Steamboat Springs

Researchers are evaluating whether the CARES (Cancer Advocacy, Resources, Education and Support) intervention can shorten the time it takes for rural patients with solid tumors to start and complete treatment. This study focuses on cancers such as lung, head and neck, thyroid, cervical, breast, bladder, colon, and rectal cancers. It aims to improve the quality of care and patient-reported outcomes by providing additional support to these patients living in rural areas. The study is randomized and will enroll 320 participants who will be assigned either to the CARES intervention or to usual care. The CARES intervention involves up to 10 navigation sessions and 10 counseling sessions over about six months, delivered by oncology nurse navigators and master's level counselors. These sessions are scheduled around key treatment transition points and may be conducted in person, virtually, or by phone. Participants in the usual care group will receive a standardized list of resources. Treatment progress and support sessions are tailored to each patient's treatment timeline. Participants will complete surveys at the start, at three months, and after six months to assess quality of care and patient-reported outcomes. The study measures the time from diagnosis to treatment start and the time to treatment completion within the six-month study period. Researchers will monitor participants throughout the study to understand how the CARES intervention affects treatment timing and patient experiences compared to usual care.

Researchers are evaluating the effectiveness and safety of CARTISTEM4, a product made from human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells combined with a cross-linked sodium hyaluronate hydrogel. This phase 3 trial compares CARTISTEM4 to a surgical procedure called debridement in adults with knee cartilage lesions and osteoarthritis. The study aims to show whether CARTISTEM4 can better reduce knee pain and improve knee function over two years, and also to explore if it can slow osteoarthritis progression using MRI assessments. Participants will receive either the CARTISTEM4 treatment, which includes a gel made from stem cells and sodium hyaluronate, combined with debridement, or debridement alone to remove unstable cartilage in the knee. CARTISTEM4 is prepared by mixing about 7.5 million stem cells with sodium hyaluronate to form a gel. The treatments will be administered at the start of the study, followed by monitoring over the next two years. Throughout the study, participants will have regular evaluations including pain assessments using the Visual Analog Scale and function evaluations using the WOMAC4 index from treatment start up to 24 months follow-up. Imaging, such as MRI, will be used to assess cartilage and osteoarthritis changes. Participants will also be monitored for safety and ability to follow rehabilitation requirements during the study period.