Tumor

This research aims to understand how patients with cancer respond to COVID-19 vaccination by studying the levels of protective antibodies over time. The focus is on individuals with solid organ malignancies receiving various anti-cancer treatments such as chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy, as well as those who have been disease-free for at least six months. Since cancer patients were excluded from initial vaccine trials, this study seeks to fill knowledge gaps about vaccine safety and effectiveness in this group. Participants include cancer patients who are either undergoing active treatment or are disease-free for six months or more. They are grouped based on their treatment type: chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, or disease-free status. The study involves monitoring antibody trends related to COVID-19 infection and vaccination at multiple time points over a 12-month period. During the study, researchers will collect blood samples to measure neutralizing and spike antibody levels every three months for up to one year. Participants will be followed to track their immune response depending on their cancer treatment and biological aging status. The study will also assess how antibody levels change over time and correlate with different treatments and patient characteristics. Safety and consent are carefully monitored throughout the trial.

Researchers are conducting the 100-Year Human Aging Study, an observational trial designed to follow participants over their lifespans to investigate which health measurements can predict mortality, serious diseases, and functional disability. The study aims to validate many longevity measures that currently lack prospective evidence by tracking physiological, cognitive, social, and environmental factors that change with aging. This research will generate important data to improve understanding of aging and longevity medicine. Participants undergo comprehensive multi-system clinical screenings including tests like cardiopulmonary exercise testing, body composition assessment by DEXA, echocardiography, electrocardiography, spirometry, neurocognitive testing, sensory assessments, metabolic testing, and detailed medical and social histories. The study allows for different levels of participation, from single tests to full two-visit screening batteries, and encourages repeat testing to capture health changes over time. During the study, participants receive individualized reports including investigational estimates of biological age and predicted cause of death. Researchers collect data on mortality, serious health events, chronic diseases, functional ability, and lifestyle changes through periodic follow-up over many years, potentially up to 100 years. This extensive data collection helps evaluate how well these measurements predict aging outcomes. All data are stored in raw form for future analysis and participants are supported with ongoing contact and opportunities for repeat assessments.

Researchers are evaluating the safety and appropriate dose of increasing levels of the radioactive drug 131I-TLX101, given by intravenous infusion, combined with the best standard care in adults newly diagnosed with glioblastoma, a type of brain cancer. This open-label, single-arm study is conducted across multiple centers and aims to understand how patients tolerate this treatment alongside standard therapies. Participants receive escalating doses of 131I-TLX101 through an intravenous infusion along with the standard chemoradiation therapy known as the Stupp regimen, beginning 3 to 6 weeks after surgical removal of the tumor. The study includes a dose-finding phase to establish the recommended dose, with safety monitored throughout. The radioactive drug is administered in ascending doses, and the study observes participants for up to 62 weeks. During the study, participants will undergo regular safety assessments including laboratory tests of liver and kidney function, monitoring for adverse events, and evaluations of treatment-related toxicities for up to 62 weeks. Researchers will track the incidence and severity of dose-limiting toxicities and treatment-emergent adverse events. Participants must comply with radiation safety guidelines and attend scheduled visits for monitoring. The total study duration from screening until the end is about 62 weeks.

Researchers are evaluating the safety and therapeutic response of a new drug called 177Lu-AB-3PRGD2 in patients with tumors that test positive for Integrin αVβ3. This drug is designed to target these specific tumors, which express this integrin highly, making it a promising option for diagnosis and treatment. The study is an early phase 1, open-label, non-controlled, and non-randomized trial focused on measuring the radiation absorbed dose and therapeutic effects in patients whose tumors show high uptake of the drug. Participants receive a single intravenous dose of 1.48 GBq (40 mCi) of 177Lu-AB-3PRGD2 within one week after a whole-body 68Ga-RGD PET/CT scan to confirm tumor suitability. After treatment, blood samples are collected at multiple time points to measure drug radioactivity. Patients undergo serial whole-body planar and SPECT/CT imaging at several intervals to monitor the radiation distribution and assess the treatment response. During the study, participants will be closely monitored with repeated imaging and blood tests at scheduled times up to 168 hours post-injection. Researchers will analyze the internal radiation dose absorbed by normal organs and tumors and collect data on any adverse events for up to two months. The primary outcome is the standardized uptake value of the drug in both tumors and normal tissues over a one-year period. The study involves adults aged 18 to 80 years with integrin-positive tumors that have not responded to standard treatments.

Researchers are evaluating the optimization of 18F-DOPA PET/CT imaging in specific patient groups including pediatric patients with congenital hyperinsulinism or neuroblastoma, pediatric and adult patients with neuroendocrine tumors or brain tumors, and adults suspected of Parkinson's disease or Lewy body dementia. The study aims to improve image quality using a new digital PET/CT scanner and intravenous furosemide, while also exploring gallbladder activity patterns related to dopaminergic degeneration. Participants will receive an intravenous injection of 18F-DOPA, with some also receiving a single intravenous dose of furosemide. The study includes a primary objective of assessing image quality improvements in the pelvis area and a secondary objective examining gallbladder activity patterns using dynamic imaging in a subgroup. Imaging data will be compared to previous scans with older technology. During the study, participants will undergo PET/CT scans, with measurements of lesion size and activity, bladder activity, and image artifact scoring. A questionnaire will screen for gallbladder disease history. The research team will analyze the imaging results and gallbladder activity patterns, with follow-up assessments occurring within one to three months. The total planned enrollment is 800 patients over approximately five years, with detailed monitoring of image optimization and gallbladder activity.

Researchers are evaluating the potential usefulness of 18F-FAPI-04 positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) and positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging (PET/MR) for diagnosing primary and metastatic cancer lesions, detecting recurrence, and assessing pathological response across various cancer types. The study is observational and aims to assess how well these imaging methods perform compared to standard diagnosis using histopathology and follow-up. Participants with different types of cancer undergo imaging with 18F-FAPI-04 PET/CT and PET/MR scans. The tracer 18F-FAPI-04 is injected into patients before the scans. Tumor uptake is measured by maximum standard uptake value (SUVmax) and tumor to background ratio (TBR). The imaging results are compared using sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy to evaluate diagnostic performance. During the study, participants are assessed through these imaging procedures to monitor tumor presence, recurrence, or response to treatment. The primary outcome is the diagnostic performance evaluated over one year. The study includes participants aged 18 to 90 years and involves informed consent and ethical approval. The total duration and follow-up details are based on imaging and clinical evaluations to confirm findings.

Researchers are evaluating a new dual targeting PET radiotracer called 18F-FAPI-Biotin in patients with various types of cancer. This tracer aims to improve tumor detection by targeting both fibroblast activation protein, which is highly expressed in many cancer stromas, and biotin, which is overexpressed in tumor cells but underexpressed in normal cells. The study focuses on assessing the safety, how the tracer distributes in the body, and the radiation dosimetry compared to existing tracers like 18F-FAPI and 18F-FDG. Participants receive an intravenous dose of 148-296 MBq of 18F-FAPI-Biotin. PET imaging is conducted dynamically at multiple time points: 3 minutes, 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 60 minutes, and 120 minutes after injection. This allows researchers to observe the tracer's pharmacokinetics and dosimetry across different organs and tumors. The study is classified as an early phase 1 trial. During the study, patients undergo PET/CT scans at the specified time points following tracer injection. Researchers monitor the dosimetry of normal organs and tumors from immediately after injection up to 120 minutes later. Safety assessments include tracking adverse events for up to one week using standard criteria. The total participation duration includes imaging sessions and safety monitoring to evaluate the tracer's distribution and potential side effects.

Researchers are studying men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) to understand how different PET/CT scans can predict outcomes during radioligand therapy with 177Lu-PSMA-617. This is an exploratory, prospective study conducted at a single center, focusing on imaging tumor heterogeneity to help assess therapy effects and patient response. The study is designed specifically for Veterans undergoing this treatment. Participants will receive several types of PET/CT scans at different times: before starting LuPSMA radioligand therapy (RLT), and then after the 2nd, 4th, and 6th treatment cycles. These scans include 18F-Fluciclovine PET/CT (Axumin), 18F-DCFPyL PET/CT, and 18F-FDG PET/CT. The 18F-Fluciclovine scans will be performed within seven days of the PSMA PET scans to compare imaging results at each time point. During the study, detailed imaging measures such as lesion uptake and tumor volume will be collected and analyzed over time. Patients will be followed at the institution to correlate these imaging results with clinical outcomes. The main outcome measured is the impact of 18F-Fluciclovine PET/CT on predicting outcomes of the 177Lu-PSMA-617 therapy from enrollment through 34 weeks of treatment.

Researchers are studying the use of 3'-deoxy-3'-[18F] fluorothymidine (FLT) positron emission tomography (PET) imaging in patients with cancer. This phase I trial aims to evaluate how well FLT PET imaging measures tumor growth and the activity of the DNA synthetic pathway in various cancers, including solid tumors and blood cancers. The study also seeks to determine how effective this imaging method is at detecting lesions and assessing response to treatment. Participants receive up to four FLT PET imaging procedures. During each procedure, a small amount of the FLT tracer compound is injected into the vein, followed by PET scan data collection for two hours to measure tumor growth. Blood samples may be taken during the scans, and urine samples collected afterward to analyze breakdown products of the tracer. Throughout the study, patients undergo assessments including PET or CT PET scans to measure tracer uptake and retention in tumors and normal organs. Researchers also evaluate changes in key enzymes related to DNA synthesis before and after therapy. These evaluations help monitor tumor activity and treatment response. The total time participants spend in the scanner during imaging is up to two hours per session, with a focus on capturing detailed tumor growth information.

Researchers are studying adrenal tumor removal surgeries using a high-definition 3D laparoscopic system to improve outcomes compared to traditional 2D laparoscopy. This observational study explores the benefits of using 3D imaging, which offers better depth perception and spatial orientation, potentially reducing errors, fatigue, and operating time during adrenalectomies. The study focuses on both benign and malignant adrenal tumors. The surgery uses a 3D laparoscopic system where all operating room personnel wear polarized glasses to see stereoscopic images. Dissection is performed with a hybrid energy device called Thunderbeat. The study observes patients who underwent unilateral 3D laparoscopic adrenalectomy between 2013 and 2033, without comparing to other surgical approaches. Participants have their surgical outcomes monitored up to 30 days after surgery, including complication rates and length of hospital stay. Researchers also evaluate factors like bleeding, operative time, use of drainage, and differences in morbidity related to obesity, previous surgeries, patient age, anesthesia risk scores, tumor size, diagnosis, and tumor side. The study collects detailed data to understand how 3D laparoscopy affects adrenalectomy results over time.