Clinical trials

Up to 80% of breast cancer survivors experience chemotherapy-induced neuropathy that impairs quality of life and increases fall risk long into survivorship, yet treatment options for neuropathy remain limited. The successful treatment will target neurophysiologic mechanisms for restoring function while addressing patient-reported symptoms and participation in treatment. Toward this end, the investigators propose to study a noninvasive, social sensorimotor intervention - Adapted Argentine Tango - which targets motor control restoration, symptom alleviation, and treatment participation in concert.

This clinical trial studies whether imposing higher taxes and bans on electronic cigarettes (EC) with appealing features impacts tobacco use among current and susceptible adolescents and young adults (AYA) EC users and adults who use EC or are open to EC use. ECs are currently the most popular form of nicotine or tobacco product in the United States. Compared to burned cigarette products, ECs generally pose fewer short-term harms, making them a promising tool for lowering users' exposure to toxins and cancer-causing chemicals from smoking, promoting better public health outcomes. However, evidence shows that EC marketing has increased overall initiation into nicotine use among AYAs, and that EC users are at a higher risk of becoming smokers, which could have negative public health outcomes. Therefore, understanding the public health impact of EC use and regulation remains a major goal in tobacco control research. This trial studies different scenarios which impose higher taxes or bans on ECs with appealing features. Researchers hope that by studying participant responses to the different scenarios they may be able to identify which ones best discourage EC use among AYAs while promoting adult EC users to quit smoking, which may improve public health.

This clinical trial studies if a bowel management program with a retrograde rectal enema (RRE) for the treatment of low anterior resection syndrome (LARS) in rectal cancer patients is better than medical management alone. Rectal cancer treatment can include a procedure where part of the rectum with cancer is removed and the remaining part of the rectum is reconnected to the colon, this is called a low anterior resection of the rectum. LARS is a common condition that can develop after undergoing a low anterior resection of the rectum. LARS consists of any change in how the body performs defecation, the discharge of feces from the body, after undergoing a resection procedure. Patients with LARS may experience fecal urgency, incontinence, increased frequency, constipation, feelings of incomplete bowel movement, or bowel emptying difficulties. Patients may experience individual symptoms of LARS or a combination of them. A bowel management program assists patient's with identifying a specific bowel management regimen that works best for managing symptoms of LARS. A RRE consists of inserting a catheter through the anus into the rectum. The RRE is designed to assist fecal emptying. Medical management of LARS can include the use of fiber, loperamide hydrochloride, or pelvic floor physical therapy. Fiber may help relieve constipation, feelings of incomplete bowel movement, or bowel emptying difficulties. Loperamide hydrocholoride may help lessen fecal urgency, incontinence, or increased frequency. Pelvic floor physical therapy may help restore strength in the rectum possibly helping to improve symptoms of LARS. Participating in a bowel management program with a RRE may be more effective in treating LARS than medical management alone.

This clinical trial tests two different physical therapy and relaxation interventions, one in-person and at-home called Resiliency and Operative Success for Adults Receiving Lung Cancer Surgery (ROAR-LCS) and one virtually called BeFitMe. These programs that take place before and after standard of care lung cancer surgery, called prehabilitation programs, promote resiliency and patient outcomes (operative success) for adults receiving lung cancer surgery. Lung cancers occur in the chest and often cause symptoms for patients. Poor physical performance and negative mood are two risk factors for a decline in functional status after surgery. Physical therapy and relaxation interventions (i.e. progressive muscle relaxation) are two such interventions that may improve physical and emotional recovery including a potential shortened hospital stay for patients receiving surgery for lung cancer. Starting these intervention programs early alongside cancer treatment can improve symptoms, improve functional status and quality of life, help with emotional needs of patients, improve recovery time, and may even prolong life. ROAR-LCS and BeFitMe may promote resiliency and operative success for adults receiving lung cancer surgery.

This clinical trial tests how well dynamic contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) with standard clinical evaluation works to assess treatment response for patients with pancreatic cancer that may be able to be removed by surgery (borderline resectable). Borderline resectable pancreatic cancer (BRPC) is a certain type of pancreatic cancer that involves the arteries or veins near the pancreas. With the right treatment before surgery, it can be removed (resected) successfully. An MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan creates clear images of the structures inside the body using a large magnet, radio waves, and a computer. DCE-MRI can be used to calculate the blood perfusion. Blood perfusion can show disease status. Using DCE-MRI as part of standard clinical evaluation may provide a more accurate treatment response assessment for patients with BRPC.

This clinical trial evaluates the effect of nicotine on eye movements and related behaviors in people who use electronic (e)-cigarettes. Nicotine is an addictive, poisonous chemical found in tobacco. It can also be made in the laboratory. When it enters the body, nicotine causes an increased heart rate and the use of oxygen by the heart and a sense of well-being and relaxation. E-cigarettes are the most commonly used tobacco products in young adults in the United States. E-cigarettes deliver nicotine rapidly and the potential for addiction (abuse liability) is comparable to combustible cigarettes. The Food and Drug Administration uses a combination of testing including self-reported scales, withdrawal assessments and behavioral tasks to evaluate the abuse liability of a nicotine product. Research has shown that nicotine alters movement of the eye (oculomotor) and the amount of nicotine in the blood impacts the extent of oculomotor function impairment. Despite this evidence linking nicotine to oculomotor changes, it has not been studied as a reliable marker for abuse in e-cigarette users. Studying eye movements can provide information about how the brain responds to nicotine and may help researchers develop better, more objective ways to measure how addictive nicotine products in e-cigarette users.

This is an observational study to collects blood samples and tumor tissue from adults with relapsed small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) receiving standard of care commercial DLL3 T cell engager. The goal of the study is to understand the changes in tumor markers over time and examine whether these changes are associated with clinical outcomes. Participants will provide blood samples and, when clinically feasible, tumor tissue during routine care visits, treatment, and imaging assessments. The study does not assign cancer treatment.

This is an observational study to evaluate hardware related and oncologic outcomes in adult patients with primary and metastatic spine disease undergoing separation surgery followed by radiation treatment.

This randomized, double-blind, crossover human laboratory study compares the abuse liability of cigarettes containing menthol and non-menthol cigarette variants, using the participant's usual brand menthol cigarette as a within-subject reference. Participants complete standardized laboratory smoking sessions, behavioral economic tasks, and a naturalistic observational period. The study examines differences in nicotine delivery, smoking behavior, and subjective effects across cigarette types in laboratory and real-world contexts.

This clinical trial evaluates the impact of blessing stem cell products before infusion on spiritual well-being and quality of life for patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Stem cell transplantation represents a transformative medical and personal journey for patients and families. For stem cell transplantation (SCT) recipients, higher levels of spiritual well-being correlate with reduced anxiety and depression, greater hope, and improved emotional stability. Because quality of life often declines after SCT, spiritual support becomes crucial. This trial uses a culturally adaptable, standardized blessing that is personalized to align with each patient's faith tradition or personal belief system that may improve spiritual well-being and quality of life for patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

This phase III trial compares the effect of adding doxorubicin and ifosfamide (AIM chemotherapy) before (neoadjuvant) receiving standard treatment with pembrolizumab, radiation therapy and surgery to standard of care treatment alone in treating patients with high-risk soft-tissue sarcomas, such as undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS) or liposarcoma (LPS), that originate in the arms, legs (extremity) or torso (trunk wall) and can be removed by surgery (resectable). Doxorubicin comes from the bacterium Streptomyces peucetius. It damages deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and may kill tumor cells. It is a type of anthracycline antitumor antibiotic. Ifosfamide attaches to DNA in cells and may kill tumor cells. It is a type of alkylating agent and a type of antimetabolite. Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as pembrolizumab, may help the body's immune system attack the tumor, and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT)is a type of 3-dimensional radiation therapy that uses computer-generated images to show the size and shape of the tumor. Thin beams of radiation of different intensities are aimed at the tumor from many angles. Giving neoadjuvant doxorubicin and ifosfamide with standard of care pembrolizumab, radiation therapy and surgery may be safe, tolerable, and/or more effective than standard of care therapy alone in treating patients with high-risk resectable soft tissue sarcoma of the arms, legs, or torso.

This phase Ib trial is to find out the best dose, possible benefits and/or side effects of osimertinib and tegavivint as first-line therapy in treating patients with EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer that has spread to other places in the body (metastatic). Osimertinib and tegavivint may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth.

This phase II trial tests how well giving gemcitabine, cisplatin and durvalumab alternating with pemigatinib for the treatment of biliary tract cancer with FGFR2 alterations that cannot be removed by surgery (unresectable), that has spread to nearby tissue or lymph nodes (locally advanced) or that has spread from where it first started (primary site) to other places in the body (metastatic). Gemcitabine is a chemotherapy drug that blocks the cells from making DNA and may kill cancer cells. Cisplatin is in a class of medications known as platinum-containing compounds. It works by killing, stopping or slowing the growth of cancer cells. Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as durvalumab, may help the body's immune system attack the cancer, and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Pemigatinib is in a class of medications called kinase inhibitors. It works by blocking the action of an abnormal FGFR protein that signals cancer cells to multiply. This may help keep cancer cells from growing and may kill them. Giving gemcitabine, cisplatin and durvalumab alternating with pemigatinib may work well for the treatment of unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic biliary tract cancer with FGFR2 alterations.

This phase II trial studies the side effects and how well Vyxeos works in treating patients with intermediate and high-risk acute myeloid leukemia who have failed an initial cycle of standard cytarabine and daunorubicin chemotherapy. Vyxeos is a combination of both chemotherapy drugs cytarabine and daunorubicin contained in a liposome. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as cytarabine and daunorubicin, work in different ways to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading. Cytarabine and daunorubicin given together in liposomes may have fewer side effects and work better than cytarabine and daunorubicin given alone in patients with acute myeloid leukemia.

This is an online cross-sectional experimental survey study examining two cancer communication questions: 1) What features of social media messages communicating the breast cancer risks from alcohol consumption will motivate young adult women to drink less? and 2) Do message features differ in their persuasive effects based on young adult women's alcohol consumption behavior?

This phase II trial compares the safety and effectiveness of topical minoxidil alone to topical minoxidil in combination with low-level red-light therapy for improving chemotherapy-induced hair loss or thinning (alopecia). Minoxidil has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration as a treatment for hair loss. It increases blood flow in the skin and may have a direct stimulatory effect on hair follicle cells, forcing them from their resting phase into their active growth phase. Low-level light therapy is regarded as a safe and medically accepted treatment for a variety of skin conditions, including acne, scars, and psoriasis. Red light wavelengths are readily absorbed into the skin and do not contain harmful ultraviolet light. When absorbed into the skin, these wavelengths stimulate fibroblasts, which are connective tissue cells that make and secrete collagen proteins. Low-level red-light therapy may improve hair loss by stimulating hair follicles. Combining minoxidil with low-level red-light therapy may be safe and more effective at improving chemotherapy-induced alopecia than minoxidil alone.

This clinical trial aims to evaluate user sensory experiences and smoking behavior when using IQOS heated tobacco products (HTPs) among adults who smoke cigarettes.

Although nicotine pouches have been gaining popularity over the last few years, little known about how nicotine pouch users actually use these products. This study will be comprised of adults who use nicotine pouches. If eligible, participants will be asked to complete three study visits and participate in two switching periods where participants use study-provided nicotine pouches.

This clinical trial evaluates the effects a probiotic intervention has on the gut and vaginal microbiome in patients undergoing chemotherapy for ovarian cancer that may have spread from where it first started to nearby tissue, lymph nodes, or distant parts of the body (advanced) or that has come back after a period of improvement (recurrent). Gut health is also known as the gut microbiome. The microbiome includes all of the bacteria and organisms naturally found in the digestive tract. Probiotics are dietary supplements containing live microorganisms that may help keep the gastrointestinal tract healthy. A probiotic intervention during platinum chemotherapy in ovarian cancer patients may impact the gut and vaginal microbiota, quality of life, symptoms, and oncologic outcomes.

This clinical trial evaluates the characteristics of oral nicotine pouches (ONPs) to determine if they are a comparable substitute to cigarette or smokeless tobacco (ST) products. ONPs contain nicotine but no tobacco and are used primarily by adult tobacco uses in the United States (US). ONPs are recognized by the Food and Drug Administration as having lower risk than combustible cigarettes and are approved as a modified risk tobacco product. While ONPs have lower toxic risk than other tobacco products, acute and longer term harm related to their use has not been studied. Information gathered from this study may identify product characteristics of ONPs that improve successful switching from high-risk cigarettes or ST to lower risk ONPs.

This clinical trial tests the effects of tobacco cut and nicotine form on the abuse liability in participants who use moist snuff (smokeless tobacco \[SLT\]). Two features of moist snuff that are key targets of manipulation from the tobacco industry and drivers of its addiction potential are length of tobacco cut (long versus fine) and nicotine form (low versus high levels of nicotine in the free-base form). Finer tobacco cuts and higher levels of free-base nicotine (FBN) result in faster, greater nicotine delivery. Researchers want to gain information on how certain characteristics of moist snuff affect how long people use it, how it delivers nicotine, or how much people like it. This clinical trial may provide justifications for local, state, or federal regulations aimed at reducing the appeal and addictiveness of moist snuff.

This clinical trial studies whether a navigation program improves survivorship support service participation among survivors of breast cancer that has not spread from where it first started (primary site) to other places in the body (non-metastatic). Advances in treatment have caused the number of breast cancer survivors to grow. As this number increases, there are reported unmet supportive care needs in this population, including psychological distress and limitations in physical functioning. To address these needs, many cancer centers offer programming on a variety of topics including psychological services, exercise counseling, and nutrition counseling. Research has shown that while interest in these survivorship programs is high, participation remains low, especially among minority women. Navigation is a healthcare service that is designed to guide a patient through the healthcare system and reduce barriers to timely screening, follow-up, diagnosis, treatment, and supportive care. The navigation program in this trial is specifically focused on helping breast cancer survivors schedule and attend survivorship consultation appointments as well as providing additional support to underserved/vulnerable patients. A navigation program may be effective in improving survivorship support service participation among non-metastatic breast cancer survivors.

This clinical trial explores the manipulation of e-cigarette (EC) nicotine to promote public health. Researchers are trying to understand and gather information about how the strength, form, and structure of nicotine in products play a significant role in their potential for addiction and how they might affect health risks. The information gained from this study may allow researchers to understand how these aspects of nicotine influence the potential for addiction, how people puff on ECs, how the body processes nicotine, and any potential harmful effects it might have on health. Exploring these specific characteristics of nicotine may also determine if an EC product standard could help identify optimal nicotine levels for users.

This clinical trial compares the effect of using weighted blankets versus regular blankets during first time infusions (e.g. chemotherapy, targeted therapy etc.) to decrease adverse side effects such as anxiety and distress in cancer (oncology) patients. Feeling safe, comforted, and grounded in the world are some of the benefits noted by individuals who use weighted blankets. Deep touch pressure (DTP) has been found to reduce symptoms of stress and anxiety and is defined as a sensation one feels when being hugged, squeezed, or held. DTP affects the nervous system by creating a calming effect which may lower stress and increase feelings of well-being. The use of weighted blankets may help to manage anxiety and distress during chemotherapy or immunotherapy infusions.

This phase I trial is to find out the possible side effects of pembrolizumab and radiation therapy before and during surgery in treating patients with head and neck squamous cell cancer that remains despite treatment (persistent) or has come back (recurrent). Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as pembrolizumab, may help the body's immune system attack the cancer, and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Radiation therapy uses high energy x-rays or protons to kill tumor cells and shrink tumors. Giving pembrolizumab and radiation therapy before and during surgery may kill more tumor cells.