Reggio Emilia

Researchers are investigating new treatments for people with high-risk, early-stage breast cancer, specifically targeting triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and hormone receptor (HR)-low positive/HER2-negative breast cancer. These types have little or no HER2 protein and involve hormones like estrogen or progesterone. The study aims to evaluate if the addition of sacituzumab tirumotecan (sac-TMT), a targeted therapy, combined with pembrolizumab and chemotherapy can improve outcomes compared to pembrolizumab with chemotherapy alone. Participants receive treatments including sacituzumab tirumotecan, pembrolizumab, and chemotherapy drugs such as carboplatin and paclitaxel, all given by intravenous infusion. Rescue medications like antihistamines, acetaminophen, dexamethasone, or steroid mouthwash may be used as needed. The study is randomized and open-label, comparing sac-TMT followed by chemotherapy plus pembrolizumab to chemotherapy and pembrolizumab without sac-TMT. During the study, researchers will monitor participants up to about 30 weeks to assess the percentage of people with no remaining cancer cells at surgery. They will also follow participants for up to approximately 92 months to track event-free survival, meaning time without cancer growth, spread, or return. Participants will undergo imaging, clinical assessments, and laboratory tests to evaluate treatment effects and safety throughout the study.

Researchers are looking for ways to treat germinal center B-cell-like diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (GCB DLBCL). DLBCL is a fast-growing blood cancer that affects B-cells. GCB is a type of DLBCL that affects young B-cells that are still maturing. The goal of this study is to learn if more people who receive zilovertamab vedotin (MK-2140) and R-CHP have the cancer respond (go away) than those who receive polatuzumab vedotin and R-CHP.

Researchers are evaluating a chemo-free combination of rituximab and golcadomide (CC-99282) as a front-line treatment for older, frail patients newly diagnosed with diffuse large B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (DLBCL). This phase II, multicenter study focuses on patients aged 80 or older who are considered frail based on a simplified geriatric assessment (sGA) and are not eligible for standard anthracycline-based chemotherapy. The study aims to assess the effectiveness of this treatment approach in this vulnerable population. Participants will receive an induction phase of up to six 28-day cycles consisting of golcadomide, rituximab, and dexamethasone only during the first cycle. Response to treatment will be evaluated after four and six cycles to identify patients who are responding. Those achieving at least a partial response will continue as planned, while non-responders will stop protocol treatment and switch to alternative regimens. After induction, involved site radiotherapy is permitted for PET-positive disease. Patients with at least partial response at the end of induction may then enter a consolidation phase with up to six additional 28-day cycles of golcadomide. Interim response checks during consolidation will identify disease progression, leading to treatment discontinuation if needed. Throughout the study, participants will undergo assessments including PET/CT or CT scans to evaluate disease and sarcopenia at baseline and end of treatment. Quality of life will be measured at study entry, during treatment, and follow-up. Follow-up visits will occur every three months for the first year and every six months in the second year, with a total follow-up duration of 24 months. Progression-free survival at 24 months is the primary outcome. Patients with disease progression will be considered treatment failures and followed for survival until study completion.

Researchers are evaluating the long-term safety and tolerability of dazodalibep in adults with Sjögren's Syndrome. This phase 3 open-label extension study focuses on participants who have previously received dazodalibep or placebo in earlier phase 3 trials and completed those studies through Week 48. Participants will receive dazodalibep intravenously during this long-term extension study. The first dose is administered around Week 48 (+28 days) following the prior phase 3 studies. The study monitors safety and tolerability over an extended period to assess treatment-emergent adverse events up to 152 weeks. During the study, participants will undergo regular evaluations to monitor their health and any side effects. Researchers will collect data on adverse events that emerge during treatment. The overall goal is to gather long-term safety information to better understand how participants tolerate dazodalibep when used over an extended time frame.

Researchers are conducting a master observational study called METAMECH to enhance collaboration between basic and clinical research in breast cancer. The study aims to better understand how tumor and host cells interact and evolve over time, with the goal of improving patient outcomes such as reducing recurrence risk and increasing survival. This study will collect clinical data and biological samples from at least 500 breast cancer patients over their treatment course, continuing for a minimum of 5 years or until death. METAMECH also supports the development of companion diagnostics to guide molecularly targeted treatments in proof-of-concept clinical trials. Patients will be enrolled at two key points: before tumor sampling procedures like surgery or biopsy, or before starting any treatment line. The study is organized into multiple tiers: TIER0 focuses on retrieving archived breast cancer samples with clinical annotations; TIER1 prospectively records patient and tumor data during standard care; TIER2 develops experimental models to study metastatic mechanisms and test new therapies targeting mechanotransduction; and TIER3 links data and samples from patients in clinical trials testing these new therapies. Both retrospective and prospective observations of standard clinical care are included. Participants will provide longitudinal clinical data, imaging, and biological samples throughout their treatment journey. Researchers will monitor patient enrollment numbers across tiers over 6 months. The study collects detailed information to explore tumor evolution mechanisms and support experimental precision oncology. Safety and compliance with the protocol will be observed, with performance status considered for certain tiers. Overall participation will last at least 5 years or until patient death, enabling long-term follow-up and research.

Researchers are investigating treatments for adults with metastatic breast cancer that is estrogen receptor-positive, HER2-negative, and expresses gastrin releasing peptide receptor (GRPR). This study focuses on patients who have experienced disease progression after endocrine therapy combined with CDK4/6 inhibitors. The trial aims to find the best doses and schedules of [177Lu]Lu-NeoB combined with capecitabine and to evaluate the preliminary anti-tumor activity of this combination in this patient population. Participants will receive [177Lu]Lu-NeoB, a radioligand therapy, along with capecitabine, a chemotherapy drug. The study includes a phase I dose escalation to determine recommended doses, starting with 150mCi of [177Lu]Lu-NeoB every 6 weeks and capecitabine given twice daily for 14 days followed by 7 days off. Depending on safety, different dose levels and schedules will be explored. Phase II will randomize participants to treatment regimens based on phase I results. Imaging with [68Ga]Ga-NeoB PET/CT or PET/MRI will be performed during screening and after treatment in phase II to assess tumor GRPR expression. Participants will attend study visits approximately every 3 weeks for the first 9 months, then every 6 weeks, for treatment administration, safety monitoring, and tumor assessments. Tumor scans occur every 9 weeks until month 18, then every 12 weeks until month 36, and as needed afterwards. After stopping treatment, safety follow-up lasts 8 weeks, with longer-term follow-up for up to 5 years. Researchers will monitor safety, dose tolerability, tumor response, progression-free and overall survival, and other outcomes related to treatment effectiveness and side effects.

Researchers are evaluating the recurrence-free survival of women with advanced HRD-positive high-grade ovarian cancer, fallopian tube cancer, primary peritoneal cancer, and clear cell carcinoma of the ovary after complete tumor removal. This phase II, randomized, open-label study compares two treatment strategies involving chemotherapy and maintenance therapy with niraparib. The study focuses on patients with no residual tumor mass following primary tumor debulking and aims to determine if fewer cycles of chemotherapy followed by niraparib maintenance are as effective as the standard number of chemotherapy cycles plus niraparib. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups: one receiving 3 cycles of carboplatin plus paclitaxel chemotherapy followed by niraparib maintenance, and the other receiving 6 cycles of carboplatin plus paclitaxel followed by niraparib maintenance. Randomization is based on genetic analysis and disease stage. Tumor assessments using CT or MRI scans will be done at defined intervals after treatment starts and during maintenance. Blood markers and safety monitoring will be conducted regularly throughout the treatment period. During the study, patients will have clinical visits every 3 weeks during chemotherapy and monthly during the first 11 months of maintenance, then quarterly thereafter. Safety is monitored continuously through adverse event reporting. The study plans to enroll 640 patients across about 60 sites in six European countries over 36 months. The primary outcome measured is recurrence-free survival over 8 years.

Researchers are evaluating the effectiveness and safety of Datopotamab Deruxtecan (Dato-DXd) with or without durvalumab compared to the investigator's choice chemotherapy combined with pembrolizumab in patients who have PD-L1 positive locally recurrent inoperable or metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). This Phase III, randomized, open-label, international study aims to see if adding durvalumab to Dato-DXd can help patients live longer without their cancer worsening or simply live longer compared to standard chemotherapy with pembrolizumab. The study also examines how the treatments and cancer impact patients' quality of life. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups: Dato-DXd plus durvalumab, Dato-DXd alone, or investigator's choice chemotherapy (paclitaxel, nab-paclitaxel, or gemcitabine plus carboplatin) combined with pembrolizumab. All treatments are given by intravenous infusion. The study design includes stratification based on geographic location, disease-free interval history, and prior PD-1/PD-L1 treatment for early-stage TNBC. During the study, participants will have regular assessments to monitor their disease status using RECIST 1.1 criteria and undergo imaging reviewed by blinded independent central review. Researchers will track progression-free survival, quality of life, safety, and other health measures over an anticipated period of up to 33 months. Participants must provide tumor samples for PD-L1 testing, and safety monitoring will continue throughout the study.

Researchers are investigating the potential link between treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and erectile dysfunction (ED) in male patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). CML is a blood cancer marked by the Philadelphia chromosome that leads to abnormal activation of the BCR-ABL1 enzyme. TKIs have transformed CML from a fatal disease to a manageable chronic condition, but long-term use raises concerns about side effects, including vascular problems and hormonal changes that may affect sexual health. The study includes male patients aged 18 to 75 with chronic-phase CML who started first-line TKI therapy with drugs such as imatinib, dasatinib, nilotinib, bosutinib, or ponatinib between January 2015 and January 2022. It is a national, multicenter, non-interventional observational study with both retrospective and prospective components. Retrospective data from medical records include ED onset, physical exams, lab tests, molecular assessments, and ECGs collected every six months. The prospective phase follows patients for 24 months to monitor new cases of ED, cardiovascular events, and whether ED improves in those who stop therapy. Participants undergo regular evaluations including blood tests for blood counts, liver and kidney function, lipid levels, and blood sugar control, along with heart monitoring and molecular testing for leukemia markers. Researchers track the cumulative incidence of ED over two years, examine links between specific TKIs and ED, and assess cardiovascular risks. The study involves about 350 male patients and does not require additional procedures beyond usual clinical care.

Researchers are conducting a large prospective, observational cohort study to assess the clinical impact of new monoclonal antibodies (MAB) in treating B-cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) within Italian clinical practice. The study focuses on patients needing treatment for B-cell NHL, including those receiving first-line or relapsed/refractory therapy. The novel MAB being studied have received approval from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) since 2020 and are prescribed according to authorized marketing indications in Italy. Participants will receive novel MAB treatments either alone or in combination, prescribed based on EMA-approved indications since 2020. Patients will be grouped into cohorts according to the treatment indication, antibody type, and lymphoma subtype, with additional sub-cohorts created if necessary. This design allows analysis by indication, antibody type, subtype, and overall evaluation of the entire patient cohort. Throughout the study, researchers will collect clinical information to evaluate the use, feasibility, efficacy, and toxicity of these novel antibodies. Key outcomes measured over at least five years include overall response rate, complete response rate, progression-free survival, overall survival, event-free survival, time to next treatment, non-relapse mortality, duration of response, and incidence of early and late adverse events. Participants will be closely monitored for both short- and long-term effects of the treatments.