Clinical Research Directory

Study of Chemotherapy, With or Without Binimetinib in Advanced Biliary Tract Cancers in 2nd Line Setting (A ComboMATCH Treatment Trial)

This phase II ComboMATCH treatment trial compares the usual treatment of modified leucovorin, fluorouracil and oxaliplatin (mFOLFOX6) chemotherapy to using binimetinib plus mFOLFOX6 chemotherapy to shrink tumors in patients with biliary tract cancers that have spread to other places in the body (advanced) and had progression of cancer after previous treatments (2nd line setting). Fluorouracil is in a class of medications called antimetabolites. It works by slowing or stopping the growth of cancer cells in the body. Oxaliplatin is in a class of medications called platinum-containing antineoplastic agents. It works by killing tumor cells. Leucovorin may help the other drugs in the mFOLFOX6 chemotherapy regimen work better by making tumor cells more sensitive to the drugs. Binimetinib is in a class of medications called kinase inhibitors. It works by blocking the action of the abnormal protein that signals tumor cells to multiply. This helps to stop or slow the spread of tumor cells. Giving binimetinib in combination with mFOLFOX6 chemotherapy may be effective in shrinking or stabilizing advanced biliary tract cancers in the 2nd line setting.

Pressurized Intraperitoneal Aerosolized Nab-Paclitaxel in Combination With Gemcitabine and Cisplatin for the Treatment of Biliary Tract Cancer Patients With Peritoneal Metastases

This phase I trial studies the side effects of pressurized intraperitoneal aerosolized chemotherapy (PIPAC) nab-paclitaxel in combination with gemcitabine and cisplatin in treating patients with biliary tract cancer that has spread to the peritoneum (peritoneal metastases). PIPAC involves the administration of intraperitoneal chemotherapy (anticancer drugs given directly to the lining of the abdomen). PIPAC uses a nebulizer (a device that turns liquids into a fine mist) which is connected to a high-pressure injector and inserted into the abdomen (part of the body that contains the digestive organs) during a laparoscopic procedure (a surgery using small incisions to introduce air and insert a camera and other instruments into the abdominal cavity for diagnosis and/or to perform routine surgical procedures). Pressurization of the liquid chemotherapy through the study device results in aerosolization (a fine mist or spray) of the chemotherapy intra-abdominally (into the abdomen), which results in the drug reaching more of the tissue as well as reaching deeper into the tissue, which reduces the amount of chemotherapy that needs to be used and potentially reduces side effect. Chemotherapy drugs, such as nab-paclitaxel, gemcitabine, and cisplatin, 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. Giving nab-paclitaxel via PIPAC in combination with standard of care gemcitabine and cisplatin may reduce side effects and make this chemotherapy regimen more tolerable in patients with biliary tract cancer that has spread to the spread to the peritoneum.

Hypofractionated Radiation Therapy and Bintrafusp Alfa for the Treatment of Advanced Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma

This phase I trial is to find out the best dose, possible benefits, and/or side effects of hypofractionated radiation therapy and bintrafusp alfa in treating patients with bile duct cancer that has spread to other places in the body (advanced intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma). Hypofractionated radiation therapy delivers higher doses of radiation therapy over a shorter period of time and may kill more tumor cells and have fewer side effects. Immunotherapy with bintrafusp alfa, a bifunctional fusion protein composed of the monoclonal antibody avelumab and TGF-beta, may help the body's immune system attack the cancer, and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. The combination of hypofractionated radiation therapy and bintrafusp alfa may help to control intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

Sacituzumab Govitecan for the Treatment for Patients With Locally Advanced, Recurrent, or Metastatic Cholangiocarcinoma

This phase II trial tests how well sacituzumab govitecan works in treating patients with cholangiocarcinoma that has spread to nearby tissue or lymph nodes (locally advanced), that has come back after a period of improvement (recurrent) or that has spread from where it first started (primary site) to other places in the body (metastatic). Sacituzumab govitecan is a monoclonal antibody, called hRS7, linked to a toxic agent, called SN-38. HRS7 is a form of targeted therapy because it attaches to specific molecules (receptors) on the surface of tumor cells, known as TROP2 receptors, and delivers SN-38 to kill them.

Modified Immune Cells (Autologous Dendritic Cells) and a Vaccine (Prevnar) Combined With Immune Checkpoint Inhibition After High-Dose External Beam Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Unresectable Liver Cancer

This early phase I trial studies the side effects of autologous dendritic cells and a vaccine called Prevnar in combination with immune checkpoint inhibition (with bevacizumab and atezolizumab or druvalumab) in treating patients liver cancer that cannot be removed by surgery (unresectable) after undergoing standard high-dose external beam radiotherapy. Autologous dendritic cells are immune cells generated from patients' own white blood cells that are grown in a special lab and trained to stimulate the immune system to destroy tumor cells. A pneumonia vaccine called Prevnar may also help stimulate the immune system. Bevacizumab is in a class of medications called antiangiogenic agents. It works by stopping the formation of blood vessels that bring oxygen and nutrients to tumor. This may slow the growth and spread of tumor. Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as atezolizumab and durvalumab, may help the body's immune system attack the tumor, and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Giving autologous dendritic cells and Prevnar in combination with immune checkpoint inhibition after radiotherapy may be safe, and tolerable and may stimulate the body's own immune system to fight against the tumor in patients with unresectable liver cancer.

Testing the Combination of Pevonedistat With Chemotherapy for Bile Duct Cancer of the Liver

This phase II trial studies how well pevonedistat alone or in combination with chemotherapy (paclitaxel and carboplatin) works in treating patients with bile duct cancer of the liver. Pevonedistat may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Chemotherapy drugs, such as paclitaxel and carboplatin, 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. This study may help the study doctors find out how well pevonedistat shrinks bile duct cancer of the liver when given alone and when in combination with paclitaxel and carboplatin.

Radioembolization With Tremelimumab and Durvalumab for Locally Advanced Unresectable or Oligo-Metastatic Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma

This phase I trial tests the safety and side effects of yttrium-90 (Y90) radioembolization combined with immunotherapy drugs tremelimumab and durvalumab in treating patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (cancer of the bile ducts in the liver) that has spread to nearby tissue or lymph nodes (locally advanced) and cannot be removed by surgery (unresectable) who are not candidates for curative therapy or that has spread from where it first started (primary side) to multiple other places in the body (oligo-metastatic). Cholangiocarcinoma is a rare but aggressive cancer with limited curative options outside of surgery. Immunotherapy has shown modest benefit in hepatobiliary (liver, bile ducts, and gallbladder) cancers including cholangiocarcinoma. Radioembolization is a type of radiation therapy used to treat liver cancer that is advanced or has come back where tiny beads that hold the radioactive substance (radioisotope) yttrium Y90 are injected into or near the hepatic artery (the main blood vessel that carries blood to the liver). The beads collect in the tumor and the Y90 gives off radiation. This destroys the blood vessels that the tumor needs to grow and kills the tumor cells. A monoclonal antibody is a type of protein that can bind to certain targets in the body, such as molecules that cause the body to make an immune response (antigens). Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as durvalumab and tremelimumab, may help the body's immune system attack the cancer, and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Giving Y90 radioembolization in combination with tremelimumab and durvalumab immunotherapy may be safe and beneficial in treating patients with locally advanced, unresectable or oligo-metastatic intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma who are not candidates for curative therapy.

Testing A New Combination of Anti-cancer Immune Therapies, Atezolizumab and CDX-1127 (Varlilumab) With or Without the Addition of a Third Anti-cancer Drug, Cobimetinib, for Advanced-Stage Biliary Tract Cancer

This phase II trial investigates the effect of combining two immune therapies, atezolizumab and CDX-1127 (varlilumab), with or without cobimetinib, in treating patients with biliary tract cancer that cannot be removed by surgery (unresectable). Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as atezolizumab, may help the body's immune system attack the cancer, and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Varlilumab is an immune agonist antibody that may further strengthen the immune system's attack on the cancer. Cobimetinib is in a class of medications called kinase inhibitors. It works by blocking the action of an abnormal protein that signals cancer cells to multiply. This helps slow or stop the spread of cancer cells. Giving atezolizumab in combination with varlilumab and cobimetinib may work better than atezolizumab and varlilumab alone in treating patients with unresectable biliary tract cancer.

mFOLFIRINOX Followed by Hepatic Arterial Infusion of Floxuridine and Dexamethasone With Systemic mFOLFIRI for Unresectable Liver-dominant Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma

This phase II trial studies the efficacy and safety of systemic induction of mFOLFIRINOX, followed by hepatic arterial infusion (HAI) floxuridine-dexamethasone administered concurrently with systemic mFOLFIRI in treating patients with liver-dominant intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) that cannot be removed by surgery (unresectable). Drugs used in chemotherapy regimens, such as mFOLFIRINOX and mFOLFIRI (Oxaliplatin, Irinotecan, Fluorouracil, Folinic acid, Floxuridine) 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. Delivering chemotherapy via HAI (hepatic arterial infusion) can allow for liver-directed treatment while limiting toxic side effects typically seen with traditional chemotherapy.