Mount Pleasant

Researchers are evaluating the Ask Questions about Clinical Trials ASQ-CT brochure, a communication tool designed to improve conversations between patients and healthcare providers about clinical trials. This trial focuses on patient-provider communication and provider invitations to clinical trials among adults with oncology, cardiac disease, or neurologic disorders who are potentially eligible for clinical trials. The study is conducted by the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute and is a health services research trial. Participants receive the ASQ-CT brochure at the baseline visit Time 1 as the main intervention. They complete questionnaires at three timepoints baseline Time 1, before their research visit Time 2, and after their research visit Time 3. The brochure serves as a question prompt list aimed at facilitating communication about clinical trials. Throughout the study, participants answer surveys that measure their confidence in managing patient-provider interactions, knowledge about clinical trials, trust, and distress levels at different timepoints. The researchers also track how many participants engage with the brochure and how well the intervention is implemented over up to three months. The total participation duration spans from the initial baseline questionnaire to the post-research visit follow-up.

Researchers are studying adults newly diagnosed with breast, colorectal, melanoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, or non-small cell lung cancer who are planning to receive systemic cancer therapies such as chemotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibitors ICIs. The study aims to understand how cannabis and cannabinoid use relates to cancer-related symptoms over one year. This observational research includes patients treated in community oncology clinics and is sponsored by Wake Forest University Health Sciences. Participants complete surveys and allow medical record reviews throughout the study. The study tracks cannabis and cannabinoid use as well as perceived benefits, harms, and adverse effects monthly for 12 months following enrollment. An optional sub-study is available at select sites for patients with non-small cell lung cancer receiving specific chemotherapy with ICIs. During the study, participants fill out monthly surveys about their symptoms and cannabis use. Researchers also review medical records to assess cancer-related symptoms and treatment progress. The main measure is cancer-related symptoms assessed monthly for up to one year. Secondary measures include cannabis use patterns and adverse effects. Participation involves ongoing survey completion and record review, with the total study duration lasting 12 months post-enrollment.

Researchers are collecting blood and tissue samples from people with and without cancer to help evaluate new tests that could detect cancer early. This study aims to create a set of blinded blood samples from both cancer and non-cancer patients to validate these tests, focusing on multiple cancer types and stages. The goal is to improve early cancer detection through laboratory research. Participants complete a questionnaire at the start and provide blood samples at registration and again 12 months later. Those diagnosed with cancer may also have tissue samples collected at these times. The study includes patients with various cancer types and stages, as well as individuals without cancer, with some allowing enrollment before full cancer confirmation under specific conditions. During the study, researchers review the collected samples and questionnaire data to assess test performance by tumor type and clinical stage at diagnosis. Participants are followed for one year after completing the study. Key measurements include the provision of a blinded reference set of cancer versus non-cancer blood samples to support future clinical trials focused on blood-based multi-cancer early detection.

This research aims to establish a national biorepository by collecting research data and samples from patients who experience side effects from immunotherapy treatments used in cancer care. It focuses on patients who have serious immune-related reactions, rare infections, or accelerated tumor growth after receiving immuno-oncology therapies. The goal is to help researchers better predict, prevent, and treat these side effects in the future. Participants will have tissue and blood samples collected within 72 hours after confirmation of a serious immune-related side effect and again one month later. For patients experiencing colitis, stool samples may also be collected. Alongside sample collection, medical records will be reviewed for up to one year. This study is observational and involves no experimental treatments. During the study, participants will provide biospecimens at two time points and allow access to their medical records for a year. Researchers will analyze these samples and clinical data to build a resource for future studies on immune-related adverse events. The main outcome is the establishment of this biorepository, which will be maintained for up to one year after enrollment.

Researchers are comparing two types of radiation therapy, proton beam radiation therapy PBT and intensity modulated photon radiotherapy IMRT, to treat patients with stage I to IVA esophageal cancer. The study aims to find out whether PBT improves overall survival and causes fewer serious heart and lung side effects compared to IMRT. Additional goals include examining symptom burden, quality of life, tumor response, cost-effectiveness, hospitalization length, lymphocyte levels, and rates of treatment failures and complications. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group receives PBT over 28 treatment sessions, five days a week for 5.5 weeks, combined with chemotherapy chosen by the patient and their doctor. The other group receives IMRT on the same schedule with similar chemotherapy options. After chemoradiation, patients may have surgery to remove the esophagus tumor if they are eligible. Throughout the study, blood samples and imaging scans PETCT or CT are collected. Participants are closely monitored during treatment and followed for up to eight years. Follow-up visits occur every 3 to 6 months for the first three years and annually thereafter. The study measures overall survival, heart and lung side effects, symptom changes, tumor response, hospitalization time, immune cell counts, and quality-adjusted life years. The study also collects biospecimens for future research on treatment complications and assesses economic factors related to each radiation therapy.

This research aims to compare two methods of monitoring pancreatic cysts and to identify biomarkers that may help detect the risk of these cysts turning into pancreatic cancer. The study evaluates whether more frequent monitoring or less frequent monitoring leads to better patient outcomes and explores various blood and imaging biomarkers for improved risk prediction. Participants are observed through two different surveillance approaches that were previously randomized but are now closed to new enrollment. One approach involves lower intensity monitoring with MRI, CT, or endoscopic ultrasound EUS scans spaced out over years, while the other involves higher intensity monitoring with more frequent imaging based on cyst size. Throughout the study, patients may also provide blood samples and undergo biopsies, fine needle aspirations, or surgery as needed. Participants are followed up regularly for five years from registration, with imaging and blood tests at intervals depending on their assigned monitoring method. Researchers collect data on clinical features, anxiety, quality of life, financial distress, healthcare costs, and outcomes such as the development of concerning pancreatic cyst features or pancreatic cancer. The study uses these measures to assess the effectiveness of monitoring strategies and the predictive value of biomarkers.

Researchers are evaluating a treatment approach for early-stage hormone-sensitive, HER-2 negative breast cancer with an Oncotype recurrence score of 18 or less. This Phase III trial compares breast conservation surgery with endocrine therapy alone against breast conservation surgery with both radiation and endocrine therapy. The goal is to see if skipping radiation after lumpectomy is not worse in preventing cancer recurrence in the same breast. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group will receive radiation therapy to the breast plus at least five years of endocrine therapy with drugs such as Tamoxifen, Anastrozole, Letrozole, or Exemestane. The other group will receive endocrine therapy only for at least five years without radiation. Radiation must start within 12 weeks of surgery if assigned. Endocrine therapy dosing and schedule are determined by the treating doctor. During the study, participants will have regular follow-ups up to five years to monitor cancer recurrence in the breast and elsewhere, survival, and breast preservation. Assessments will include clinical exams, imaging like mammograms or MRI, and pathology reviews. The main outcome is time to invasive or noninvasive breast tumor recurrence within five years. Some measures will continue through an average of 15 years, including breast conservation rates. Safety and overall health will be monitored throughout and after treatment.

Researchers are investigating whether adding the drug Docetaxel to the usual hormone treatments, Androgen Deprivation Therapy ADT and Androgen-Receptor Pathway Inhibitor ARPI, can better control metastatic castration sensitive prostate cancer in men who have not responded optimally to initial hormone therapy. This phase III, international, open-label, randomized trial seeks to compare the effectiveness of this combined approach against the standard hormone therapy alone. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either the standard hormone therapy with ADT plus ARPI or the same hormone therapy combined with Docetaxel chemotherapy. The trial focuses on men with metastatic prostate cancer who continue to have elevated PSA levels after 6 to 12 months of hormone-targeting treatment. Treatments are administered according to physician choice and assignment, and the study evaluates outcomes over a long period. During the trial, participants will be closely monitored with assessments including PSA levels and clinical progression over 39 months. Researchers will measure overall survival as the primary outcome, along with secondary outcomes such as PSA progression, PSA response, PSA kinetics, and progression-free survival. Participants must be accessible for treatment and follow-up to allow for complete documentation of treatment effects and adverse events throughout the study duration.

Researchers are evaluating two digital mindfulness-based interventions to improve mental health and well-being in younger breast cancer survivors who have elevated depressive symptoms. This phase III randomized trial focuses on women diagnosed at or before age 50, who completed primary cancer treatments at least six months earlier. The study aims to compare the effectiveness of live instructor-led sessions via Zoom and a self-paced app-based program, exploring which approach best supports psychological health in this population. Participants will be assigned to one of three groups the live online mindfulness sessions MAPs LO conducted weekly for 6 weeks via Zoom, the MAPs App delivering the same content in shorter sessions over 6 weeks, or a meditation-only control group accessing guided audio meditations. Both English and Spanish speakers can participate in the live online and meditation groups, while the app is only available in English. Tablets and internet hotspots are provided if needed. All groups have access to the UCLA MARC mindfulness meditation app throughout the 6-month follow-up. During the study, participants will attend weekly sessions for the live group or engage with app content at home, with usage tracked to measure intervention dose. Researchers will assess depressive symptoms shortly after the intervention and again up to 6 months later, along with fatigue symptoms. They will also investigate factors influencing intervention effects, such as baseline distress and social determinants, and evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the programs. The total study duration includes a 6-week intervention period plus follow-up assessments out to 6 months.

Von Willebrand Disease VWD is the most common inherited bleeding disorder, affecting up to 0.1% of people. It often causes mucous membrane bleeding, heavy menstrual bleeding, surgical bleeding, or other bleeding challenges. Severe cases require treatment with von Willebrand factor VWF concentrates given intravenously. This study is evaluating emicizumab, a monoclonal antibody given by subcutaneous injection, as a potential prophylactic treatment for severe VWD and patients with both VWD and hemophilia A. Participants will receive emicizumab starting with a loading dose of 3 mgkg once weekly for 4 weeks, followed by a maintenance dose of 1.5 mgkg once weekly for one year. Dose escalation to 3 mgkg weekly may occur after 24 weeks if bleeding control is insufficient. Breakthrough bleeding can be treated with usual therapies such as antifibrinolytics or VWFFVIII concentrates. The study is open-label and will collect treatment records and bleeding logs throughout. Participants will be monitored for efficacy and safety over 18 months, including patient-reported outcomes on quality of life, physical, emotional, social, and general symptoms. Data on annualized bleed rates and treatment burden compared to previous therapies will be collected. Safety assessments and adherence to emicizumab prophylaxis will be tracked as well. This includes a one-year retrospective review of bleeding history before starting treatment.