Swansea

Researchers are evaluating two treatment combinations for patients with melanoma that has spread to the brain and has a specific BRAF-V600 mutation. This phase II trial compares encorafenib, binimetinib, and nivolumab against ipilimumab and nivolumab to determine which approach better controls and shrinks brain metastases from melanoma. The study also aims to assess overall survival, response rates, treatment duration, and side effects of each regimen. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group receives encorafenib orally once daily, binimetinib orally twice daily, and nivolumab intravenously every 28 days. The other group receives nivolumab intravenously and ipilimumab intravenously during the first four cycles, with cycles every 21 days initially, then every 28 days thereafter. Treatment continues unless the disease worsens or side effects become unacceptable. After treatment ends, participants have follow-up visits every six months for two years, then yearly until three years after starting the study. During the trial, participants undergo brain MRIs to monitor tumor response using standardized criteria. Imaging, tumor tissue, spinal fluid, stool, and blood samples are collected for research. Safety and effectiveness are carefully assessed through scans, physical exams, lab tests, and side effect monitoring. Progression-free survival up to three years after randomization is the main outcome. Participants remain in the study for about three years with periodic evaluations to track their health and disease status.

Researchers are evaluating a treatment combination for people with relapsed or refractory aggressive B-cell Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. This Phase II trial focuses on improving the profile of cytokine release syndrome (CRS), a potential side effect, when using glofitamab together with gemcitabine and oxaliplatin. The study uses a specially designed steroid premedication and monitoring plan to allow this treatment to be given safely in an outpatient setting. Participants receive intravenous obinutuzumab one week before starting glofitamab. Glofitamab is given intravenously both with gemcitabine and oxaliplatin and alone, for up to 12 cycles, each lasting 21 days. Gemcitabine and oxaliplatin are also given intravenously in combination with glofitamab for up to 8 cycles, with each cycle lasting 21 days. During the study, participants are closely monitored for signs of cytokine release syndrome for up to about 5 years. Researchers will assess treatment effects and safety through exams, scans, and lab tests. The study tracks how well participants tolerate the treatment and follows their progress over time, including long-term monitoring of side effects and disease status.

Researchers are evaluating the effectiveness of active surveillance and chemotherapy treatments in pediatric, adolescent, and adult patients with low risk and standard risk germ cell tumors. This phase III trial focuses on monitoring patients after tumor removal and comparing the outcomes of carboplatin-based versus cisplatin-based chemotherapy regimens. The study aims to maintain high overall survival rates for low risk patients and to compare event-free survival between the two chemotherapy options in standard risk patients. Additional objectives include assessing side effects such as hearing loss and neuropathy, and exploring tumor marker changes and other biological measures related to treatment outcomes. Patients with low risk stage I germ cell tumors undergo surgery followed by observation, with the option to transfer to standard risk treatment if the tumor recurs. Those with standard risk tumors are randomly assigned to one of four chemotherapy regimens combining bleomycin, etoposide, carboplatin, or cisplatin. Treatments are given intravenously on specific schedules every 21 days for up to 3 or 4 cycles, depending on the group. Throughout the trial, patients receive imaging scans, blood tests, tumor biopsies if needed, and pulmonary function tests to monitor treatment response and side effects. Participants are closely followed after treatment completion with regular visits every 2 months for the first year, then less frequently up to 10 years. Researchers collect data through imaging, blood samples, lung tests, and questionnaires to measure survival, disease recurrence, and side effects like hearing loss. The study also includes exploratory analyses of tumor markers and patient-reported outcomes to better understand treatment impacts and improve future care for germ cell tumor patients.

This research collects data and biological samples from patients who have experienced side effects from immunotherapy treatments for cancer. The goal is to create a national collection of these samples and clinical information to help future studies understand, predict, prevent, and treat serious immune-related side effects, rare infections, or rapid tumor growth after immunotherapy. Participants provide tissue and blood samples when they join the study and again one month later. Some patients may also provide stool samples if they have certain side effects like colitis. Researchers also review participants' medical records for up to one year to gather detailed health information related to their treatment and side effects. During the study, patients undergo sample collections and have their health records examined. The main outcome measured is the establishment of a national biorepository containing these samples and data, which will be used in future research over the course of one year. This study aims to support better understanding and management of immunotherapy side effects in cancer treatment.

Researchers are evaluating two different methods for monitoring pancreatic cysts to determine which approach leads to better outcomes for patients with these cysts. The study compares a lower intensity surveillance schedule with a higher intensity surveillance schedule in patients aged 50 to 75 years. The study also aims to assess differences in surgical complications, pancreatic cancer rates, mortality, costs, healthcare use, patient quality of life, anxiety, financial distress, adherence to surveillance, and the predictive value of biomarkers and radiomic markers for cancer or dysplasia. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two surveillance arms. In the low intensity arm, patients receive MRI or CT scans at the start and one year later, then repeat imaging every two years if no abnormalities are found. If positive features appear, imaging frequency increases. In the high intensity arm, surveillance frequency varies by cyst size, ranging from MRI or CT every six months to combined imaging and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) every 3-6 months for larger cysts. EUS is used to further evaluate cysts based on size and findings. After imaging procedures, patients are followed for five years from enrollment. During the study, patients undergo procedures including MRI, CT, and EUS, along with quality-of-life and questionnaire assessments. Researchers will monitor clinical outcomes, imaging results, healthcare utilization, costs, patient-reported outcomes, and biomarker performance. Safety and adherence to surveillance schedules will be tracked. The study lasts five years after the initial registration to capture long-term outcomes related to pancreatic cyst monitoring.

Researchers are evaluating the use of osimertinib alone versus a combination of osimertinib and bevacizumab for treating advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that has spread beyond the lungs and has specific mutations in the EGFR gene. This phase III trial focuses on whether adding bevacizumab, which blocks blood vessel growth to tumors, can better control cancer and improve survival compared to osimertinib alone, a drug that blocks EGFR involved in cancer cell growth. Patients are randomly assigned to receive either osimertinib by mouth once daily or osimertinib with bevacizumab given intravenously every 21 days. Treatment continues unless the cancer progresses or side effects become unacceptable. The study includes imaging tests like CT, MRI, echocardiography, and MUGA scans to monitor disease and heart function, along with blood and urine sample collection. Participants are followed for up to 10 years after treatment ends, with check-ups every 3 months to measure progression-free survival, overall survival, response rates, and side effects. Researchers also analyze blood samples to study how the cancer develops resistance to treatment. This thorough monitoring helps understand long-term effects and how well the treatments control the cancer.

Researchers are evaluating the effectiveness of radiation therapy with or without the chemotherapy drug cisplatin in patients with stage III-IVA squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck who have had surgery to remove their tumors. This phase II trial aims to understand if adding cisplatin to radiation therapy improves disease-free survival, especially considering the role of p53 mutations in the cancer cells. The study also investigates toxicities and potential genomic factors that might influence treatment outcomes. Patients are randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups. One group receives intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) alone once daily, five days a week for six weeks. The other group receives the same radiation treatment combined with weekly intravenous cisplatin over one to two hours, also for six weeks. Treatment continues as long as there is no disease progression or unacceptable side effects. During the study, participants undergo regular follow-ups every six months for three years and then yearly for seven more years to monitor for cancer recurrence or new tumors. Researchers assess disease-free survival, tracking the time from randomization until cancer returns, a second tumor develops, or death. Additional laboratory tests and biomarker analyses are performed to understand genetic changes and treatment effects. Safety and toxicities are closely monitored throughout the study period.

This phase II clinical trial investigates how well the combination of ramucirumab with paclitaxel compares to the FOLFIRI chemotherapy regimen in treating patients with advanced or treatment-resistant small bowel adenocarcinoma. Ramucirumab is a monoclonal antibody designed to block VEGFR-2, potentially limiting blood vessel growth to tumors and slowing cancer spread. Chemotherapy drugs such as paclitaxel, leucovorin calcium, fluorouracil, and irinotecan work by killing tumor cells or stopping their growth and spread, aiming to improve survival in this patient population. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups. In the first group, patients receive ramucirumab intravenously on days 1 and 15, combined with paclitaxel given intravenously on days 1, 8, and 15 in 28-day treatment cycles. The second group receives the FOLFIRI regimen, which includes irinotecan and leucovorin intravenously on days 1 and 15, plus fluorouracil given as a bolus and continuous infusion over days 1-3 and 15-17, also in 28-day cycles. Treatment continues until disease progression or unacceptable side effects occur. During the study, patients undergo regular assessments including tumor scans and blood tests to track cancer progression and response. Follow-up visits occur every 8 weeks during treatment and then every 6 months for up to three years after disease progression. Researchers measure progression-free survival, overall survival, tumor response rate, and treatment safety. They also collect tissue and blood samples for future research. The study aims to identify which treatment offers better control of cancer growth and improved patient outcomes.

Researchers are studying patients with metastatic HER-2-positive breast cancer who are receiving trastuzumab-based treatments to understand the risk of heart problems related to their cancer therapy. The study includes two groups: one large observational group of patients already taking beta blockers, ACE inhibitors, or ARBs alongside their cancer treatment, and a smaller randomized group comparing patients who receive carvedilol, a heart medication, to those who do not. The trial aims to assess how often heart issues occur and whether carvedilol can help prevent heart damage from chemotherapy. It also investigates biomarkers and heart function measures as predictors of cardiac risk. In the randomized part, patients not already on beta blockers, ACE inhibitors, or ARBs are assigned to receive carvedilol twice daily or no additional treatment for up to 108 weeks, with treatment cycles repeated every 12 weeks if there is no disease progression or unacceptable side effects. Patients already taking these heart medications join the observational cohort and are monitored for up to 108 weeks without any change in their therapy. The study collects blood samples and performs regular heart imaging to evaluate heart function and strain. Participants will have regular echocardiograms every 12 weeks to monitor heart function, with both local and central readings compared. Blood samples are collected for biomarker analysis, and patient health status is assessed throughout the study. The main outcome measured is the time until any heart dysfunction is first detected, followed for up to 108 weeks. The study also tracks interruptions in cancer therapy due to heart problems and explores genetic and plasma markers that might predict heart risk. Participants are followed closely for safety and treatment effects during the entire study period.

Researchers are evaluating how well serum tumor marker directed disease monitoring (STMDDM) works for patients with hormone receptor positive, HER2 negative metastatic breast cancer. The study compares STMDDM with the usual care approach to see if overall survival is not worse using STMDDM. The trial also looks at healthcare costs, patient anxiety, quality of life, and preferences related to disease monitoring. Patients are randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group receives usual care with imaging at least every 12 weeks and other monitoring at the doctor's discretion for up to 312 weeks if the disease does not progress. The other group has their serum tumor markers checked every 4 to 8 weeks, with imaging only if markers are elevated, also for up to 312 weeks without progression. Additional assessments include quality-of-life and anxiety questionnaires. Throughout the study, participants undergo regular evaluations including imaging, blood tests for tumor markers, and patient-reported outcome questionnaires. Researchers track overall survival up to 312 weeks after randomization, along with healthcare costs and patient experiences. Participants must provide informed consent and are monitored for safety during the study period.