Clinical trials

This is a therapeutic intervention trial evaluating the clinical utility of a novel blood-based epigenetic biomarker-genome-wide 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) in cell-free DNA (cfDNA)-for assessing measurable residual disease (MRD) in patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The study compares the efficacy of hypomethylating agent (HMA)-based therapy versus intensive induction chemotherapy, using the 5hmC biomarker to guide post-induction treatment decisions. Approximately 112 adult patients will be enrolled and assigned to treatment arms based on a stratified sampling scheme. Blood samples will be collected at defined intervals to assess MRD status. Primary endpoints include minimal residual disease (MRD) negativity rate, duration of remission, event-free survival (EFS), and overall survival (OS).

This is a non-inferiority randomized phase II trial investigating the efficacy and safety of 5FU/LV in combination with regorafenib for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer in the third-line setting. Patients will be randomly assigned in a 2:1 ratio between 5FU/LV combined with regorafenib or trifluridine-tipiracil (FTD-TPI) plus bevacizumab. Arm 1 (Treatment Arm) will consist of the 5FU/LV administered to 38 patients as (LV \[400 mg/m² IV over 120 minutes\], followed by 5FU \[400 mg/m² IV bolus then 2400 mg/m² IV infusion over 46 hours\] in 2-week cycles) and regorafenib will be administered dose of 80-120 mg per day with weekly 40 mg per day increases to a maximum of 120 mg per day for 3 weeks on /1 week off until disease progression, up to 12 cycles of treatment. Arm 2 (Control Arm) received by an additional 19 patients, will be given as FTD-TPI, administered orally, BID, at a starting dose of 35 mg/m2 of body-surface area, on days 1 through 5 and on days 8 through 12 every 28 days. Bevacizumab, at a dose of 5 mg per kilogram of body weight, will be administered intravenously on days 1 and 15. The 28-day treatment cycle continued until disease progression or unacceptable toxic effects occurred or consent was withdrawn, up to 12 cycles of treatment.

This is a phase I study investigating the safety and antitumor activity of 5FU-based therapy (FOLFIRI/FOLFOX + Biologics) in combination with Hydroxytyrosol (HT) as a treatment for patients with advanced or metastatic colorectal cancer. Patients will receive: 1 capsule of HT 25 mg daily for 2 weeks before beginning 5FU-based therapy (FOLFIRI/FOLFOX + Biologics), 1 capsule of HT (25 mg) daily for 2 weeks while receiving the FOLFIRI/FOLFOX + Biologics, until sign of disease progression. The prescribed FOLFIRI/FOLFOX administer as: Irinotecan 180 mg/m² intravenously (IV) over 90 minutes concurrently with Leucovorin 400 mg/m² IV over 120 minutes, followed by Fluorouracil 400-500 mg/m² IV bolus then 2400-3000 mg/m² IV infusion over 4-6 hours with or without, the designated Biologics, a standard dose of Cetuximab or Bevacizumab will be administered in 2-week cycles until disease progression or un-tolerated toxicity

This is a Phase I Trial evaluating the safety of the dietary supplement honokiol for lung cancer chemoprevention. Female or male patients aged 18 years, or older, with early stage lung cancer who have been scheduled for curative surgery will be eligible for participation in the study. The study will only enroll patients with stage I lung cancers less than 4 cm, given the recent approval of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and nivolumab for stage IB tumors \> 4 cm. Approximately, 15 patients will be enrolled in the study. They will take the study drug, honokiol, for 2 weeks prior to the surgery. The primary endpoint will be the Maximum Tolerated Dose (MTD) of honokiol.

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if a combination treatment of a hormonal intrauterine device (LNG-IUD), semaglutide, and a structured weight loss program can treat endometrial atypical hyperplasia or grade 1 endometrioid endometrial cancer while preserving fertility in women of reproductive age with endometrial atypical hyperplasia (EAH) or FIGO grade 1 endometrioid endometrial cancer who wish to preserve their fertility. The main questions it aims to answer are: * What proportion of participants achieve a complete pathological response after treatment? * How durable is the response at 12 months? * What effect does the treatment have on metabolic outcomes (weight, BMI, HbA1c) and quality of life? Participants will: * Receive an LNG-IUD * Receive semaglutide 2.4mg * Participate in a structured weight loss program * Undergo hysteroscopy with endometrial sampling to assess treatment response * Complete quality-of-life assessments at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months

This study will evaluate the safety and efficacy of NALIRIFOX per NAPOLI-3 regimen as first-line chemotherapy for patients with advanced small intestine and appendiceal cancers. Female or male patients aged 18 years, or older, with histopathologically or cytologically confirmed advanced mucinous or non-mucinous appendix cancer or advanced small intestine cancer will be eligible for participation in the study.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia. Despite major research efforts, effective treatments that slow or stop disease progression remain limited. Growing evidence suggests that inflammation in the brain and the body plays a key role in the onset and progression of AD. In particular, immune cells called regulatory T cells (Tregs), which normally help control inflammation, are impaired in AD individuals. This leads to increased activity of harmful immune pathways that worsen brain injury. Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is a drug that can restore the function of Tregs. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs), such as semaglutide, are a class of drugs currently used to treat diabetes and obesity. Beyond their metabolic effects, GLP-1RAs also reduce inflammation, protect brain cells, and improve cellular energy balance. Laboratory studies, including our own, show that combining IL-2 with semaglutide has stronger effects than either drug alone. Together, they enhance Treg function, dampen harmful inflammatory responses, and improve cell survival. These findings support testing IL-2 plus semaglutide as a novel combination therapy for AD. We now propose a clinical trial to evaluate the safety, feasibility, and biological effects of this strategy. The study will enroll 30 individuals with AD, ages 50 to 86, who have a confirmed diagnosis by amyloid PET brain imaging and a Mini-Mental State Exam score between 16 and 26. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: (1) placebo, (2) low-dose IL-2 alone, or (3) IL-2 combined with semaglutide. Throughout the trial, participants will undergo regular medical exams, blood tests, and safety monitoring. We will measure how the treatment affects Tregs and other immune cells, inflammatory markers in blood and CSF, and established Alzheimer's biomarkers such as amyloid beta, tau, and neurofilament light chain. Cognitive and functional assessments will also be conducted to explore potential benefits on memory and daily living skills. If successful, this study will provide the first evidence that a dual immunotherapeutic strategy can safely modify disease-related processes in AD. Such findings would lay the foundation for larger clinical trials and could open the door to a new, multimodal approach to slowing or preventing Alzheimer's progression.

The central objective of this application is to explore the neural substrate of personalized tDCS (ptDCS) and to determine whether the paradigm for each stroke patient can predict the amount of sustained clinical improvement through increased connectivity as measured by a biomarker of plasticity.

The purpose of this study is to determine if blood flow restriction therapy after Achilles tendon rupture reconstruction decreases post-operative calf atrophy, improves reported outcomes, and ultimately decreases return to play time.

This pilot randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluates the feasibility, safety, and preliminary biological activity of neoadjuvant intraprostatic onabotulinumtoxinA (BOTOX®) administered before radical prostatectomy in men with high-risk localized prostate cancer. Thirty participants will be randomized 1:1 to receive a single transrectal ultrasound-guided intraprostatic injection of onabotulinumtoxinA (50 units) or placebo 6 to 8 weeks before surgery. Outcomes include feasibility metrics, safety, adverse events, pathological findings at prostatectomy, and postoperative prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels

The Eustachian tube connects the middle ear to the back of the nose and throat, providing ventilation of the middle ear. People with a patulous Eustachian tube perceive the tube stays open continuously. This can make a person's own voice and breathing sound unusually loud in the ear and can cause a feeling of fullness or blocked hearing. There is currently no agreed-upon first treatment for these symptoms. Some people with this condition notice their symptoms improve when they gently pull the cheek outward to widen the nasal passage. A nasal dilator is a small, soft device worn just inside the nostrils that does something similar by holding the nasal passage more open. Nasal dilators are sold over the counter and are commonly used for stuffy nose and snoring. They have not been studied as a treatment for patulous Eustachian tube. This study will look at whether wearing a nasal dilator reduces symptoms in adults with patulous Eustachian tube. About 50 adults treated at Houston Methodist will take part. Everyone in the study receives the nasal dilator; there is no placebo or comparison group. Participants complete a 10-question symptom survey before using the device, again 10 minutes after putting it in for the first time, and once more at a follow-up clinic visit about 3 to 4 weeks later. Between visits, participants wear the device at home and keep track of how often they use it. At the follow-up visit they also answer questions about whether the device was comfortable and easy to use, and whether they had any side effects. Participation lasts about 3 to 4 weeks.

This phase Ib/II trial aims to evaluate the safety and preliminary efficacy of combining Trastuzumab Deruxtecan (T-DXd) with Azeliragon, a receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) inhibitor in patients with T-DXd-resistant HER2-positive or HER2-low metastatic breast cancer at Houston Methodist Neal Cancer Center (HMNCC). Adults, 18 years of age or older, with histologically confirmed HER2-positive or HER2-low metastatic breast cancer with prior progression on T-DXd will be eligible to participate in the study.

This study compares two FDA-approved surgical treatments for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH): Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate (HoLEP) with MOSES 2.0 technology and Robotic Water Jet Ablation (RWJA) using the Hydros Robotic System. Men with BPH and prostate volumes between 50 and 180 mL will be randomly assigned to one of the two procedures. The study will measure changes in prostate volume, PSA, urinary flow, and bladder emptying at 12 months, along with safety, sexual function, continence, and healthcare utilization outcomes, which will be followed for up to 5 years after surgery.

This is a phase II trial with an initial safety lead-in evaluating the efficacy, safety, neurocognitive, and quality-of-life outcomes of anti-cytomegalovirus (CMV) therapy and standard-of-care (SOC) in patients with anti-human cytomegalovirus (HCMV)-reactivated brain metastases. Male and female patients, aged ≥18 years, who have metastatic breast cancer with progressive brain metastases and CMV viremia (\> 250 copies/ml) or positive CMV IgG or IgM will be eligible to participate in the trial. Patients can proceed with SRS as long as at least 1 lesion which is 2 cm or less in a noncritical area in the brain is spared as per the discretion of treating neurosurgeon/radiation oncologist. At least 10 patients will be enrolled in the initial safety lead-in followed by the Phase II trial which will include 18 patients. Anti-HCMV therapy, oral Valganciclovir will be given to patients at 900 mg twice a day for 2 weeks. After the induction period, the maintenance will be continued with valganciclovir at 450 mg twice daily for 4 weeks (28 days).

Comparative effectiveness randomized clinical trial, comparing endocardial radiofrequency ablation alone vs radiofrequency ablation combined with venous ethanol in patients with ischemic ventricular tachycardia -Venous Ethanol for Left Ventricular Ischemic Ventricular Tachycardia -VELVET clinical trial

This Phase I study will evaluate the safety of autologous Epstein-Barr virus-specific T lymphocytes modified to express a constitutively active IL7 receptor (C7R) and a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) for CD30 (C7R.CD30-CAR-EBVSTs) in patients with relapsed or refractory CD30-positive lymphomas. Participants who meet procurement eligibility criteria will undergo collection of peripheral blood mononuclear cells for manufacture of the investigational product. Participants with a successfully manufactured product who continue to meet treatment eligibility criteria will receive lymphodepleting chemotherapy followed by infusion of autologous C7R.CD30-CAR-EBVSTs. The primary objective is to evaluate safety. Secondary and exploratory objectives include evaluation of antitumor effect, expansion and persistence of the infused cells, and the association between immunological parameters, safety, and clinical response.

The goal of this research is to learn more about ZADAXIN® (trade name; thymalfasin generic; Ta1 for short) and determine if Ta1 has any benefit in increasing the immune response to the COVID-19 vaccine. Ta1 has been shown to stimulate the immune system to fight infections. This research study will test the safety and possible harms of Ta1 when it is given to people at different dose levels before COVID-19 vaccination.

This is a phase 1/2 single center, pilot study to assess safety and efficacy of allogeneic adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (HB-adMSCs) and to evaluate the timing and combination effects of active treatment versus placebo in promoting the recovery of erectile function in patients undergoing radical retropubic prostatectomy (RALP) of localized prostate cancer.

This trial aims to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and acceptability of a virtual reality (VR)-based cognitive stimulation game to reduce postoperative delirium among older surgical patients at high risk due to pre-existing cognitive impairment.

This is a research study to test the safety and effectiveness of using the drug alpelisib together with chemotherapy (nab-paclitaxel) and a drug called L-NMMA in patients with HER2 negative metastatic or locally advanced metaplastic breast cancer, who have not responded to previous treatments. Participants in this study in addition to the standard care chemotherapy will also receive the drug alpelisib and L-NMMA. The therapies will be administered every 3 weeks (1 cycle) until disease progression, toxicity or until the participant withdraws from the study. The nab-paclitaxel chemotherapy will be administered intravenously on Day 1 of the 3 week cycles. Participants will take the drug alpelisib by mouth once daily at a dose determined by a safety study and the drug L-NMMA will be given intravenously on days 1 to 5 of the 3 week cycles.

The purpose of this study to learn if high-dose dexamethasone, a type of long-acting steroid, works to decrease urinary symptoms and pain after ureteroscopy and stent placement for kidney stones. The main question it aims to answer is: 1\) Does high-dose steroid change the quality of life score on day 2 after surgery Researchers will compare high-dose of dexamethasone (20 mg) to a standard dose of dexamethasone (4 mg) to see if a higher dose of the drug will help with urinary symptoms and pain Participants will: 1. randomly receive 20 mg or 4 mg of dexamethasone (20 mg) at the time of surgery 2. fill out a questionnaire day 1 and day 2 after surgery 3. fill out a medication diary for one week after surgery 4. visit the clinic on day 2 after surgery for checkup 5. visit the clinic on day 4-7 after surgery for check up

Purpose of this study is to compare the efficacy of intravenous and intraosseous antibiotic administration techniques during revision total knee arthroplasty

This study is designed as a prospective, open label, single arm pilot clinical study that will establish the safety and efficacy of a single injection of mesenchymal stromal cells in patients. Each subject will receive one intra-articular injection of autologous mesenchymal stromal cells derived from infrapatellar fat pad (FP-MSC) tissue samples collected from the subject during anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction surgery.

The goal of the study is to learn if Epidiolex (cannabidiol) works as a additional pain medication in patients who have had orthopedic shoulder surgery. It is also to learn about safe dosages and identify any side effects after surgery. Researchers will compare Epidiolex to a placebo solution to see if Epidiolex lowers pain after shoulder surgery. Participants will: * track their pain and what medications they use every day in a provided pain diary. A researchers will call every seven days to check on the participant and diary. * Complete two short surveys. Once before surgery and once after. * Have bloodwork tested after surgery

This Phase II clinical trial at Houston Methodist Neal Cancer Center is evaluating the safety and efficacy of combining 5-Fluorouracil (5FU) -based chemotherapy (either FOLFIRI: folinic acid, 5FU, irinotecan; or mFOLFOX6: folinic acid, 5FU, oxaliplatin) with fruquintinib as a first-line treatment for patients with locally advanced unresectable or metastatic colorectal cancer. Fifty patients will receive treatment in 28-day cycles, with fruquintinib initially dosed at 4 mg daily and potentially increased to 5 mg if no significant toxicities are observed. After six months, patients showing stable disease or better will transition to a maintenance phase with 5FU and fruquintinib, continuing until disease progression or other discontinuation criteria are met. The primary endpoint is time to progression based on RECIST v1.1 criteria, while secondary endpoints include safety, tolerability, and duration of response. The trial is being conducted across multiple Houston Methodist hospitals and is currently the only first-line CRC trial available in the system. If successful, it could offer a new therapeutic option and inform future treatment guidelines for advanced colorectal cancer.