Clinical Research Directory

Testing the Combination of Two Anti-cancer Drugs, DS-8201a and AZD6738, for The Treatment of Advanced Solid Tumors Expressing the HER2 Protein or Gene, The DASH Trial

The dose escalation phase of this trial identifies the safety, side effects and best dose of ceralasertib (AZD6738) when given in combination with trastuzumab deruxtecan (DS-8201a) in treating patients with solid tumors that have a change (mutation) in the HER2 gene or protein and have spread to other places in the body (advanced). The dose expansion phase (phase Ib) of this trial compares how colorectal and gastroesophageal cancers with HER2 mutation respond to treatment with a combination of ceralasertib and trastuzumab deruxtecan versus trastuzumab deruxtecan alone. Ceralasertib may stop the growth of tumor cells and may kill them by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Trastuzumab deruxtecan is a monoclonal antibody, called trastuzumab, linked to a chemotherapy drug, called deruxtecan. Trastuzumab attaches to HER2 positive cancer cells in a targeted way and delivers deruxtecan to kill them. Ceralasertib and trastuzumab deruxtecan may be safe, tolerable and effective in treating patients with advanced solid tumors expressing the HER2 protein or gene.

Testing the Use of Ado-Trastuzumab Emtansine Compared to the Usual Treatment (Chemotherapy With Docetaxel Plus Trastuzumab) or Trastuzumab Deruxtecan for Recurrent, Metastatic, or Unresectable HER2-Expressing Salivary Gland Cancers

This phase II trial compares the effect of usual treatment of docetaxel chemotherapy plus trastuzumab, to ado-emtansine (T-DM1) in patients with HER2-postive salivary gland cancer that has come back (recurrent), that has spread from where it first started (primary site) to other places in the body, or cannot be removed by surgery (unresectable). This trial is also testing how well trastuzumab deruxtecan works in treating patients with HER2-low recurrent or metastatic salivary gland cancer. Trastuzumab is a form of targeted therapy because it works by attaching itself to specific molecules (receptors) on the surface of cancer cells, known as HER2 receptors. When trastuzumab attaches to HER2 receptors, the signals that tell the cells to grow are blocked and the cancer cell may be marked for destruction by body's immune system. Trastuzumab emtansine contains trastuzumab, linked to a chemotherapy drug called emtansine. Trastuzumab attaches to HER2 positive cancer cells in a targeted way and delivers emtansine to kill them. Trastuzumab deruxtecan is a monoclonal antibody called traztuzumab, linked to a chemotherapy drug called deruxtecan. Trastuzumab is a form of targeted therapy because it attaches to specific molecules (receptors) on the surface of cancer cells, known as HER2 receptors and delivers deruxtecan to kill them. Docetaxel is in a class of medications called taxanes. It stops cancer cells from growing and dividing and may kill them. Trastuzumab emtansine may work better compared to usual treatment of chemotherapy with docetaxel and trastuzumab or trastuzumab deruxtecan in treating patients with recurrent, metastatic or unresectable salivary gland cancer.

Testing the Addition of an Anti-cancer Drug, BAY 1895344, With Radiation Therapy to the Usual Pembrolizumab Treatment for Recurrent Head and Neck Cancer

This phase I trial evaluates the best dose, possible benefits and/or side effects of combination therapy with elimusertib (BAY 1895344), stereotactic body radiation, and pembrolizumab in treating patients with head and neck squamous cell cancer that has come back (recurrent) and cannot be removed by surgery (unresectable). BAY 1895344 may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Stereotactic body radiation therapy uses special equipment to position a patient and deliver radiation to tumors with high precision. This method may kill tumor cells with fewer doses over a shorter period and cause less damage to normal tissue. Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as pembrolizumab, may help the body's immune system attack the cancer, and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Giving BAY 1895344, stereotactic body radiation therapy in combination with pembrolizumab may shrink or stabilize head and neck squamous cell cancer for longer than treatment with radiation and immunotherapy without BAY 1895344.