Fishersville

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.

Researchers are studying premenopausal women with early-stage breast cancer that is estrogen receptor-positive and HER2-negative, focusing on tumors with specific gene recurrence scores. The trial aims to find out if adding chemotherapy to ovarian function suppression plus endocrine therapy improves invasive breast cancer-free survival compared to ovarian function suppression plus endocrine therapy alone. This Phase III trial addresses the need for better treatments in younger women, given their higher risk and past conflicting study results on ovarian suppression and chemotherapy. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups one receiving ovarian function suppression combined with an aromatase inhibitor for five years, and the other receiving adjuvant chemotherapy followed by the same ovarian function suppression and aromatase inhibitor regimen. Choices for the aromatase inhibitor and gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist are made by the investigator, with options including drugs such as goserelin, leuprolide, or triptorelin. Endocrine treatment beyond five years is at the investigators discretion, and bilateral oophorectomy may be used instead of ovarian suppression if preferred. During the study, participants are monitored over 11 years from randomization, with measurements including invasive breast cancer-free survival as the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes include disease-free survival, overall survival, recurrence intervals, menopausal symptoms, and pain during aromatase inhibitor therapy. Safety and treatment effects are assessed through regular evaluations, and participants continue to be followed long term to understand the impact of treatments on their breast cancer outcomes.

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 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.

This research aims to evaluate the use of neoadjuvant darovasertib in adults with primary non-metastatic uveal melanoma. The study is a Phase 3, randomized, open-label trial conducted at multiple centers, focusing on patients who require either plaque brachytherapy or enucleation. It investigates whether adding darovasertib before primary local therapy can improve vision preservation and eye salvage compared to immediate local therapy alone. Participants are divided into two groups based on treatment needs. In cohort 1, patients receive darovasertib orally twice daily before plaque brachytherapy and are compared to those receiving immediate plaque brachytherapy without darovasertib. In cohort 2, the treatment group receives darovasertib before primary local therapies such as plaque brachytherapy, proton beam radiation, or enucleation, while the control group undergoes immediate enucleation. After initial treatments, all patients continue with their assigned local therapies. During the study, participants will be followed for up to three years to monitor outcomes including vision loss and tumor recurrence. Assessments include evaluations of vision and the ability to preserve the eye. Researchers will measure the proportion of patients experiencing vision loss in cohort 1 and the success of eye salvage in cohort 2. This long-term follow-up helps understand the effects of neoadjuvant darovasertib combined with local therapies on patient outcomes.

Researchers are evaluating whether simply observing patients after surgery is as effective as continuing pembrolizumab treatment in preventing cancer recurrence in people with early-stage triple-negative breast cancer TNBC who had a complete response after receiving chemotherapy plus pembrolizumab before surgery. This Phase III trial aims to determine if stopping pembrolizumab post-surgery can maintain recurrence-free survival while potentially improving quality of life and reducing treatment burden. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups after finishing chemotherapy with pembrolizumab and surgery. One group continues pembrolizumab intravenously every 3 or 6 weeks for 27 weeks. The other group undergoes observation without further pembrolizumab for the same period. Throughout the study, patients have tumor biopsies and blood collected, along with imaging such as mammography, breast ultrasound, or MRI during follow-up. Participants will be monitored for recurrence-free survival and overall survival for up to 10 years. The study also assesses adverse events, quality of life, financial impact, and work productivity at about 27 weeks after starting the assigned treatment or observation. Safety and treatment effects are tracked through biopsies, imaging, blood tests, and patient questionnaires during the study and follow-up.

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 comparing two radiation therapy approaches for men with high-risk prostate cancer to see if a shorter treatment duration can prevent cancer recurrence as effectively as the usual longer radiation schedule. This phase III trial evaluates stereotactic body radiation therapy SBRT, which delivers higher doses in five treatments over two weeks, against standard external beam radiation therapy EBRT, which involves 20 to 45 treatments over 4 to 9 weeks. The study includes men with specific high-risk features and uses advanced imaging to assess outcomes. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group receives SBRT, involving five precise radiation treatments over two weeks, while the other group receives EBRT with 20 to 45 treatments over 4 to 9 weeks. Both groups undergo imaging tests such as bone scans, CT, MRI, or PETCT during screening and on study. Optional blood and urine samples may be collected during the trial. During the study, participants are followed every six months for up to five years to monitor metastasis-free survival, treatment effects on urinary, bowel, and sexual functions, fatigue, and overall quality of life. Various patient questionnaires and physician assessments track side effects and treatment burden. The trial also includes long-term evaluations of survival and disease progression, with imaging and laboratory tests supporting these assessments.

Researchers are evaluating the addition of pembrolizumab immunotherapy to standard chemotherapy for patients with stage IIA, IIB, IIIA, or IIIB non-small cell lung cancer NSCLC that has been completely removed by surgery. This phase III trial aims to compare disease-free survival and overall survival among different treatment approaches, including chemotherapy alone, chemotherapy followed by pembrolizumab, and chemotherapy combined with pembrolizumab. The study also assesses quality of life and adverse event rates in these patient groups. Participants are randomly assigned to one of three groups. One group receives only chemotherapy with observation afterward. The other two groups receive chemotherapy followed by pembrolizumab or chemotherapy combined with pembrolizumab. Chemotherapy involves one of four platinum doublet regimens administered every 21 days for four cycles, depending on the physicians choice. Pembrolizumab is given intravenously over 25-40 minutes, either after chemotherapy or alongside it, repeated every 21 days or every 6 weeks for multiple cycles. Patients also undergo heart ultrasound, MRI, CT scans, and blood sample collections as part of the study. During the trial, participants have regular medical assessments including imaging and blood tests to monitor their health. Follow-up visits occur 6 weeks after treatment, then every 3 months for 2 years, every 6 months for years 2-4, and annually up to 10 years from randomization. Researchers measure disease-free survival as the main outcome, tracking the time until cancer recurrence or death. They also evaluate overall survival, side effects, drug tolerability, and patient-reported quality of life over time.