Clinical trials

Post-COVID Condition (PCC) affects roughly 2.1 million Canadians, carrying an annual economic burden of CAD $7.8-50.6 billion. It presents across multiple organ systems with symptoms including fatigue, brain fog, palpitations, and orthostatic intolerance, at an annual cost of CAD $1,675-$7,340 per case. A key mechanism underlying many treatment-resistant PCC symptoms appears to be dysautonomia abnormal autonomic nervous system function driven by immune-mediated sympathetic overactivity. Persistent inflammation (cytokine storms, T/B-cell dysfunction, microclots) sustains sympathetic hyperactivity, which in turn perpetuates systemic inflammation and "sickness behaviors" resembling PCC symptoms. Current treatments including beta blockers, ivabradine, fludrocortisone, and rehabilitation are limited by variable responses, side effects, and the complication of post-exertional symptom exacerbation. Emerging therapies (SSRIs, low-dose naltrexone, antihistamines, HBOT) show promise but lack robust trial evidence. Cervicothoracic sympathetic chain block (CSB) a local anesthetic block of the cervical and upper thoracic sympathetic ganglia is a promising intervention that reduces sympathetic outflow, improves cerebral blood supply, and lowers pro-inflammatory cytokines. Small observational studies (16 studies, 224 patients) show benefit for PCC symptoms, but all lack placebo controls and have significant methodological heterogeneity. The proposed study aims to fill this gap with a double-blind, placebo-controlled RCT to rigorously evaluate CSB's efficacy, magnitude of benefit, and durability in PCC patients.

The goal of this study is to understand the performance of an experimental blood test that aims to detect early tumors in patients with hereditary cancer syndromes. If this new blood test is accurate, it could be used to screen patients for cancer and allow for earlier cancer detection. The study will compare cancer detection rates between those receiving the new blood test and those receiving standard care, assess if the test leads to earlier cancer diagnosis, and evaluate its impact on patient outcomes. The study will also use questionnaires and interviews to understand how patients feel about the blood test, its incorporation into routine medical care, and perceptions of the medical value of test results. This research could lead to more effective and less invasive cancer screening for high-risk individuals.

EXTUBE is an international, multicentre, prospective cohort study evaluating the incidence, risk factors, and outcomes of extubation-related complications and describing clinical practices related to extubation after general anesthesia or after critical illness in the operating room (OR), out of OR anesthesia location or intensive care unit (ICU).

This is a multi-institution, randomized, non-inferiority Phase II trial comparing external beam radiotherapy delivered as 54 Gy in 20 fractions to prostate bed +/- 44 Gy in 20 fractions to pelvic lymph nodes delivered daily with external beam radiotherapy delivered as 30 Gy in 5 fractions to prostate bed +/- 25 Gy in 5 fractions to pelvic lymph nodes delivered on alternate days.

Upper tract urothelial cancer (UTUC) is cancer in the lining of the kidney or ureter (the tube that drains the kidney). This type of cancer is rare and as a result, there are only a few studies that have looked at it. Standard of care for UTUC would be surgery followed by chemotherapy (adjuvant chemotherapy). However, we know from studies that have looked at cancer of the lining of the bladder, which is a similar cancer in many ways, that treating people with chemotherapy before surgery (neoadjuvant chemotherapy) can lead to longer survival compared to the standard of care. There are no studies to show this in UTUC. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is thought to help improve survival by treating any cancer that may have spread from the original tumour but that is not visible yet on scans. This study would be the first clinical trial in Canada to evaluate the use of chemotherapy before surgery in this disease setting. Since UTUC is rare, the purpose of this study is to determine if it is possible to enrol enough patients to a trial looking at the use of chemotherapy before surgery.

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT) is a feasible and acceptable treatment to complete for working-age adults (ages 18-65) with chronic low back pain. The main questions it aims to answer are: Is PRT acceptable and feasible for people with chronic low back pain to complete? Does PRT help reduce pain intensity and interference, while improving functional outcomes in people with chronic low back pain? Researchers will compare PRT to a Monitoring and Education Program to see whether participants who receive PRT experience greater improvements in pain, daily functioning, and well-being. Participants will: * Be randomly assigned to the PRT group or the Monitoring and Education group * Participate in 8 intervention sessions over an 8-week period * Wear an activity monitor for 8 weeks * Attend a follow-up assessment after completing the intervention and another assessment 3 months later Please note that ClinicalTrials.gov will be used solely as a public study registry and not as a participant recruitment tool. The study team will not recruit participants or accept self-referrals through ClinicalTrials.gov. All participant recruitment will occur only through the Research Ethics Board (REB) approved recruitment methods.

PRACTICAL is a randomized multifactorial adaptive platform trial for acute hypoxemic respiratory failure (AHRF). This platform trial will evaluate novel interventions for patients with AHRF across a range of severity states (i.e., not intubated, intubated with lower or higher respiratory system elastance, requiring extracorporeal life support) and across a range of investigational phases (i.e., preliminary mechanistic trials, full-scale clinical trials). AHRF is a common and life-threatening clinical syndrome affecting millions globally every year. Patients with AHRF are at high risk of death and long-term morbidity. Patients who require invasive mechanical ventilation are at risk of ventilator-induced lung injury and ventilator-induced diaphragm dysfunction. New treatments and treatment strategies are needed to improve outcomes for these very ill patients. Utilizing advances in Bayesian adaptive trial design, the platform will facilitate efficient yet rigorous testing of new treatments for AHRF, with a particular focus on mechanical ventilation strategies and extracorporeal life support techniques as well as pharmacological agents and new medical devices. The platform is designed to enable evaluation of novel interventions at a variety of stages of investigation, including pilot and feasibility trials, trials focused on mechanistic surrogate endpoints for preliminary clinical evaluation, and full-scale clinical trials assessing the impact of interventions on patient-centered outcomes. A domain is defined as a set of interventions that are intended to act on specific mechanisms of injury using different variations of a common therapeutic strategy. A domain may also be a non-interventional study that addresses observational research questions by collecting specific data or outcomes that are not collected as part of other domains. Domains are intended to function independently of each other, allowing independent evaluation of multiple therapies and mechanistic pathways within the same patient. Once feasibility is established, Bayesian adaptive statistical modelling will be used to evaluate treatment efficacy at regular interim adaptive analyses of the pre-specified outcomes for each intervention in each domain. These adaptive analyses will compute the posterior probabilities of superiority, futility, inferiority, or equivalence for pre-specified comparisons within domains. Each of these potential conclusions will be pre-defined prior to commencing the intervention trial. Decisions about trial results (e.g., concluding superiority or equivalence) will be based on pre-specified threshold values for posterior probability. The primary outcome of interest, the definitions for superiority, futility, etc. (i.e., the magnitude of treatment effect) and the threshold values of posterior probability required to reach conclusions for superiority, futility etc., will vary from intervention to intervention depending on the phase of investigation and the nature of the intervention being evaluated. All of these parameters will be pre-specified as part of the statistical design for each intervention trial. In general, domains will be designed to evaluate treatment effect within four discrete clinical states: non-intubated patients, intubated patients with low respiratory system elastance (\<2.5 cm H2O/(mL/kg)), intubated patients with high respiratory system elastance (≥2.5 cm H2O/(mL/kg)), and patients requiring extracorporeal life support. Where appropriate, the model will specify dynamic borrowing between states to maximize statistical information available for trial conclusions. In this perpetual trial design, different interventions may be added or dropped over time. Where possible, the platform will be embedded within existing data collection repositories to enable greater efficiency in outcome ascertainment. Standardized systems for acquiring both physiological and biological measurements are embedded in the platform, to be acquired at sites with appropriate training, expertise, and facilities to collect those measurements.

The BeeHive study is an investigator-initiated, single center, open-label phase II clinical trial that is designed to conduct a comprehensive multiomic biomarker evaluation across two single-arm cohorts to elucidate mechanisms of response and resistance in recurrent and/or metastatic (R/M) head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). It is anticipated that about 20 patients will be enrolled in Cohort A and an additional of 10 patients will be enrolled in Cohort B.

The Auto-PLTS Study is a single-centre trial performed at Toronto General Hospital (TGH) that uses a randomized, patient preference design. The recent introduction of cold-stored platelets with a shelf-life of 14 days into clinical practice has made it possible to offer autologous apheresis platelet predonation to patients undergoing elective cardiac (and other high-blood-loss) surgeries while allowing sufficient time to recover platelet count before surgery. The Auto-PLTS Study is designed to assess whether replacing allogeneic platelets with autologous platelets will improve patient outcomes and benefit the healthcare system by reducing the burden on allogeneic platelet supply. The study is also designed to determine whether patients are willing to donate autologous platelets 7-10 days prior to surgery.

Multiple myeloma is a disease mainly located in participants bones. Usually a participants physician arrives at this diagnosis by doing blood tests and ordering standard of care imaging tests (18F-FDG PET/CT and maybe additional MRI) to see how many bones (and/or other organs) are affected. While these two imaging tests are already very good, recent research indicates that even more precise imaging methods could be used to diagnose participants disease more precisely. The purpose of this study is to learn if a combined PET/MR scan with a new radiotracer, \[68Ga\]Ga-PentixaFor, can provide more accurate and precise diagnostic information in patients with Multiple Myeloma, a type of cancer primarily affecting the bones. This study aims to improve the accuracy of diagnosing and monitoring Multiple Myeloma using more advanced imaging techniques.

This is a phase II, open-label study to assess the efficacy of AZD2936 in terms of molecular residual disease (MRD) clearance and treatment outcome in patients with MRD after definitive treatment for high risk locoregionally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (LA-HNSCC). MRD is defined as ctDNA detection in plasma after definitive treatment. Approximately 100 patients are expected to be enrolled.

Radiotherapy (RT) is a well-known and established therapy or adjuvant therapy for the treatment of thoracic cancer It uses a high energy radiation from x-rays, gamma rays and other charged particles that assist in damaging the cancer DNA. PET/MR as imaging biomarkers for cardiopulmonary dysfunction with a focus on Pulmonary hypertension (PH). Despite the measures taken to reduce the total radiation dose and to limit the radiation to normal tissues, there is evidence of transient or permanent radiotherapy induced myocardial and pulmonary dysfunction leading to PH in patients who receive radiotherapy above a certain threshold of received dose. To be able to Demonstrate correlation of combined PET/MR and plasma metabolomics markers in patients at risk of developing cardiopulmonary disfunction after RT.

This study is investigating a new technique for delivering chemotherapy directly into the lungs at the time of surgery. Delivering chemotherapy directly to the lungs could potentially kill any microscopic cancer cells that are present in the lungs at the time of surgery, while sparing other major organs in the body from the side effects of chemotherapy. This technique is called In Vivo Lung Perfusion (IVLP). At the University Health Network, this IVLP technique has been used recently in a Phase I study in patients with sarcoma, and we are now expanding on that experience to include patients with colorectal metastases. The purpose of this study is to test the safety of the IVLP technique and find the dose that seems right in humans. Participants are given oxaliplatin into one lung via IVLP and are watched very closely to see what side effects they have and to make sure the side effects are not severe. If the side effects are not severe, then more participants are asked to join the study and are given a higher dose of oxaliplatin. Participants joining the study later on will get higher doses of oxaliplatin than participants who join earlier. This will continue until a dose is found that causes severe but temporary side effects. Doses higher than that will not be given. The other lung will not be infused with anything, so that we can limit unforeseen toxicity to a single lung and see if one lung does better than the other.

This study aims to determine, for the first time, if miRNA-371a-3p can be used as an accurate biomarker to identify which small (≤ 2cm) testicular masses are malignant and aid in clinical decision-making to offer surgery or surveillance. We propose a retrospective exploration of banked serum, plasma and semen specimens of men with small testis masses and a prospective biomarker-based intervention trial to validate miR-371a-3p performance.

This study is a phase I/II open-label randomized clinical trial to examine whether administration of isunakinra (EBI-005), a modified recombinant IL1 receptor antagonist, can sensitize human TNBC to the PD1 inhibitor-pembrolizumab-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC/P) by changing the tumor microenvironment (TME) via reducing the recruitment of immunosuppressive tumorassociated macrophages (TAMs) and increasing activated cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTLs).

Blood group A2 to blood group O kidney and liver transplants have been shown to be safe and successful, especially in recipients with low pre-operative anti-A antibody titers and with the use of peri-operative antibody-depleting therapies. Since blood group O lung transplant candidates tend to have longer wait times and a higher waitlist mortality compared to other blood groups, we propose to conduct a prospective study of lung transplantation from blood group A2 donors to eligible blood group O recipients in an effort to increase the available donor pool. The aim of this study is to determine both the feasibility and safety of this specific type of ABO-incompatible lung transplant, and the impact of this practice on reducing transplant wait times among blood group O lung transplant candidates. This would represent the first prospective study of ABO-incompatible lung transplants worldwide.

The goal of this study is to gather feedback from Canadian Veterans living with chronic pain, and clinicians serving Canadian Veterans, on an existing digital psychology program for self-management of chronic pain delivered through the Manage My Pain app. This feedback will be used to adapt the program for the needs and experiences of Canadian Veterans. The main questions it aims to answer are: * How acceptable, feasible, and engaging is the existing digital psychology program for Canadian Veterans living with chronic pain? * What changes are needed to make the program more relevant and appropriate for Canadian Veterans living with chronic pain? Participants will: * Use the self-guided digital psychology program over a two-week period and complete questionnaires about the program's acceptability and feasibility. Veteran participants will also complete questionnaires about their pain and pain history. * Take part in a 30- to 45-minute virtual interview to provide feedback about the program and recommendations for its adaptation. The study does not include a comparison group.

This clinical research study is intended to show that Micro-Ultrasound Guided Focal Laser Ablation (MicroUSgFLA) is a safe procedure that can significantly postpone or eliminate the need for patients with intermediate-Risk prostate cancer (PCa) to undergo a definitive treatment (i.e., Radical Prostatectomy or Radiation Therapy) for their disease.

Patients who have undergone curative treatment may be at risk of relapse. This study will collect, annotate, and sequence biospecimens (blood, stool, and tissue) from patients across different tumor types to detect molecular residual disease (MRD) before metastases become radiographically or clinically detectable. This will allow for early cancer interception, and hopefully prolong relapse-free survival across tumor types.

The objective of this protocol is to develop an institution-wide liquid biopsy protocol that will establish a common process for collecting blood and corresponding archived tumor specimens for future research studies at the University Health Network's Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. Circulating cell-free nucleic acids (cfNA), including cell-free DNA (cfDNA) and cell-free RNA (cfRNA), are non-invasive, real-time biomarkers that can provide diagnostic and prognostic information before cancer diagnosis, during cancer treatment, and at disease progression. Cancer research scientists and clinicians at the Princess Margaret are interested in incorporating the collection of peripheral blood samples ("liquid biopsies") into research protocols as a means of non-invasively assessing tumor progression and response to treatment at multiple time points during a patient's course of disease.

This is a single arm trial that is recruiting a total of 50 participants that have been diagnosed with prostate bed (where the prostate was taken out) or regional (surrounding lymph nodes) recurrence of a prostate cancer following surgery. Salvage radiation treatment represents the main treatment option, with long-term cure rates on the order of 70%. Currently, salvage radiation treatment to the prostate bed and the pelvic lymph nodes is delivered using external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) in 20-33 sessions, over 4-6.5 weeks. Potential study participants have undergone a PSMA PET scan, which has found recurrent cancer in the prostate bed or lymph nodes. This study will investigate personalizing your radiation treatment based on this information. Participants on this study will receive lower than standard radiation dose to areas of the surgical site which do not show evidence of disease on the scan. This personalized radiotherapy will be delivered in 5 treatments over two weeks, rather than the four to 6 weeks which is the current standard of care. Participants will have a routine history, blood collection for PSA and hormone levels, toxicity assessment, and EPIC-26 \& IPSS questionnaires at each follow-up visit. These will take place at 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, 36, and 60 months after radiation treatment.

This is a single-institution, single-arm, open-label Phase 2 trial evaluating evofosfamide in subjects with M1 CRPC who fail first-line ARSIs. In those progressing after second-line Docetaxel or deemed ineligible to it, the use of alternate ARSI remains the most common line of therapy in our Province, in keeping with recent international recommendations. After baseline molecular imaging (PSMA and fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/CT), prior to evofosfamide initiation, subjects will be encouraged to undergo biopsy of a dominant lesion: FDG-, PSMA-uptake and/or conventional imaging determined (in order, and according to feasibility). Subjects will then receive the alternate ARSI (i.e., different from the one received in first line) as per current standard practice and Provincial drug plan coverage. Additionally, subjects will receive combinatorial evofosfamide at a dose of 480 mg/m2 intravenously (IV) over 60 minutes on Days 1, 8 and 15 of every 28-day cycle. Therapy will continue until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity as a result of evofosfamide, or subject withdrawal. Assessments during evofosfamide treatment will include history, physical exam, and blood tests at each monthly visit to monitor for toxicity. Response and progression will be evaluated by whole-body PSMA PET/CT scan every 8 weeks (± 3 days) and determined using (PE)RECIST v1.1 criteria. PSA, NE markers (e.g., Serum CHGA, NSE), organ function tests (e.g., liver, kidney) and investigational liquid biopsy samples will be followed every cycle (monthly). FDG PET/CT will be performed at baseline, at 6-10 weeks from the date of signing the informed consent form (ICF), and upon progression, irrespective of treatment discontinuation or initiation of another therapy. Subjects will be followed for survival endpoints following completion of this study treatment until death.

Low intensity focused ultrasound (LIFUS) is a novel non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) technique that permits stimulation with high spatial focality and can reach greater depth compared other methods. This study will look at the effects of two different LIFUS stimulations on task performance in patients with Parkinson's disease. The effects of real stimulation will also be compared to sham stimulation. The evaluations will include behavioral tasks on the computer, the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) motor scoring, and finger accelerometry recordings. These will be done before the LIFUS simulations and repeated after. This is to evaluate the different mechanisms and efficacy of these stimulations on deep brain areas.

Pragmatic hybrid type 1 effectiveness-implementation (E-I) trial of a virtual cancer rehabilitation program: The study team will conduct a multi-center hybrid type I effectiveness-implementation study to examine the clinical effectiveness and implementation potential of an 8-week multidimensional virtual cancer rehabilitation intervention (CaRE@Home) for cancer survivors with identified cancer-related impairments on level of overall disability (primary outcome) and patient reported physical and social functioning, anxiety, work status, quality of life, and physiologic changes (secondary outcomes). The study team will conduct a multi-centre pragmatic randomized controlled trial (RCT) (Vancouver, Toronto, Saint John and St. John's) to evaluate effectiveness and using the CIFR, the study team will identify potential factors that may affect successful implementation and integration of CaRE@Home in different cancer settings.

This is a window of opportunity study designed to provide short duration exposure to camizestrant prior to planned curative intent surgery, with the anticipated benefit of demonstrating target engagement and suppression of ER signalling in ER positive endometrial cancer without delaying standard surgical management.