatic sites with radiation.

Vorinostat in Combination With Chemotherapy in Relapsed/Refractory Solid Tumors and CNS Malignancies

Investigators are testing new experimental drug combinations such as the combination of vorinostat, vincristine, irinotecan, and temozolomide in the hopes of finding a drug that may be effective against tumors that have come back or that have not responded to standard therapy. The goals of this study are: * To find the highest safe dose of vorinostat that can be given together with vincristine, irinotecan, and temozolomide without causing severe side effects; * To learn what kind of side effects this four drug combination can cause; * To learn about the effects of vorinostat and the combination of vorinostat, vincristine, irinotecan, and temozolomide on specific molecules in tumor cells; * To determine whether the combination of vorinosat, vincristine, irinotecan, and temozolomide is a beneficial treatment.

Silmitasertib (CX-4945) in Combination With Chemotherapy for Relapsed Refractory Solid Tumors

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the investigational drug, silmitasertib (a pill taken by mouth), in combination with FDA approved drugs for solid tumors. An investigational drug is one that has not been approved by the U.S. Food \& Drug Administration (FDA), or any other regulatory authorities around the world for use alone or in combination with any drug, for the condition or illness it is being used to treat. The goals of this part of the study are: * Establish a recommended dose of silmitasertib in combination with chemotherapy * Test the safety and tolerability of silmitasertib in combination with chemotherapy in subjects with cancer * To determine the activity of study treatments chosen based on: * How each subject responds to the study treatment * How long a subject lives without their disease returning/progressing

my.naviGATE: A Guide to After-Treatment Effects for Adolescents and Young Adults

This study aims to design and test a novel, personalized digital intervention-my.naviGATE-for adolescent and young adults (AYA) with cancer. my.naviGATE is a mobile app that provides personalized survivorship education, access to virtual peer navigation, and responsive participant-reported outcomes (PROs).

Study of Autologous Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes in Pediatric, Adolescent, and Young Adult Participants

This study is planned to test the safety and tolerability of the TIL regimen. The study will also test how well TIL fights cancer. The study will enroll children, teenagers, and young adults with solid tumors that have returned or are not responding to treatment for whom no effective standard-of-care treatment options exist. Study details include: * The study will last up to 2 years after the TIL infusion (Day 0) for each person. * The treatment will last up to 10 days for each person. * Study visits will be every 2 weeks until Day 42, every 6 weeks until Month 6, and every 3 months until Year 2.

Interleukin-15 and -21 Armored Glypican-3-specific Chimeric Antigen Receptor Expressed in T Cells for Pediatric Solid Tumors

Patients may be considered if the cancer has come back, has not gone away after standard treatment or the patient cannot receive standard treatment. This research study uses special immune system cells called CARE T cells, a new experimental treatment. The body has different ways of fighting infection and disease. No single way seems perfect for fighting cancers. This research study combines two different ways of fighting cancer: antibodies and T cells. Antibodies are types of proteins that protect the body from infectious diseases and possibly cancer. T cells, also called T lymphocytes, are special infection-fighting blood cells that can kill other cells, including cells infected with viruses and tumor cells. Both antibodies and T cells have been used to treat patients with cancers. They have shown promise, but have not been strong enough to cure most patients. Investigators have found from previous research that they can put a new gene (a tiny part of what makes-up DNA and carries a person's traits) into T cells that will make them recognize cancer cells and kill them. In the lab, investigators made several genes called a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR), from an antibody called GPC3. The antibody GPC3 recognizes a protein found solid tumors including pediatric liver cancers. This CAR is called GPC3-CAR. To make this CAR more effective, investigators also added two genes that includes IL15 and IL21, which are protein that helps CAR T cells grow better and stay in the blood longer so that they may kill tumors better. The mixture of GPC3-CAR and IL15 plus IL21 killed tumor cells better in the laboratory when compared with CAR T cells that did not have IL15 plus IL21 .This study will test T cells that investigators made (called genetic engineering) with GPC3-CAR and the IL15 plus IL21 (CARE T cells) in patients with GPC3-positive solid tumors. T cells made to carry a gene called iCasp9 can be killed when they encounter a specific drug called AP1903. The investigators will insert the iCasp9 and IL15 plus IL21 together into the T cells using a virus that has been made for this study. The drug (AP1903) is an experimental drug that has been tested in humans with no bad side-effects. The investigators will use this drug to kill the T cells if necessary due to side effects. This study will test T cells genetically engineered with a GPC3-CAR and IL15 plus IL21 (CARE T cells) in patients with GPC3-positive solid tumors. The CARE T cells are an investigational product not approved by the Food and Drug Administration. The purpose of this study is to find the biggest dose of CARE T cells that is safe, to see how long they last in the body, to learn what the side effects are and to see if the CARE T cells will help people with GPC3-positive solid tumors.

Dose Escalation Study of CLR 131 in Pediatric Relapsed/Refractory Malignant Tumors Including Neuroblastoma and Sarcomas

The study evaluates CLR 131 in children, adolescents, and young adults with relapsed or refractory malignant solid tumors and lymphoma and recurrent or refractory malignant brain tumors for which there are no standard treatment options with curative potential.

FGFR4 Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T Cells in Children and Young Adults With Recurrent or Refractory Rhabdomyosarcoma

Background: Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a cancer of soft tissues. It is the most common soft tissue sarcoma seen in children. RMS cancer cells have a protein called FGFR4 on their surface. Researchers want to try a new kind of treatment for RMS: They will collect a person s own T cells, a type of immune cell; then they will change the T cells so they are better able to target the FGFR4 protein and attack RMS tumor cells. The modified T cells are chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells. The treatment in this study is called FGFR4-CAR T cells. Objective: To test FGFR4-CAR T cells in children and young adults with RMS. Eligibility: People aged 3 to 39 years with RMS. The RMS must have failed to respond or returned after at least 2 rounds of standard treatment. Design: Participants will be screened. They will have physical exam, imaging scans, blood tests, and tests of their heart. They may have a tissue sample taken from their tumor. They will undergo apheresis: Blood will be taken from the body through a catheter. The blood will pass through a machine that separates out the T cells, and the remaining blood will be returned to the body. The collected T cells will be taken to a lab to create FGFR4-CAR T cells. Once the FGFR4-CART cells are ready, participants can receive these T cells. For 4 days they will receive drugs to prepare their body for the FGFR4-CAR T cells. After this, the modified T cells will be infused into a vein. Participants will be then monitored closely to watch for any side effects from the CART cells and be followed to see what effect the CART cells have on their tumors. They will have follow-up visits for up to 5 years. Long-term follow-up will be another 10 years.