UI Health Care Mission Cancer and Blood - West Des Moines Clinic

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 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 evaluating the effects of pembrolizumab alone compared to the standard treatment of chemotherapy cisplatin or carboplatin combined with radiation therapy after surgery in patients with recurrent or second primary head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. This phase II trial aims to assess overall survival, disease control, metastasis rates, and side effects in high-risk patients, while also exploring whether high PD-L1 expression predicts better responses to pembrolizumab. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups. One group receives intravenous cisplatin or carboplatin weekly for six cycles alongside daily intensity-modulated radiation therapy or proton beam radiation totaling 30 sessions. The other group receives intravenous pembrolizumab every six weeks for up to nine cycles. Throughout treatment, participants undergo CT or MRI scans to monitor their condition. After completing treatment, participants are followed up 30 days later and then every six months for up to five years. During the study, researchers evaluate overall survival from randomization to death, adverse events for up to five years, disease-free survival, and PD-L1 expression levels. The study monitors patients closely with imaging and clinical assessments to track treatment effects and safety over time.

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.

Researchers are studying colorectal cancer CRC in participants aged 45 to 70 who have 1 to 2 non-advanced adenomas, which are small colon polyps without high-risk features. The trial compares two surveillance colonoscopy schedules one group receives colonoscopy at 5 and 10 years after polyp detection, while the other group has colonoscopy only at 10 years. This study aims to provide randomized data to guide optimal timing for follow-up colonoscopies to help reduce CRC incidence and improve clinical practices. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups the first group undergoes surveillance colonoscopy at both 5 and 10 years following their qualifying colonoscopy, and the second group undergoes colonoscopy at 10 years only. All colonoscopies, including any unscheduled ones, follow current quality guidelines and institutional preparation standards. The qualifying colonoscopy must have been complete and performed within 4 years before randomization, with all polyps fully removed. During the study, participants will undergo colonoscopies according to their assigned schedules. Researchers will monitor the incidence of colorectal cancer over 10 years as the primary outcome. Participants must be able to understand English or Spanish to complete required procedures. The study may last up to several decades, with ongoing monitoring to assess long-term cancer incidence and the effectiveness of different surveillance intervals.

Researchers are evaluating the safety, side effects, best dose, and effectiveness of adding lenalidomide and nivolumab to the usual treatment of rituximab and methotrexate in patients with primary central nervous system CNS lymphoma. Lenalidomide may slow or stop tumor growth by blocking blood vessel development, while nivolumab and rituximab are monoclonal antibodies that help the immune system attack cancer cells. This phase I trial aims to improve understanding of these drugs in CNS lymphoma treatment and explore whether maintenance therapy can extend disease control after initial chemotherapy. During the induction phase, patients receive rituximab intravenously on day 1, methotrexate intravenously or orally on day 2, lenalidomide orally daily on days 5 to 9, and nivolumab intravenously on day 14. This 14-day cycle repeats for up to six cycles if the disease does not progress or side effects are unacceptable. Patients with a response or stable disease then enter maintenance therapy, receiving lenalidomide orally daily on days 1 to 21 and nivolumab intravenously on day 1 every 28 days for up to 12 cycles. Various imaging scans and procedures are performed throughout the study for monitoring. Participants undergo MRI scans regularly, CT and PETCT scans during screening, lumbar punctures after induction and maintenance phases, and other tests like bone marrow biopsy and echocardiograms. After completing treatment, patients are followed up every three months for two years, then every six months for an additional two years. Researchers measure outcomes including maximum tolerated dose, treatment response rates, progression-free survival, overall survival, and safety over up to five years.

Researchers are evaluating dose-escalated radiation therapy compared to usual care for patients with locally advanced unresectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma who have already completed 4 to 6 months of chemotherapy. The study is a phase III trial aiming to determine if higher doses of radiation can improve 3-year overall survival, as well as assess effects on tumor progression, chemotherapy-free intervals, treatment toxicity, and quality of life. This trial is led by NRG Oncology and focuses on patients without disease progression after initial chemotherapy. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups. The first group receives standard care, which may include additional chemotherapy options such as FOLFIRINOX, NALIRIFOX, or gemcitabinenab-paclitaxel, standard radiation therapy with concurrent chemotherapy, or observation. The second group receives dose-escalated radiation therapy delivered in either 5 or 25 fractions, with or without concurrent chemotherapy for the 25-fraction option. After radiation, patients who have not completed 6 months of chemotherapy are encouraged to finish it, with treatment beyond 6 months at the physicians discretion. Imaging and tissue biopsies are performed throughout the study. Participants undergo various assessments including blood sample collection, CT scans, MRI, and optional PETCT scans before and during treatment. Tumor tissue biopsies are also collected. Follow-up visits occur every 3 months for the first 2 years and annually for an additional 3 years. Researchers measure overall survival, local disease progression, progression-free survival, chemotherapy-free intervals, and adverse events. Quality of life is evaluated using specific questionnaires over the course of participation.

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 two treatment approaches for patients with high-grade T1 non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. This phase II trial evaluates pembrolizumab combined with radiation therapy against standard chemotherapy regimens plus radiation. Pembrolizumab is an immunotherapy drug that may help the immune system attack cancer cells, while chemotherapy drugs work to kill or stop tumor cells from growing and spreading. Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays or particles to destroy cancer cells and shrink tumors. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups. One group receives chemotherapy chosen by their doctor, which may include cisplatin, gemcitabine, or a combination of mitomycin and 5-fluorouracil, along with radiation therapy delivered over 4 to 7 weeks. The other group receives pembrolizumab infusions every 6 weeks for up to 9 cycles, also combined with radiation therapy over the same period. Both groups undergo imaging scans and blood tests during treatment, with optional urine samples collected. After finishing treatment, participants are followed regularly for up to 10 years, with more frequent check-ups in the first 2 years and less frequent visits afterward. The study measures bladder-intact event-free survival and quality of life over 5 years, along with assessing tumor response, disease control, survival rates, side effects, fatigue, and other quality of life factors. Researchers aim to understand the long-term effects of these treatments and monitor patient safety throughout the study.

Researchers are investigating whether adding the drug Docetaxel to the usual hormone treatments, Androgen Deprivation Therapy ADT and Androgen-Receptor Pathway Inhibitor ARPI, can better control metastatic castration sensitive prostate cancer in men who have not responded optimally to initial hormone therapy. This phase III, international, open-label, randomized trial seeks to compare the effectiveness of this combined approach against the standard hormone therapy alone. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either the standard hormone therapy with ADT plus ARPI or the same hormone therapy combined with Docetaxel chemotherapy. The trial focuses on men with metastatic prostate cancer who continue to have elevated PSA levels after 6 to 12 months of hormone-targeting treatment. Treatments are administered according to physician choice and assignment, and the study evaluates outcomes over a long period. During the trial, participants will be closely monitored with assessments including PSA levels and clinical progression over 39 months. Researchers will measure overall survival as the primary outcome, along with secondary outcomes such as PSA progression, PSA response, PSA kinetics, and progression-free survival. Participants must be accessible for treatment and follow-up to allow for complete documentation of treatment effects and adverse events throughout the study duration.