Braselton

Researchers are collecting blood and tissue samples from people with and without cancer to study and evaluate tests that could help detect cancer early. The goal is to create a blinded reference set of samples to validate blood-based tests for early detection of multiple types of cancer, including leukemia, lymphoma, breast, lung, and others. The study also aims to assess how well these tests perform at the time of initial cancer diagnosis, considering different tumor types and cancer stages. Participants complete a baseline questionnaire and provide blood samples at registration and again 12 months later. Those diagnosed with cancer may also provide tissue samples at these times. The study includes patients aged 40 to 75 years, with cancer diagnoses at various stages or individuals without cancer. Special procedures are in place for patients with high suspicion of certain cancers before confirmation. During the study, researchers collect detailed information through questionnaires, blood draws, and tissue sampling to analyze test accuracy. Participants are monitored for up to one year after registration to follow outcomes. The primary measure is providing this blinded set of blood samples to help validate future cancer detection tests, supporting research that could improve early diagnosis and treatment.

Researchers are evaluating an online educational program called Current Together After Cancer (CTAC) designed to help patients who have had surgery for stage II or III colorectal cancer receive follow-up care that follows current medical guidelines. This phase III trial aims to see if CTAC improves patients' knowledge about surveillance, their confidence in managing their care, and satisfaction with support received from a chosen adult supporter. Proper surveillance after colorectal cancer surgery is important to detect any return of the disease early, but many survivors do not receive recommended follow-up care, possibly due to lack of information or support. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group receives access to the CTAC intervention website, which includes educational content and interactive modules to help manage post-surgery surveillance. The other group accesses a control website with general health education. Both patients and their chosen supporters can use their assigned website as often as they like for up to 16 months. Supporters are adult individuals identified by the patient who help with their cancer journey. During the study, researchers will measure how many patients receive surveillance care that follows guidelines at 12 and 16 months. They will also assess patients' knowledge about surveillance, confidence in managing their care, and satisfaction with supporter involvement at 3 and 16 months. Surveys and interviews will be conducted to gather this information. The study will also explore how well the intervention fits into clinical practice and how supporter participation affects outcomes.

Researchers are evaluating how factors like age, gender, other medical conditions, and the type of immunotherapy affect the development of side effects in patients with malignant solid tumors receiving immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy. The study aims to develop and validate a risk prediction model for serious immune-related side effects during the first year of ICI treatment. Additional goals include tracking the occurrence of various side effects, quality of life, patient-reported symptoms, and treatment patterns over 12 months, along with studying biological markers that may predict side effect risk. Participants will have tissue samples collected at the start of their cancer treatment and will complete questionnaires at baseline and at weeks 4, 12, 24, and 52. Blood samples may also be collected at multiple times during the study. The study focuses on patients receiving standard-of-care ICI therapy for solid tumors, without combination chemotherapy or other non-ICI treatments. During the study, participants will complete patient-reported outcome forms and health questionnaires to assess side effects and quality of life. Researchers will monitor the occurrence of severe immune-related side effects over 52 weeks and evaluate biological markers from blood and tissue samples. The study also assesses the use of electronic methods for collecting patient data. Total participation includes assessments over approximately one year following treatment start.

Researchers are studying cancer cachexia (CC), a syndrome involving weight, muscle, and fat loss in patients with advanced colorectal, lung, or pancreatic cancer that cannot be removed by surgery or is at stage IV. This study aims to identify different diagnostic subtypes of CC based on host characteristics such as symptoms, physical activity, blood biomarkers, and body composition. The goal is to better understand the varied causes of CC to improve diagnosis and develop more effective treatments tailored to individual patients. Participants will complete surveys and physical function tests that each take about 30 minutes. They will provide blood and archived tumor samples and wear a device called an actigraph for 7 days to monitor sleep and activity. Standard care scans like CT or PET/CT will be done during the study. Data will be collected at the start and again at 3 months, with continued review of medical records up to 1 year. These procedures help researchers study changes in CC characteristics over time and explore tumor factors linked to this condition. During the study, patients will undergo assessments of weight, muscle loss, symptoms, physical activity, and function. Researchers will analyze blood samples, tumor tissue, and medical images while reviewing health records. The main outcome is identifying distinct CC subtypes and their association with survival. Follow-ups occur at 3 months and 1 year to track changes and outcomes. The study involves no treatment but focuses on observation and data collection to support future CC diagnosis and therapy improvements.

Researchers are evaluating a screening and multi-sub-study randomized phase II/III trial called Lung-MAP, designed for patients with previously treated non-small cell lung cancer. The trial aims to establish a genomic screening method to assign patients to biomarker-driven or non-matched sub-studies. Depending on the cancer biomarker type, participants may receive new targeted cancer therapies or combinations compared to standard care, with the goal of approving new treatments. An optional ancillary study explores patient and physician attitudes about returning genetic findings related to germline mutations. The study involves testing patient specimens to determine eligibility for various sub-studies under the Lung-MAP protocol. Patients undergo screening to analyze tumor tissue and blood samples for biomarkers including PD-L1 and c-MET. Those requiring a fresh biopsy also submit blood for circulating tumor DNA testing. Sub-study assignment depends on the molecular profile results. This screening process includes both patients progressing after prior therapy and those pre-screened before progression on current treatment. Participants provide informed consent and tumor tissue that meets quality standards for testing. Researchers collect clinical data including smoking history and performance status. Outcomes focus on screening success, such as adequate tissue submission and matching to biomarker-driven sub-studies, tracked for up to three years. The study also monitors patient and physician knowledge and preferences regarding genomic findings. Participation duration varies based on screening and sub-study assignment.

Researchers are evaluating surgical and minimally invasive treatments for lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) by comparing Medicare patients who received the MILD procedure against those who had interspinous process decompression (IPD). The study focuses on outcomes such as the rate of harms related to the initial procedure and the frequency of additional surgical or minimally invasive interventions within 24 months after treatment. Enrollment includes patients treated from January 1, 2017, onward, with continuation until the sponsor decides to stop. The MILD procedure involves percutaneous image-guided lumbar decompression, performed under fluoroscopy through a dorsal approach to partially remove tissue and bone at the affected spinal level. The control group receives the IPD procedure for LSS. Both groups are monitored for a 24-month period post-index procedure using Medicare claims data to track reoperations and any harms. Participants contribute data through Medicare claims without needing prior enrollment or consent, as the study is exempt from IRB oversight. Researchers collect and analyze information on procedure-related harms and subsequent interventions over two years. This approach allows evaluation of long-term safety and effectiveness outcomes for patients treated with either MILD or IPD.

Researchers are evaluating a phase III trial to compare a text-based smoking cessation intervention with a printed manual to help rural cancer survivors who smoke quit smoking. The study focuses on patients diagnosed with cancer in the past 10 years who currently smoke at least five cigarettes daily and live in rural areas. The trial aims to assess the effectiveness of a scheduled gradual reduction program paired with support messages versus an informational booklet for quitting smoking. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group follows an eight-week personalized schedule to gradually reduce cigarette use and receives cessation support messages via text for 12 weeks. The other group receives the National Cancer Institute's Clearing the Air booklet to guide gradual quitting. After completing the intervention, patients are followed up at six months to evaluate outcomes. During the study, participants complete questionnaires and provide urine samples to biochemically validate smoking cessation. Researchers measure smoking cessation success up to six months after the quit date and assess quality of life at 30 days and six months post-quit. The study includes ongoing monitoring through text messages and patient-completed measures, ensuring comprehensive data collection over the follow-up period.

Researchers are evaluating whether adding pembrolizumab, a type of immunotherapy, to usual chemotherapy improves outcomes in patients with stage IIA, IIB, IIIA, or IIIB non-small cell lung cancer that has been removed by surgery. Pembrolizumab may help the immune system attack cancer cells and prevent tumor growth. Chemotherapy drugs like cisplatin, pemetrexed, carboplatin, gemcitabine hydrochloride, and paclitaxel work by stopping tumor cells from growing and spreading. This phase III trial compares disease-free survival between different treatment approaches involving pembrolizumab and chemotherapy. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups. In Arm B, patients receive four cycles of chemotherapy followed by pembrolizumab given intravenously every 21 days for up to 17 cycles or every 6 weeks for 16 cycles. In Arm C, patients receive chemotherapy combined with pembrolizumab during the initial four cycles, followed by pembrolizumab alone for up to 13 cycles every 21 days or 12 cycles every 6 weeks. Chemotherapy regimens include various platinum doublets chosen by the treating physician. Arm A was closed as of February 2022. Patients may also undergo tests such as echocardiograms, MRIs, CT scans, and blood sample collections during the trial. Throughout the study, participants are monitored with regular assessments including imaging and blood tests. Follow-up visits occur 6 weeks after treatment, then every 3 months for 2 years, every 6 months for years 2-4, and annually up to 10 years after randomization. Researchers measure disease-free survival, overall survival, adverse events, drug discontinuation rates, and patient quality of life using questionnaires. The study also explores outcomes based on tumor markers like PD-L1 expression and tumor mutational burden.