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The goal of this clinical study is to compare the study drug, axicabtagene ciloleucel, versus standard of care (SOC) in first-line therapy in participants with high-risk large B-cell lymphoma.
This phase I trial is to find out the best dose, possible benefits and/or side effects of nilotinib given together with trametinib and dabrafenib in treating patients with BRAF V600 mutant melanoma that has spread to other places in the body (metastatic) or cannot be removed by surgery (unresectable). Nilotinib, trametinib, and dabrafenib may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Giving nilotinib together with trametinib and dabrafenib may lower the chance of cancer growing or spreading.
This phase III trial compares the effect of adding levocarnitine to standard chemotherapy vs. standard chemotherapy alone in protecting the liver in patients with leukemia or lymphoma. Asparaginase is part of the standard of care chemotherapy for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), lymphoblastic lymphoma (LL), and mixed phenotype acute leukemia (MPAL). However, in adolescent and young adults (AYA) ages 15-39 years, liver toxicity from asparaginase is common and often prevents delivery of planned chemotherapy, thereby potentially compromising outcomes. Some groups of people may also be at higher risk for liver damage due to the presence of fat in the liver even before starting chemotherapy. Patients who are of Japanese descent, Native Hawaiian, Hispanic or Latinx may be at greater risk for liver damage from chemotherapy for this reason. Carnitine is a naturally occurring nutrient that is part of a typical diet and is also made by the body. Carnitine is necessary for metabolism and its deficiency or absence is associated with liver and other organ damage. Levocarnitine is a drug used to provide extra carnitine. Laboratory and real-world usage of the dietary supplement levocarnitine suggests its potential to prevent or reduce liver toxicity from asparaginase. The overall goal of this study is to determine whether adding levocarnitine to standard of care chemotherapy will reduce the chance of developing severe liver damage from asparaginase chemotherapy in ALL, LL and/or MPAL patients.

Evaluating the Use of Dual Imaging Techniques for Detection of Disease in Patients with Head and Neck Cancer

This phase I trial evaluates the safety and effectiveness of using two imaging techniques, indium In 111 panitumumab (111In-panitumumab) with single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)/computed tomography (CT) and panitumumab-IRDye800 fluorescence imaging during surgery (intraoperative), to detect disease in patients with head and neck cancer. 111In-panitumumab is an imaging agent made of a monoclonal antibody that has been labeled with a radioactive molecule called indium In 111. The agent targets and binds to receptors on tumor cells. This allows the cells to be visualized and assessed with SPECT/CT imaging techniques. SPECT is special type of CT scan in which a small amount of a radioactive drug is injected into a vein and a scanner is used to make detailed images of areas inside the body where the radioactive material is taken up by the cells. CT is an imaging technique for examining structures within the body by scanning them with x-rays and using a computer to construct a series of cross-sectional scans along a single axis. Panitumumab-IRDye800 is an imaging agent composed of panitumumab, a monoclonal antibody, linked to a fluorescent dye called IRDye800. Upon administration, panitumumab-IRDye800 targets and binds to receptors on tumor cells. This allows the tumor cells to be detected using fluorescence imaging during surgery. Adding 111In-panitumumab SPECT/CT imaging to intraoperative panitumumab-IRDye800 fluorescence imaging may be more effective at detecting disease in patients with head and neck cancer.

A Study to Compare Standard Therapy to Treat Hodgkin Lymphoma to the Use of Two Drugs, Brentuximab Vedotin and Nivolumab

This phase III trial compares the effect of adding immunotherapy (brentuximab vedotin and nivolumab) to standard treatment (chemotherapy with or without radiation) to the standard treatment alone in improving survival in patients with stage I and II classical Hodgkin lymphoma. Brentuximab vedotin is in a class of medications called antibody-drug conjugates. It is made of a monoclonal antibody called brentuximab that is linked to a cytotoxic agent called vedotin. Brentuximab attaches to CD30 positive lymphoma cells in a targeted way and delivers vedotin to kill them. A monoclonal antibody is a type of protein that can bind to certain targets in the body, such as molecules that cause the body to make an immune response (antigens). Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as nivolumab, may help the body's immune system attack the cancer, and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Chemotherapy drugs such as doxorubicin hydrochloride, bleomycin sulfate, vinblastine sulfate, dacarbazine, and procarbazine hydrochloride 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. Cyclophosphamide is in a class of medications called alkylating agents. It works by damaging the cells deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and may kill cancer cells. It may also lower the bodys immune response. Etoposide is in a class of medications known as podophyllotoxin derivatives. It blocks a certain enzyme needed for cell division and DNA repair and may kill cancer cells. Vincristine is in a class of medications called vinca alkaloids. It works by stopping cancer cells from growing and dividing and may kill them. Prednisone is in a class of medications called corticosteroids. It is used to reduce inflammation and lower the body's immune response to help lessen the side effects of chemotherapy drugs. Radiation therapy uses high energy x-rays to kill tumor cells and shrink tumors. Adding immunotherapy to the standard treatment of chemotherapy with or without radiation may increase survival and/or fewer short-term or long-term side effects in patients with classical Hodgkin lymphoma compared to the standard treatment alone.

Alex Cheng, Ph.D., M.S., M.E.M

  • Research Assistant Professor of Biomedical Informatics

Email

a.cheng@vumc.org

Alex Cheng, Ph.D., M.S., M.E.M

  • Research Assistant Professor of Biomedical Informatics

a.cheng@vumc.org

Research Program

Research Description

Have any questions? Contact Us 1-877-936-8422 for more information
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Lauren Corona, M.D.

  • Assistant Professor of Urology

Email

lauren.corona@vumc.org

Lauren Corona, M.D.

  • Assistant Professor of Urology

lauren.corona@vumc.org

Research Program

Research Description

Have any questions? Contact Us 1-877-936-8422 for more information
Contact Now

3D Ingenuity: Surgeon develops visual aid for real-time pathology consults

Michael Topf, MD, Assistant Professor of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Cancer Surgery at Vanderbilt wondered why computer-aided design (CAD) technology hadn’t made it into operating rooms as a visual aid for real-time consultations... So he decided to create it.

Ronald Alvarez elected president of American Gynecological and Obstetrical Society

Ronald Alvarez, MD, MBA, the Betty and Lonnie S. Burnett Chair in Obstetrics and Gynecology, was recently elected the 42nd president of the American Gynecological and Obstetrical Society (AGOS), the most prestigious organization of leaders in obstetrics and gynecology in the nation.

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