Norton Shores

Researchers are comparing two chemotherapy treatment plans for patients with newly diagnosed intermediate-risk rhabdomyosarcoma, a type of soft tissue cancer. This phase III trial evaluates whether a higher dose chemotherapy over a shorter time Regimen A is better than a lower dose chemotherapy followed by maintenance treatment over a longer time Regimen B, both combined with standard surgery and radiation. The study also aims to assess survival rates, treatment side effects, and molecular features of the tumor. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups. Regimen A involves multiple cycles of vincristine, dactinomycin, and cyclophosphamide given intravenously every 21 days, with possible surgery during week 12 and radiation treatments during specified cycles. Regimen B includes alternating cycles of vincristine, dactinomycin, cyclophosphamide, and irinotecan, followed by 24 weeks of maintenance chemotherapy with vinorelbine and oral cyclophosphamide. Both groups undergo imaging scans and biopsies as needed during treatment. Throughout the study, participants will have regular CT or MRI scans and blood tests, along with other procedures such as lymph node biopsies, bone marrow tests, and lumbar punctures to monitor disease status. After treatment, follow-up visits occur every 3 months for the first year, then less frequently up to 5 years to check for event-free survival and overall health. The trial also collects biospecimens for future research and evaluates treatment effects on fertility and quality of life.

Researchers are evaluating disitamab vedotin alone or combined with pembrolizumab to treat urothelial cancer that expresses HER2. This study focuses on participants with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer that cannot be removed by surgery. It aims to assess how well the drug works and to monitor the side effects experienced by participants. Participants receive disitamab vedotin intravenously every 2 weeks, either alone or with pembrolizumab given by intravenous infusion on Day 1 of each 6-week cycle. The study includes multiple cohorts receiving different combinations or monotherapy treatments. The treatment period and monitoring last approximately 2 years, with ongoing assessments of drug effects and safety. During the study, participants undergo regular evaluations including imaging scans to measure tumor response, laboratory tests, electrocardiograms to monitor heart function, and assessments of side effects. Researchers measure treatment response using established cancer evaluation criteria and track survival and disease control over about 3 years. Participants are closely monitored for adverse effects and blood levels of the drugs to understand how the treatments behave in the body.

Researchers are evaluating the combination of nivolumab and blinatumomab compared to blinatumomab alone in children and young adults aged 1 to under 31 years with first relapse of CD19 B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia B-ALL, including patients with Down syndrome. This phase II trial aims to compare event-free survival after reinduction and consolidation therapy, assess safety and tolerability, and explore various outcomes such as remission rates and toxicity, with follow-up up to 10 years after enrollment. Participants receive treatments based on their assigned groups and arms, involving cycles of immunotherapy including blinatumomab, nivolumab, dexamethasone, methotrexate, and other chemotherapy drugs given by various routes such as intravenous infusion, intrathecal injection, and oral administration. Treatment cycles repeat every 36 or 37 days for up to two cycles, with some groups receiving radiation therapy or maintenance chemotherapy afterward. Patients with high white blood cell counts or specific disease locations may receive pre-immunotherapy treatments. Throughout the study, participants undergo lumbar punctures, bone marrow biopsies and aspirations, and collection of blood, urine, and cerebrospinal fluid for monitoring. Researchers measure outcomes such as minimal residual disease negative remission rates and event-free survival. After completing treatment, participants are followed every three months for one year to monitor their health and any long-term treatment effects.

Researchers are evaluating whether adding immunotherapy drugs brentuximab vedotin and nivolumab to the standard treatment of chemotherapy with or without radiation improves survival for patients aged 5 to 60 with early stage classical Hodgkin lymphoma. This phase III trial compares progression-free survival and overall survival between the standard therapy and the immunotherapy-enhanced approach, as well as patient-reported outcomes and long-term side effects. Participants initially receive two cycles of ABVD chemotherapy every 28 days and then undergo imaging to classify their early response. Based on risk level and response, patients are assigned to one of eight treatment arms that include either continuing standard chemotherapy, receiving immunotherapy drugs, or combinations with involved-site radiation therapy. Treatments are delivered intravenously or orally in cycles lasting 28 days. Imaging and blood samples are collected throughout the trial. Participants are monitored regularly with PET scans, CT or MRI imaging, and blood tests. Follow-up visits occur every 3 months in the first year, then every 6 months for years two and three, and annually up to 12 years from registration. Researchers assess survival outcomes, adverse events, patient-reported symptoms and quality of life, and metabolic tumor burden. Long-term effects such as cardiovascular and pulmonary health are also evaluated using questionnaires and clinical assessments.

Researchers are evaluating treatments for patients with BRAF-V600 mutant melanoma that has spread to the brain. This phase II trial compares two combinations encorafenib, binimetinib, and nivolumab versus ipilimumab and nivolumab. The study aims to determine which approach is more effective at shrinking and controlling brain metastases, and it also examines survival, response rates, and treatment safety. Patients are randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups. One group takes encorafenib daily by mouth, binimetinib twice daily by mouth, and receives nivolumab through an intravenous IV infusion every 28 days. The other group receives nivolumab IV every cycle and ipilimumab IV over 30 minutes during the first four cycles, with cycles repeating every 21 days initially, then every 28 days. Treatment continues unless disease worsens or side effects become unacceptable. Participants undergo brain MRI scans before enrollment and throughout the study to assess tumor response using specific criteria. After completing treatment, patients are followed every six months for two years, then yearly up to three years. The study collects tissue, blood, spinal fluid, and stool samples for future research. Researchers monitor progression-free survival as the main outcome, along with overall survival, response rates, and treatment side effects.

Researchers are evaluating whether adding the immunotherapy drug durvalumab to the usual chemotherapy regimen can improve outcomes for patients with MammaPrint High 2 Risk MP2 stage II-III hormone receptor positive, HER2 negative breast cancer. This phase III trial focuses on comparing breast cancer event-free survival and other measures between patients receiving chemotherapy alone and those receiving chemotherapy with durvalumab. Immunotherapy may help enhance the bodys immune response against cancer, while chemotherapy works to stop tumor growth in various ways. Participants are first tested for MP2 status using MammaPrint on previously collected tissue. Those with MP2 results are randomized into two groups. One group receives paclitaxel intravenously on days 1 and 8 every 14 days for six cycles, followed by doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide intravenously every 14 days for four cycles. The other group receives the same chemotherapy schedule combined with durvalumab given intravenously over 60 minutes on specific cycles. Mammography and optional tumor tissue and blood sample collections occur during the study. During the study, participants undergo assessments including mammography, tumor biopsies, blood tests, and quality-of-life questionnaires. Researchers measure outcomes such as event-free survival, response rates, relapse-free survival, overall survival, treatment side effects, and patient-reported fatigue and physical health. After treatment completion, participants are followed for up to 10 years to monitor long-term outcomes and survival. Specimens are also banked for future research.

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.

This research aims to evaluate the combination of two drugs, cabozantinib and nivolumab, in treating advanced melanoma or squamous cell head and neck cancer that may have spread locally or to distant parts of the body. The study focuses on how these drugs affect tumor growth and the immune systems ability to fight cancer. It also investigates how quickly patients can be grouped based on tumor biomarkers, specifically tumor mutational burden and tumor inflammation signature, to understand differences in treatment responses. Participants receive nivolumab through intravenous infusion on the first day of each 28-day cycle and take cabozantinib orally every day. Treatment cycles continue for up to two years unless the disease progresses or side effects become unacceptable. During the study, patients undergo CT or MRI scans and blood sample collections. Tumor biopsies are taken during screening and may be repeated during follow-up. After treatment ends, participants are monitored every 12 weeks for one year and then every six months for up to three years. Throughout the trial, participants are assessed with imaging scans and blood tests to monitor cancer status and treatment effects. Researchers measure the time to receive biomarker results and evaluate tumor response rates. They also track safety, disease control, progression-free survival, and overall survival over the two years of treatment. Specimens are banked for future research. Participants remain under observation for several years after treatment to gather long-term data on outcomes and safety.

Researchers are evaluating treatments for older adults aged 70 and above with advanced stage IIIB-IV non-small cell lung cancer that expresses PD-L1 in 1-49% of tumor cells. This phase III trial compares the effects of adding chemotherapy to immunotherapy with pembrolizumab against pembrolizumab alone. The study aims to assess improvements in overall survival, progression-free survival, response rates, toxicity, quality of life, and explore geriatric assessment factors and gut microbiome correlations. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups. Arm A receives pembrolizumab intravenously every 21 days for four cycles, followed by maintenance pembrolizumab every 21 or 42 days for up to two years. Arm B receives the same pembrolizumab schedule plus one of several chemotherapy regimens, including combinations of pemetrexed, carboplatin, nab-paclitaxel, or paclitaxel administered intravenously on different schedules for four cycles, followed by pembrolizumab maintenance. Imaging with MRI, CT, and PET scans is performed at baseline and throughout the trial. During the study, participants undergo regular assessments including imaging scans to monitor disease status, blood tests, and quality of life questionnaires. After treatment completion, follow-up visits occur every three months for up to two years and then every six months up to five years. Researchers measure overall survival as the primary outcome and also track progression-free survival, response rates, adverse events, and patient-reported quality of life. Safety and tolerability are closely monitored along with exploratory analyses of chemotherapy dose intensity and microbiome factors.

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.