Las Cruces

Researchers are evaluating the effects of cannabis and cannabinoid use on cancer-related symptoms in adults newly diagnosed with breast, colorectal, melanoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, or non-small cell lung cancer. This study focuses on patients who are planning to receive or have recently started systemic cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) targeting PD-1, PD-L1, or CTLA-4. The goal is to understand how cannabis use may be associated with symptom changes over time. Participants are enrolled in a non-interventional study where no experimental treatment is given. They complete surveys about their symptoms and cannabis use, and their medical records are reviewed regularly. The study tracks cancer-related symptoms monthly for up to 12 months after enrollment, allowing researchers to observe symptom patterns during ongoing cancer treatment. An optional substudy is available at select sites for patients with non-small cell lung cancer receiving paclitaxel and ICIs. During the study, participants complete online surveys in English or Spanish at their convenience, either at home or in clinic. Medical records are examined to gather information on treatments and health status. The main outcome measured is cancer-related symptoms, assessed monthly for one year. Safety monitoring includes ensuring participants have an expected life expectancy of at least six months and are not enrolled in hospice. The study aims to enroll 2000 patients across multiple sites in the United States.

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 how to best recommend chemotherapy for patients with colon cancer after surgery by using the presence or absence of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in the blood. This approach aims to identify microscopic residual tumor cells and may provide better risk prediction for cancer recurrence compared to traditional methods. The trial focuses on patients with Stage IIB, IIC, or III colon cancer who have undergone complete tumor removal. Participants will have their tumor tissue and blood tested centrally using the Signatera assay to determine ctDNA status. Patients without detectable ctDNA may avoid chemotherapy, while those with detectable ctDNA are considered at higher risk and will be randomly assigned to receive different chemotherapy regimens, including mFOLFOX6, CAPOX, or mFOLFIRINOX, given intravenously or orally over periods ranging from 3 to 6 months. The study includes initial screening, treatment, and possible second randomization for patients whose ctDNA status changes during monitoring. During the study, participants will undergo various assessments including blood tests, imaging scans, and performance evaluations to monitor their health and response to therapy. Researchers will track the time to ctDNA positivity and disease-free survival for up to 3 and 5 years, respectively. Safety and treatment effects will be closely observed throughout the study duration, ensuring thorough follow-up and monitoring for all participants.

Researchers are comparing two approaches of standard therapy for patients with stage II to IIIB non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that can be surgically removed. This phase III trial evaluates whether giving chemotherapy and immunotherapy before and after surgery (perioperative) is more effective than giving the same treatments only after surgery (adjuvant). The study aims to find out which method leads to better event-free survival and overall survival over several years. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups. In the adjuvant group, patients have surgery first, followed by up to four cycles of platinum-based chemotherapy and up to one year of immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment if there is no disease progression or unacceptable side effects. In the perioperative group, patients receive chemotherapy combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors before surgery, then have surgery, and continue immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy for up to one year afterward. Chemotherapy drugs used may include cisplatin, carboplatin, pemetrexed, gemcitabine, docetaxel, or vinorelbine, and immunotherapy drugs may include nivolumab, pembrolizumab, or atezolizumab. During the study, patients undergo imaging tests such as CT scans, MRI, or PET/CT scans to monitor their condition. After completing treatment, they are followed for up to 10 years with check-ups every six months. Researchers measure event-free survival at three years, overall survival up to 10 years, surgical outcomes, side effects, and other treatment-related factors to understand which approach offers better results for patients with resectable NSCLC.

Researchers are evaluating a nutritional program called Cooking for Your Health in Southern New Mexico to improve diet quality and nutrition knowledge related to cancer prevention among adults living in Doña Ana and Otero counties. This region experiences high rates of cancer and obesity, partly due to poor diet quality. Traditional Mexican diets, which are rich in fruits, vegetables, and fiber, are often difficult for local families to prepare. The study aims to identify effective and culturally relevant ways to enhance knowledge, skills, and behaviors related to healthy eating while increasing access to nutritious foods, with the goal of reducing cancer and chronic disease risks in these communities. Participants will take part in weekly intervention sessions for six weeks. Each session includes 15-30 minutes of preparatory work such as watching educational videos or practicing new cooking skills, followed by 60 minutes of hands-on cooking in a teaching kitchen. After cooking, participants will share a 60-minute meal together that includes group discussions about nutrition and health. After the six-week program, participants will be followed up at weeks 8 and 10. The study initially closed in May 2025 after enrolling 33 participants but reopened in October 2025 to include a second cohort. Throughout the study, participants will complete questionnaires and surveys related to the intervention. Researchers will assess the rate of participant enrollment within six months, engagement during the eight-week period, retention at week 8, and how acceptable participants find the program. Participants must attend all six in-person classes and complete baseline data collection. Access to a phone and internet is required to stay in contact and complete study assessments. The study monitors participants’ progress and gathers information on their experiences with the nutritional program over approximately 10 weeks.

Researchers are evaluating if adding adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT) to ovarian function suppression (OFS) plus endocrine therapy (ET) improves invasive breast cancer-free survival (IBCFS) compared to OFS plus ET alone. This Phase III trial focuses on premenopausal women with early-stage breast cancer that is estrogen receptor (ER)-positive, HER2-negative, and has a 21-gene recurrence score between 16-25 for node-negative patients or 0-25 for patients with 1-3 positive nodes. The study addresses the need for better treatment options for younger women diagnosed with this type of breast cancer, as younger age is linked to worse outcomes despite standard therapies. Participants receive one of two treatments: either OFS combined with an aromatase inhibitor (AI) for five years or adjuvant chemotherapy followed by the same OFS plus AI regimen. The specific AI and GnRH agonist used, along with their dosing schedules, are chosen by the investigator, commonly including goserelin, leuprolide, or triptorelin administered monthly or every three months. Bilateral oophorectomy may be used instead of ovarian suppression if preferred. Endocrine therapy beyond five years is at the investigator's discretion. During the trial, participants will be closely monitored for invasive breast cancer-free survival over an 11-year period from randomization. Assessments include clinical evaluations, hormone receptor testing, tumor staging, and genetic recurrence scoring prior to enrollment. Safety and effectiveness data will be collected throughout the study, with particular attention to treatment side effects and long-term outcomes. The trial involves detailed eligibility screening and ongoing follow-up to ensure accurate measurement of the study's primary outcome.

This research aims to determine whether osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) can help adults recover their sense of smell after losing it due to COVID-19 infection. Loss of smell is a common symptom of COVID-19 that affects quality of life and safety. The study will also explore how long any improvement in olfactory function lasts. Participants must be adults who tested positive for COVID-19 and currently have some loss of smell. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either OMT or a sham treatment. The OMT involves occipitoatlantal decompression with specific pressure for 2 minutes and treatment of nasal Chapman points, both performed while lying down. The sham treatment consists of the investigator gently resting their hands on the participant's neck for 5 minutes. Olfactory testing using the "Sniffin' Sticks" method will be done before and after treatment, with follow-up tests daily for up to 10 days to assess changes in smell. Throughout the study, participants will undergo repeated smell tests and evaluations to monitor recovery. The primary outcome is the ability to regain the sense of smell from enrollment until two weeks after treatment. Safety monitoring includes screening for factors that might interfere with treatment or increase risks. The total participation involves initial assessment, treatment, and up to 10 days of follow-up testing to observe lasting effects or natural recovery of smell.

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 ways to improve advance care planning (ACP) among underserved communities, who often receive lower quality end-of-life care and unwanted, costly treatments. This study compares two conversation-based tools designed to encourage discussions about end-of-life wishes and motivate ACP behaviors. The goal is to increase high-quality end-of-life care, reduce health disparities, and lessen unnecessary suffering for patients and families. The study is a cluster randomized controlled trial involving 75 underserved communities across the US. It compares a serious conversation game called Hello, the widely used Conversation Project (CP) Starter Kit, and usual care where only an advance directive is distributed. The Hello game has 32 questions prompting sharing of values and beliefs about end-of-life issues, while the CP Starter Kit is a workbook with prompts and resources to facilitate conversations. The third group receives a general conversation game called Table Topics. Participants include adults from underserved populations who have not completed an advance directive in the past 5 years. Researchers will assess completion of a visually verified advance directive six months after the intervention. Other ACP behaviors will also be measured. The study involves community events, follow-up, and data collection to understand which tools best engage underserved groups in ACP and improve end-of-life care outcomes.

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.