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KaCrole Higgins was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020. “In May 2020, I found a lump in my breast. I cried. By June, it was diagnosed as breast cancer, triple positive, stage 1A. While getting this cancer diagnosis was devastating, it also became an opportunity. Suddenly, the cancer gave me clarity. It gave me clarity about what was important, what was good in my life, what was toxic in my life, and what I needed to do.” Click below to read more of KaCrole’s story

https://momentum.vicc.org/2022/04/cancer-gave-me-clarity/

If Landon Ryan had been diagnosed with bilateral retinoblastoma 10, 20 or 30 years ago, she might not be here today with nearly perfect vision.Thanks to recent improvements in the treatment for this rare form of cancer that almost exclusively affects children under the age of 5, the diagnosis had the power to change Landon’s life when she was 11 months old, but not to take it — or her eyesight. Click below to learn more about Landon and her story.

https://momentum.vicc.org/2022/04/brighter-outlook/
Displaying 1 - 10 of 24

Study explores new urinary tract infection treatment

Submitted by sobecksm on

Vanderbilt's Neil Osheroff, PhD, is part of an international research collaboration resulting in what is on track to be the first new antibiotic treatment for uncomplicated urinary tract infections in more than 20 years.

https://news.vumc.org/2023/02/02/study-explores-new-urinary-tract-infection-treatment/
VUMC News & Communications
Locked

Clamping Down the Metabolic Pipeline to B Cells

Submitted by robbikm2 on

New research shows the nutritive needs of B cells are more flexible than previously thought, which could enable researchers to steer antibody production in the lymph nodes and spleen to better combat autoimmunity. Patients with high-risk diseases of the immune system, particularly systemic lupus erythematosus, could stand to benefit from the research findings. The study led by Mark Boothby, MD, and published in the Journal of Immunology, provides details regarding how murine B cells use different sugars as they mature into antibody-producing cells

https://discoveries.vanderbilthealth.com/2024/02/clamping-down-the-metabolic-pipeline-to-b-cells/
Vanderbilt Health
Locked

Research Snapshot: DNA replication discovery opens pathways to understanding and treating cancer, aging and degenerative disease

Submitted by sobecksm on

An international collaboration led by biochemist David Cortez reached revelatory conclusions in exploration of how cells tolerate DNA damage and genome instability. Est. reading time: 2 mins.

https://news.vanderbilt.edu/2023/05/02/research-snapshot-dna-replication-discovery-opens-pathways-to-understanding-and-treating-cancer-aging-and-degenerative-disease/
Marissa Shapiro
Locked

Self-Management for Head and Neck Lymphedema and Fibrosis [PROMISE Trial]

Head/Neck

The goal of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a standardized lymphedema and fibrosis self-management program (LEF-SMP) to improve LEF self-management and reduce LEF-associated symptom burden, functional deficits, and improve quality of life in head and neck cancer (HNC) survivors.
Head/Neck
N/A
Murphy, Barbara
NCT06125743
VICC-EDHAN23569

Testing the Use of Ado-Trastuzumab Emtansine Compared to the Usual Treatment (Chemotherapy With Docetaxel Plus Trastuzumab) or Trastuzumab Deruxtecan for Recurrent, Metastatic, or Unresectable HER2-Expressing Salivary Gland Cancers

Head/Neck

This phase II trial compares the effect of usual treatment of docetaxel chemotherapy plus trastuzumab, to ado-emtansine (T-DM1) in patients with HER2-postive salivary gland cancer that has come back (recurrent), that has spread from where it first started (primary site) to other places in the body, or cannot be removed by surgery (unresectable). This trial is also testing how well trastuzumab deruxtecan works in treating patients with HER2-low recurrent or metastatic salivary gland cancer. Trastuzumab is a form of targeted therapy because it works by attaching itself to specific molecules (receptors) on the surface of cancer cells, known as HER2 receptors. When trastuzumab attaches to HER2 receptors, the signals that tell the cells to grow are blocked and the cancer cell may be marked for destruction by body's immune system. Trastuzumab emtansine contains trastuzumab, linked to a chemotherapy drug called emtansine. Trastuzumab attaches to HER2 positive cancer cells in a targeted way and delivers emtansine to kill them. Trastuzumab deruxtecan is a monoclonal antibody called traztuzumab, linked to a chemotherapy drug called deruxtecan. Trastuzumab is a form of targeted therapy because it attaches to specific molecules (receptors) on the surface of cancer cells, known as HER2 receptors and delivers deruxtecan to kill them. Docetaxel is in a class of medications called taxanes. It stops cancer cells from growing and dividing and may kill them. Trastuzumab emtansine may work better compared to usual treatment of chemotherapy with docetaxel and trastuzumab or trastuzumab deruxtecan in treating patients with recurrent, metastatic or unresectable salivary gland cancer.
Head/Neck
II
Gibson, Mike
NCT05408845
NRGHN010

A Study to See if Giving Fianlimab and Cemiplimab Together is Better Than Cemiplimab Alone at Treating Recurrent or Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Multiple Cancer Types

This study is researching an experimental drug called fianlimab (also called REGN3767), combined with a medication called cemiplimab compared against cemiplimab combined with placebo (a placebo looks like a treatment but does not contain any real medicine), collectively called "study drugs" in this form.

The study is focused on participants with head and neck cancers who have not been previously treated for head and neck cancer that has come back or spread to other parts of the body, referred to as recurrent or metastatic (R/M) head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

The study is looking at several other research questions, including:

* What side effects may happen from taking the study drugs
* How much of each study drug is in the blood at different times
* Whether the body makes antibodies against the study drug(s) individually (which could make the study drugs less effective or could lead to side effects)
* Compatible research to better understand the study drugs and HNSCC
Esophageal, Head/Neck
II
Choe, Jennifer
NCT06769698
VICCHN24568

Personalized Antibody-Drug Conjugate Therapy Based on RNA and Protein Testing for the Treatment of Advanced or Metastatic Solid Tumors (The ADC MATCH Screening and Treatment Trial)

Multiple Cancer Types

This phase II ADC MATCH screening and multi-sub-study treatment trial is evaluating whether biomarker-directed treatment with one of three antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) (sacituzumab govitecan, enfortumab vedotin, and trastuzumab deruxtecan) works in treating patients with solid tumor cancers that have high expression of the Trop-2, nectin-4, or HER2 proteins and that may have spread from where they first started (primary site) to nearby tissue, lymph nodes, or distant parts of the body (advanced) or to other places in the body (metastatic). Precision medicine is a form of medicine that uses information about a person's genes, proteins, and environment to prevent, diagnose, or treat disease in a way that is tailored to the patient. ADCs such as sacituzumab govitecan, enfortumab vedotin, and trastuzumab deruxtecan are monoclonal antibodies attached to biologically active drugs and are a form of targeted therapy. Sacituzumab govitecan is a monoclonal antibody, called sacituzumab, linked to a drug called govitecan. Sacituzumab attaches to a protein called Trop-2 on the surface of tumor cells and delivers govitecan to kill them. Enfortumab vedotin is a monoclonal antibody, enfortumab, linked to an anticancer drug called vedotin. It works by helping the immune system to slow or stop the growth of tumor cells. Enfortumab attaches to a protein called nectin-4 on tumor cells in a targeted way and delivers vedotin to kill them. Trastuzumab deruxtecan is composed of a monoclonal antibody, called trastuzumab, linked to a chemotherapy drug, called deruxtecan. Trastuzumab attaches to HER2 positive tumor cells in a targeted way and delivers deruxtecan to kill them. Personalized treatment with sacituzumab govitecan, enfortumab vedotin, or trastuzumab deruxtecan may be an effective treatment option for patients with advanced or metastatic solid tumors that screen positive for high expression of Trop-2, nectin-4, or HER2, respectively.
Adrenocortical, Bladder, Breast, Cervical, Colon, Dermatologic, Esophageal, GIST, Gastric/Gastroesophageal, Gastrointestinal, Gynecologic, Head/Neck, Kidney (Renal Cell), Liver, Lung, Melanoma, Miscellaneous, Ovarian, Pancreatic, Prostate, Rectal, Sarcoma, Thyroid, Urologic, Uterine
II
Keedy, Vicki
NCT06311214
ETCMD10397

Targeted Therapy Directed by Genetic Testing in Treating Patients With Locally Advanced or Advanced Solid Tumors, The ComboMATCH Screening Trial

Multiple Cancer Types

This ComboMATCH patient screening trial is the gateway to a coordinated set of clinical trials to study cancer treatment directed by genetic testing. Patients with solid tumors that have spread to nearby tissue or lymph nodes (locally advanced) or have spread to other places in the body (advanced) and have progressed on at least one line of standard systemic therapy or have no standard treatment that has been shown to prolong overall survival may be candidates for these trials. Genetic tests look at the unique genetic material (genes) of patients' tumor cells. Patients with some genetic changes or abnormalities (mutations) may benefit from treatment that targets that particular genetic mutation. ComboMATCH is designed to match patients to a treatment that may work to control their tumor and may help doctors plan better treatment for patients with locally advanced or advanced solid tumors.
Breast, Gastrointestinal, Gynecologic, Head/Neck, Lung, Melanoma, Neuro-Oncology, Sarcoma, Urologic
II
Gibson, Mike
NCT05564377
VICC-NTMDT23238

(89Zr Panitumumab) With PET/CT for Diagnosing Metastases in Patients With Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Head/Neck

The goal of this phase I clinical trial is to evaluate the usefulness of an imaging test (zirconium Zr89 panitumumab \[89Zr panitumumab\]) with positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) for diagnosing the spread of disease from where it first started (primary site) to other places in the body (metastasis) in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Traditional PET/CT has a low positive predictive value for diagnosing metastatic disease in head and neck cancer. 89Zr panitumumab is an investigational imaging agent that contains radiolabeled anti-EGFR antibody which is overexpressed in head and neck cancer. The main question this study aims to answer is the sensitivity and specificity of 89Zr panitumumab for the detection of indeterminate metastatic lesions in head and neck cancer.

Participants will receive 89Zr panitumumab infusion and undergo 89Zr panitumumab PET/CT 1 to 5 days after infusion. Participants will otherwise receive standard of care evaluation and treatment for their indeterminate lesions.

Researchers will compare the 89Zr panitumumab to standard of care imaging modalities (magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), CT, and/or PET/CT).
Head/Neck
I
Topf, Michael
NCT05747625
VICCHN2279

Testing What Happens When an Immunotherapy Drug (Pembrolizumab) is Given by Itself Compared to the Usual Treatment of Chemotherapy With Radiation After Surgery for Recurrent Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Head/Neck

This phase II trial studies the effect of pembrolizumab alone compared to the usual approach (chemotherapy \[cisplatin and carboplatin\] plus radiation therapy) after surgery in treating patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma that has come back (recurrent) or patients with a second head and neck cancer that is not from metastasis (primary). Radiation therapy uses high energy radiation or protons to kill tumor cells and shrink tumors. Cisplatin is in a class of medications known as platinum-containing compounds. It works by killing, stopping or slowing the growth of cancer cells. Carboplatin is also in a class of medications known as platinum-containing compounds. It works in a way similar to the anticancer drug cisplatin, but may be better tolerated than cisplatin. Carboplatin works by killing, stopping or slowing the growth of cancer cells. 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. Giving pembrolizumab alone after surgery may work better than the usual approach in shrinking recurrent or primary head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
Head/Neck
II
Choe, Jennifer
NCT04671667
ECOGHNEA3191