Mount Vernon

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.

This trial investigates monitoring and treatment options for patients with low risk and standard risk metastatic germ cell tumors, which are cancers that start in the cells that produce sperm or eggs. The study aims to find out if active surveillance after surgical removal of low risk tumors can maintain high survival rates, and whether carboplatin or cisplatin chemotherapy works better for treating standard risk tumors in children, adolescents, and young adults. Patients with low risk tumors undergo observation after surgery and may transfer to a standard risk treatment arm if the tumor recurs. Those with standard risk tumors are randomly assigned to receive one of two chemotherapy regimens one containing carboplatin, bleomycin, and etoposide, or the other containing cisplatin, bleomycin, and etoposide. Treatments are given intravenously in cycles every 21 days for up to 3 or 4 cycles depending on the group. Throughout the study, patients have imaging scans, blood tests, tumor biopsies, and pulmonary function tests to monitor response and side effects. Participants are followed closely during treatment and afterward with regular check-ups including CT, MRI, and chest X-rays, as well as blood sample collections. Follow-up visits occur every 2 months for the first year, then every 3-6 months up to 2 years, every 6 months for years 3 to 5, and annually up to 10 years. Researchers measure overall survival, event-free survival, hearing loss, body composition, tumor markers, and patient-reported outcomes related to hearing and neuropathy. This long-term monitoring helps assess the effects and safety of chemotherapy and surveillance strategies.

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.

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 evaluating how to best recommend chemotherapy for patients with Stage IIB, IIC, or Stage III colon cancer based on the presence or absence of circulating tumor DNA ctDNA after surgery. This Phase IIIII trial explores whether ctDNA status can help guide decisions about the need for adjuvant chemotherapy and identify the optimal chemotherapy regimen for those at high risk of recurrence. Circulating tumor DNA is a promising biomarker that may detect microscopic residual cancer cells that traditional methods might miss. Participants are assigned to groups based on their ctDNA results after surgery. Those without detectable ctDNA ctDNA- may undergo serial monitoring without treatment or receive different chemotherapy regimens such as mFOLFOX6 or CAPOX for 3 to 6 months. Patients with detectable ctDNA ctDNA who have a higher risk of recurrence are randomized to receive either standard chemotherapy regimens like mFOLFOX6 or CAPOX for 6 months or a more intensive regimen called mFOLFIRINOX for 6 months. Central ctDNA testing is performed using the Signatera test to guide these assignments. During the study, participants have blood samples collected for ctDNA testing and undergo imaging scans to check for cancer recurrence. Researchers assess disease-free survival, overall survival, and chemotherapy compliance over several years. The study includes monitoring for safety and treatment effects, with follow-up planned for up to 5 years after randomization. Participants health status, laboratory tests, and tumor markers are regularly evaluated throughout the treatment and follow-up periods.

Researchers are evaluating combinations of targeted drugs in people with advanced non-small cell lung cancer that has spread and shows specific changes in the EGFR and MET genes. This phase II Lung-MAP trial focuses on patients whose cancer has progressed after treatment with osimertinib and aims to compare the effectiveness of combining capmatinib, osimertinib, and ramucirumab. The study also investigates safety, response rates, and survival outcomes while collecting biological samples for further analysis. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group receives capmatinib and osimertinib as oral medications plus ramucirumab given intravenously, while the other group receives only capmatinib and osimertinib orally. During the trial, patients undergo regular CT or MRI scans and blood sample collections to monitor their disease and treatment effects. The study includes detailed assessments of tumor responses and side effects over time. Throughout the trial, participants will have scans and blood tests at scheduled intervals to assess disease progression and treatment impact. Researchers will monitor progression-free survival as the main outcome, along with response duration and toxicity. Blood samples are also collected to study circulating tumor DNA. The study continues up to three years, with ongoing safety and efficacy evaluations. Participants must meet specific health criteria and provide informed consent before joining.

Researchers are evaluating the effect of the Cost Communication and Financial Navigation CostCOM intervention on adherence to cancer care and financial burden in patients with malignant solid neoplasms. This study focuses on how financial hardship caused by out-of-pocket costs, employment changes, and insurance affects cancer treatment and quality of life. CostCOM aims to provide financial counseling and resource connections to reduce these burdens and improve adherence to care. Participants are randomized into two groups. One group receives a brochure describing financial navigation services Enhanced Usual Care, while the other group receives usual financial care plus CostCOM financial counseling sessions within 30 days of enrollment and again at 3, 6, and 12 months. Non-patient participants complete surveys and participate in interviews 15 to 39 months after the first patient enrollment. Participants complete surveys at baseline and at 3, 6, and 12 months to report on cost-related care non-adherence, financial hardship, financial worry, quality of life, and satisfaction with care. The study includes follow-up for 12 months after intervention completion. Non-patient participants also provide feedback on the CostCOM intervention through interviews. Researchers will monitor patient experiences and financial outcomes throughout the study.

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 conducting a study to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of collecting patient-reported outcomes PROs from adolescents and young adults AYAs aged 18 to 39 who have been diagnosed with cancer. The study compares two approaches allowing participants to choose five health-related quality of life HRQOL domains they find most important Choice PRO versus completing five standard HRQOL domains selected by researchers Fixed PRO. The goal is to understand which method better supports AYA engagement and data completion. Participants are randomized into two groups. One group selects five from 15 PRO domains to complete at baseline and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months, while the other group completes a fixed set of five domains at the same intervals. Questionnaires are completed online, facilitated by reminders via calls and text messages to improve adherence. The study also explores AYA preferences on how their PRO data should be shared with themselves, their families, and healthcare providers. During the study, participants complete assessments online at multiple timepoints, including baseline, 1, 3, 6, and 12 months, using a mix of computerized adaptive tests and static forms. Researchers measure feasibility based on the percentage of completed PROs and participant acceptability. The study monitors response rates, preferences, and data sharing views, aiming to enhance future patient-centered care and support in clinical trials involving AYAs with cancer.