Clinical Research Directory

Pilot Study of Bone Mineral Density Changes During Anti-PD-1 Immunotherapy

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized cancer treatment and work by blocking protein interactions that normally prevent the immune system from recognizing and destroying cancer cells. However, these agents, now approved for over 15 types of cancers and for both early-stage and metastatic disease, are capable of causing inflammation in any organ system of the body that can lead to organ damage, dysfunction, and even death in rare cases. Some patients may suffer acute and treatable complications like joint pain, but some may have irreversible complications like hypothyroidism that requires daily, life-long medication. It is therefore important to fully understand the different types of damage ICIs can cause to better monitor patients receiving ICI therapy. A rising concern from recent reports in the literature is that ICIs may weaken bone and increase the risk of fractures. In this study, the investigators aim to characterize how ICIs impact the bone by examining several factors in patients undergoing curative-intent ICI treatment either alone or in combination with chemotherapy: bone mineral density, bone volume, and markers of bone turnover in the blood. The study will use two imaging techniques to assess bone mineral density and volume. DXA (dual X-ray absorptiometry) imaging uses low-dose X-rays to measure how dense (or strong) bones are and is often used to diagnose or assess the risk of osteoporosis. High-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HRpQCT) is a 3D imaging technology that can quantify bone structure and volume and offers high resolution that can be used to assess bone in smaller bones of the peripheral skeleton. The investigators hypothesize that ICI treatment will weaken bones and increase the risk of fractures. As ICI therapy is relatively new, a rising number of patients may be at risk of fractures or have low bone density that is not being monitored because there are no guidelines in place notifying physicians of this potential risk to patients. This is study will provide important preliminary data that will be the basis for larger studies in the future aiming to better monitor and potentially treat bone weakening in patients treated with ICIs to reduce the pain, inconvenience, and complications from fragility fractures.

Safety and Feasibility of Nivolumab-IRDye800CW in Patients With Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC)

This is a phase 1, open-label, single-center study that plans to enroll 40 participants who will undergo surgical resection as SOC for HNSCC. This trial is designed to evaluate the safety of the safety of fluorescently labeled nivolumab (nivo800) as a molecular imaging agent. The study employs a dose-escalation design across four cohorts of 10 participants each. Participants in Cohorts 1-3 will receive an infusion of nivo followed by an infusion of nivo800 prior to standard-of-care surgical resection. The administration of unlabeled nivo will be administered approximately 2-3 weeks before surgery, followed by an administration of nivo800 administered 1-2 days prior to surgery.

Primary Tumor Depth of Invasion and Lymph Node Management in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of preoperative MRI in the determination of the primary tumor depth of invasion (DOI) as a predictor factor in neck lymph nodes management in T1T2N0 oral cavity squamous cell carcinomas as compared to the pathological depth of invasion