Pascagoula

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 studying how certain factors like age, gender, other medical conditions, and the type of immunotherapy affect whether patients with malignant solid tumors develop mild or serious side effects from immune checkpoint inhibitor treatments. This observational study aims to develop and validate a model that predicts severe immune-related side effects during the first year of immunotherapy, while also assessing quality of life and adverse events over 12 months. The study is sponsored by the SWOG Cancer Research Network and includes translational medicine goals such as evaluating cytokine levels as predictors and establishing a tissue and blood sample repository. Participants will provide a tissue sample at the start of their routine cancer treatment and complete questionnaires at multiple time points at treatment start, and weeks 4, 12, 24, and 52. They may also provide optional blood samples during the study. This design allows researchers to monitor immune-related side effects and patient-reported outcomes over time. During the study, participants will complete various questionnaires to report their quality of life, cognitive function, and side effects. Blood and tissue samples will be analyzed to explore predictive markers of toxicity. Researchers will track the occurrence of severe immune-related side effects over 52 weeks and assess changes in patient-reported outcomes. The study includes ongoing monitoring and data collection, with participation lasting approximately one year from treatment start.

Researchers are evaluating a master screening protocol called Lung-MAP for patients with previously treated non-small cell lung cancer. This phase IIIII trial aims to develop a genomic screening method for large cancer populations and assign participants to appropriate sub-studies based on specific cancer biomarkers. The goal is to compare new targeted therapies designed to block cancer growth or spread with standard care, including sub-studies for patients not eligible for biomarker-driven treatments. The study involves screening patient specimens to determine eligibility for various biomarker-driven or non-matched sub-studies within the Lung-MAP umbrella protocol. This is a screening study without direct interventions instead, patients are assigned to different treatment sub-studies, each operating independently. The protocol also includes an optional ancillary study evaluating attitudes about the return of somatic mutation findings suggestive of germline mutations. Participants provide tumor tissue for biomarker testing, including molecular profiling and PD-L1 analysis, and may submit fresh biopsies and blood samples for circulating tumor DNA testing. Researchers will monitor screening success rates up to three years and collect patient and physician feedback on genetic findings. Participation involves signing informed consent, providing smoking history, and possibly completing surveys. The study duration and assessments vary depending on sub-study assignment and patient progression.

Researchers are comparing the rates of surgical and minimally invasive interventions, as well as any harms, in Medicare beneficiaries treated with the MILD procedure versus those treated with interspinous process decompression IPD for lumbar spinal stenosis with neurogenic claudication. This observational study uses Medicare claims data to follow patients for 24 months after their initial procedure starting from January 1, 2017. The purpose is to evaluate outcomes between these two types of procedures without requiring prior patient enrollment or consent. The study includes two groups patients who received MILD, which is a percutaneous image-guided lumbar decompression performed under fluoroscopic guidance through a dorsal approach to the spine, and patients who received IPD, a different device-based decompression procedure. Data on reoperations and complications will be collected for both groups over a 24-month follow-up period using Medicare claims. Enrollment continues until the sponsor decides to stop. Participants involvement is passive as the study uses existing Medicare claims data. Researchers will monitor rates of harms related to the initial procedure and subsequent surgical or minimally invasive interventions over two years. No direct patient visits or interventions are conducted, and the study is exempt from institutional review board oversight. The total study duration extends to December 2026, covering cases treated since early 2017.

Researchers are reviewing anonymous medical records from multiple centers to understand the outcomes of different treatments for chronic pain. This study includes several groups to assess how various approaches work in distinct patient subgroups. The focus is on patients who have had or may have spinal cord stimulation systems or other treatments like radiofrequency RF or intradiscal therapies IDS. The study looks at patients who have previously received spinal cord stimulation or other therapies and those who have switched to different treatments afterward. Treatments under review include Boston Scientific devices and non-Boston Scientific systems such as spinal cord stimulation, RF, and IDS. The data is retrospective, meaning it examines past patient experiences without introducing new treatments. Participants involvement consists of the analysis of their de-identified medical charts, with no active treatment or visits required. Researchers will measure responder rates approximately two years from the start of data collection to evaluate treatment outcomes. The study spans from April 2012 to December 2030, focusing on long-term clinical results in chronic pain management.

Researchers are evaluating patients with metastatic HER-2-positive breast cancer who are receiving trastuzumab-based therapy and are at risk of heart problems. The study includes two groups one large observational group taking beta blockers, ACE inhibitors, or ARBs alongside trastuzumab, and a smaller randomized group comparing the effects of carvedilol versus no treatment. The aim is to understand the occurrence of heart issues and whether carvedilol might help prevent cardiac side effects from chemotherapy. Participants are assigned to one of three arms based on their current medications. Patients not on beta blockers, ARBs, or ACE inhibitors are randomized to either receive carvedilol orally twice daily or no study intervention. Those already taking these heart medications enter an observational arm without additional treatment. Treatment and observation continue for up to 108 weeks unless disease progression or unacceptable side effects occur. Throughout the study, participants undergo heart function monitoring with echocardiograms every 12 weeks and provide blood samples for biomarker analysis. Researchers track the time to the first sign of heart dysfunction and any cardiac events, as well as adherence to medication and side effects. The study also collects data to develop models predicting heart risk and banks samples for future research. Participant involvement may last over two years with regular assessments to monitor safety and heart health.

Researchers are evaluating how well serum tumor marker directed disease monitoring STMDDM works compared to usual care in patients with hormone receptor positive, HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer. This trial aims to see if monitoring with serum tumor markers can provide similar overall survival outcomes to the standard approach, which involves regular imaging scans. The study also looks at healthcare costs, patient anxiety, and quality of life related to these monitoring methods. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups. In the usual care group, patients receive imaging studies at least every 12 weeks and may have serum tumor marker tests as determined by their doctor. In the STMDDM group, patients have blood tests for specific tumor markers every 4 to 8 weeks, and imaging scans are only done if these markers indicate a possible progression of disease. Both groups continue their monitoring for up to 312 weeks unless the disease progresses. During the study, participants undergo regular assessments including blood tests for tumor markers, imaging scans as needed, and questionnaires about anxiety and quality of life. Researchers track overall survival for up to 312 weeks and compare healthcare costs and patient-reported outcomes for up to 48 to 102 weeks. The study also collects data on how often and by what methods disease monitoring is performed, along with patient and physician preferences related to monitoring.