Clinical Trials Search at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center

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.

High-grade gliomas (HGGs) are among the most aggressive and treatment-resistant brain tumors. Immunotherapy with checkpoint inhibitors like nivolumab has shown promise, but its efficacy remains variable and poorly understood in this patient population. This clinical trial investigates a novel imaging-enabled formulation of nivolumab-IRDye800 (nivo800) which incorporates a near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent dye to enable real-time visualization of drug distribution within tumor tissue.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized cancer treatment and work by blocking protein interactions that normally prevent the immune system from recognizing and destroying cancer cells. However, these agents, now approved for over 15 types of cancers and for both early-stage and metastatic disease, are capable of causing inflammation in any organ system of the body that can lead to organ damage, dysfunction, and even death in rare cases. Some patients may suffer acute and treatable complications like joint pain, but some may have irreversible complications like hypothyroidism that requires daily, life-long medication. It is therefore important to fully understand the different types of damage ICIs can cause to better monitor patients receiving ICI therapy.

A rising concern from recent reports in the literature is that ICIs may weaken bone and increase the risk of fractures. In this study, the investigators aim to characterize how ICIs impact the bone by examining several factors in patients undergoing curative-intent ICI treatment either alone or in combination with chemotherapy: bone mineral density, bone volume, and markers of bone turnover in the blood. The study will use two imaging techniques to assess bone mineral density and volume. DXA (dual X-ray absorptiometry) imaging uses low-dose X-rays to measure how dense (or strong) bones are and is often used to diagnose or assess the risk of osteoporosis. High-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HRpQCT) is a 3D imaging technology that can quantify bone structure and volume and offers high resolution that can be used to assess bone in smaller bones of the peripheral skeleton.

The investigators hypothesize that ICI treatment will weaken bones and increase the risk of fractures. As ICI therapy is relatively new, a rising number of patients may be at risk of fractures or have low bone density that is not being monitored because there are no guidelines in place notifying physicians of this potential risk to patients. This is study will provide important preliminary data that will be the basis for larger studies in the future aiming to better monitor and potentially treat bone weakening in patients treated with ICIs to reduce the pain, inconvenience, and complications from fragility fractures.

The goal of this study is to provide access to axicabtagene ciloleucel for patients diagnosed with a disease approved for treatment with axicabtagene ciloleucel, that is otherwise out of specification for commercial release.

The goal of this study is to provide access to brexucabtagene autoleucel for patients diagnosed with a disease approved for treatment with brexucabtagene autoleucel, that is otherwise out of specification for commercial release.

This clinical trial evaluates how well two surgical procedures (bilateral salpingectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy) work in reducing the risk of ovarian cancer for individuals with BRCA1 mutations. Bilateral salpingectomy involves the surgical removal of fallopian tubes, and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy involves the surgical removal of both the fallopian tubes and ovaries. This study may help doctors determine if the two surgical procedures are nearly the same for ovarian cancer risk reduction for women with BRCA1 mutations.

Persons with secondary arm and/or upper quadrant lymphedema following cancer therapies commonly are prescribed complete decongestive therapy as a course of management of their lymphedema. The investigators will perform a repeated-measures cross-over trial to test the hypothesis that mobilization of protein enriched hardened tissue using graded negative pressure therapy in conjunction with complete decongestive therapy (CDT) is more effective to standard CDT alone for secondary lymphedema management.