Clinical Research Directory

Ipatasertib in Combination With Carboplatin, Carboplatin/Paclitaxel, or Capecitabine/Atezolizumab in Treating Patients With Metastatic Triple Negative Breast Cancer

This phase I trial studies best dose of ipatasertib and how well it works with carboplatin with or without paclitaxel in treating patients with triple negative breast cancer that has spread to other places in the body (metastatic). Ipatasertib may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as carboplatin, paclitaxel, and capecitabine, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading. Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as atezolizumab, may help the body's immune system attack the cancer, and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. It is not yet known whether giving ipatasertib in combination with carboplatin, carboplatin/paclitaxel, or capecitabine/atezolizumab will work better in treating patients with triple negative breast cancer.

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

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.

A Vaccine (STEMVAC) With Standard Endocrine-Based Therapy or Chemotherapy for the Treatment of Metastatic Hormone Receptor Positive, HER2 Negative Breast Cancer

This phase II trial studies how well a vaccine, STEMVAC, works in combination with standard endocrine-based therapy (ET) with a CDK4/6 targeted drug therapy, or with the chemotherapy drug capecitabine, in treating patients with hormone receptor (HR)-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer that has spread from where it first started (primary site) to other places in the body (metastatic). STEMVAC is designed to target proteins that cancer cells use when they become more aggressive and start to spread, and it is believed to work by boosting the immune system to recognize and destroy the invader tumor cells that are causing the disease. Standard ET is treatment that adds, blocks, or removes hormones in order to slow or stop the growth of cancer. Standard CDK4/6 inhibitors, including abemaciclib, may stop the growth of tumor cells and may kill them by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Capecitabine is in a class of medications called antimetabolites. It is taken up by tumor cells and breaks down into fluorouracil, a substance that kills tumor cells. Giving STEMVAC in combination with standard ET or chemotherapy may be an effective treatment for metastatic HR positive, HER2 negative breast cancer.

Tumor Treating Fields for the Treatment of Leptomeningeal Metastases of the Spine in Patients With Breast or Lung Cancer

This clinical trial evaluates the safety and feasibility of tumor treating fields (TTF) in the treatment of spinal leptomeningeal disease in patients with breast or lung cancer that has spread from where it first started (primary site) to other places in the body (metastatic). Patients wear the portable Novo TTF-200T device that produces electric fields to target areas on the body to stop the growth of tumor cells. The information from this study will help researchers develop a better treatment for leptomeningeal metastases in the future.

Ivermectin in Combination With Balstilimab or Pembrolizumab in Patients With Metastatic Triple Negative Breast Cancer and HR+/HER2- Metastatic Breast Cancer

This phase II trial studies the side effects and best dose of ivermectin in combination with balstilimab or pembrolizumab and to see how well they they work in shrinking tumors in patients with triple negative breast cancer and HR+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer that has spread to other places in the body (metastatic). Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as balstilimab or pembrolizumab, may help the body's immune system attack the cancer, and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Ivermectin may help block the formation of growths that may become cancer. Giving ivermectin with balstilimab or pembrolizumab may increase the effect of balstilimab or pembrolizumab in shrinking tumors in patients with triple negative breast cancer and HR+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer. The secondary objectives of the study include evaluating the following efficacy outcomes: objective response rate (ORR), progression free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), duration of response (DOR), clinical benefit rate (CBR), and patients' quality of life (QOL) by European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (QLQ-C30).

S1703 Serum Tumor Marker Directed Disease Monitoring in Patients With Hormone Receptor Positive Her2 Negative Metastatic Breast Cancer

This randomized research trial studies how well serum tumor marker directed disease monitoring works in monitoring patients with hormone receptor positive Her2 negative breast cancer that has spread to other places in the body. Using markers to prompt when scans should be ordered may be as good as the usual approach to monitoring disease.

A Video Intervention to Improve Patient Understanding of Tumor Genomic Testing in Patients With Metastatic Cancer

This clinical trial tests whether a video intervention improves patient understanding of tumor genomic testing in patients with cancer that has spread to other parts of the body (metastatic). Measuring how the video intervention affects patient understanding of tumor genomic testing in patients with metastatic cancer may help doctors provide patient-centered care by effectively communicating the importance of tumor genomic testing.

Exemestane With or Without Entinostat in Treating Patients With Recurrent Hormone Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer That is Locally Advanced or Metastatic

This randomized phase III trial studies exemestane and entinostat to see how well they work compared to exemestane alone in treating patients with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer that has spread to nearby tissue or lymph nodes (locally advanced) or another place in the body (metastatic). Estrogen can cause the growth of breast cancer cells. Endocrine therapy using exemestane may fight breast cancer by lowering the amount of estrogen the body makes. Entinostat may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. It is not yet known whether exemestane is more effective with or without entinostat in treating breast cancer.

Finding an Effective Dose of GM1 to Reduce or Prevent Neuropathy (Numbness or Weakness) Due to Treatment With Paclitaxel

This early phase/phase II trial tests the safety, side effects, and best dose of monosialotetrahexosylganglioside (GM1) and whether it works in reducing or preventing chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) in patients with breast cancer that has spread from where it first started (primary site) to other places in the body (metastatic) who are receiving treatment with paclitaxel. Chemotherapy drugs, such as paclitaxel, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading. Exposure to chemotherapy drugs like paclitaxel may cause a side effect called CIPN, which is a condition of weakness, numbness, and pain from nerve damage (usually in the hands and feet). GM1 is a part of the body's natural system that insulates nerves and helps to protect nerves from damage. Giving GM1 may help reduce or prevent CIPN in breast cancer patients receiving treatment with paclitaxel.

Using FDG-PET/CT to Assess Response of Bone-Dominant Metastatic Breast Cancer, FEATURE Study

This phase II trial studies how well FDG-PET/CT works in assessing the response of patients with breast cancer that has spread to the bones or mostly to the bones (bone-dominant metastatic breast cancer). Diagnostic procedures, such as FDG-PET/CT, may work better in measuring breast cancer activity before and after treatment compared to other standard imaging tests.

Testing the Safety of the Combination of Anti-Cancer Drugs CX-5461 (Pidnarulex) and Trastuzumab Deruxtecan (T-DXd) for Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 (HER2)-Positive Solid Tumors and Breast Cancer

This phase I trial tests the safety, side effects, and best dose of pidnarulex in combination with trastuzumab deruxtecan in treating patients with breast cancer and other solid tumors that express varying levels of a protein called HER2 and that has spread from where it first started (primary site) to other places in the body (metastatic), that cannot be removed by surgery (unresectable), or that has spread to nearby tissue or lymph nodes (locally advanced). Pidnarulex is an enzyme inhibitor that causes cell death and prevents tumor cell growth. Trastuzumab deruxtecan is in a class of medications called antibody-drug conjugates. It 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. Giving pidnarulex in combination with trastuzumab deruxtecan may be safe, tolerable and/or effective in treating patients with metastatic, unresectable, or locally advanced HER2-expressing breast cancer or other solid tumors.

Abemaciclib and Endocrine Therapy in Older Patients With Breast Cancer.

This phase IIa trial studies the side effects of abemaciclib monotherapy in treating patients age 70 years and older with hormone receptor positive, HER2 negative breast cancer that has spread to other places in the body.

A Blended e-Health Intervention to Improve Fear of Progression in Women With Gynecologic or Breast Cancer

This clinical trial studies whether an intervention supported by technology (blended e-health intervention) works to improve fear of progression (FOP) in women with gynecologic or breast cancer. FOP is the fear patients experience from the possibility that their cancer could grow, spread, or get worse. Managing FOP is a leading unmet concern of cancer patients. High levels of FOP are associated with distress, depression, and increased health care costs, despite this, access to resources to address FOP remain limited. The blended e-health intervention in this trial offers remote group sessions along with online sessions to help patients access the information. Session content incorporates values-based goal setting and skills practices to manage unhelpful beliefs about worry and promote helpful coping behaviors. The sessions may help patients recognize unhelpful thoughts and behaviors which reinforce worry. A blended e-health intervention may be an effective way to improve FOP in women with gynecologic or breast cancer.

Testing the Addition of an Individualized Vaccine to Durvalumab and Tremelimumab and Chemotherapy in Patients With Metastatic Triple Negative Breast Cancer

This phase II trial studies how well nab-paclitaxel, durvalumab, and tremelimumab with or without personalized synthetic long peptide vaccine (neoantigen vaccine) works in treating patients with triple negative breast cancer that has spread from where it first started (primary site) to other places in the body (metastatic). Chemotherapy drugs, such as nab-paclitaxel, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading. Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as durvalumab and tremelimumab, may induce changes in body's immune system and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Vaccines made from peptides may help the body build an effective immune response to kill tumor cells. It is not yet known whether giving nab-paclitaxel, durvalumab, and tremelimumab with or without neoantigen vaccine will work better in treating patients with triple negative breast cancer.

Adding Surgery and Radiation to the Usual Treatment for HER2-Positive Breast Cancer That Had Already Spread at Diagnosis

This phase III trial evaluates the effect of adding locoregional therapy (surgery and radiation) and metastasis-directed stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) to standard systemic therapy following standard HER2-targeted systemic therapy, compared to standard systemic therapy alone, in treating patients with HER2-positive stage IV breast cancer that has spread from where it first started (primary site) to other places in the body (metastatic) or to a limited number of sites (oligometastatic). The usual approach for patients with (oligo)metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer is systemic drug treatment, which means medicines that travel through the whole body to treat both the breast and any areas where the cancer has spread. There are a number of approved HER2-targeted systemic therapy regimens available to patients. These typically include immunotherapy and/or chemotherapy. Immunotherapy drugs may induce changes in body's immune system and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Chemotherapy drugs work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading. Unlike systemic therapy, locoregional therapies like surgery and radiation are focused treatments at the site of disease, delivered with the intent of sparing healthy tissues. Breast surgeries such as breast conserving therapy or total mastectomy are procedures in which the cancerous breast tissue (and healthy breast tissue in the case of total mastectomy) are surgically removed from the body. Radiation therapy uses high energy x-rays, particles, or radioactive seeds to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. SBRT is a type of external radiation therapy that uses special equipment to position a patient and precisely deliver radiation to tumors in the body (except the brain). The total dose of radiation is divided into smaller doses given over several days. This type of radiation therapy helps spare normal tissue. Adding locoregional therapy, as well as metastasis-directed SBRT, to standard systemic therapy may help patients with (oligo)metastatic, HER2-positive stage IV breast cancer live longer overall or before their cancer progresses, and may help more patients achieve no evidence of disease, when compared to standard systemic therapy alone.

TVB-2640 and Trastuzumab With Paclitaxel or Endocrine Therapy for Treatment of HER2 Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer

This phase II trial studies how well FASN inhibitor TVB-2640, paclitaxel, and trastuzumab work in treating patients with HER2 positive breast cancer that has spread to other places in the body (metastatic). FASN inhibitor TVB-2640 may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Trastuzumab is a form of targeted therapy because it attaches 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 the body's immune system. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as paclitaxel, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading. Estrogen can cause the growth of breast cancer cells. Drugs used in endocrine therapy either lower the amount of estrogen made by the body or blocks the use of estrogen by the tumor cells. This may help stop the growth of tumor cells that need estrogen to grow. Giving FASN inhibitor TVB-2640 and trastuzumab in combination with paclitaxel or endocrine therapy may help control the disease in patients with HER2 positive breast cancer.

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation to Improve Gait for Breast Cancer Survivor's Who Received Taxene and/or Platinum Chemotherapy

This clinical trial tests the effect of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to improve gait in older breast cancer survivors who received taxane and/or platinum chemotherapy. Chemotherapy, especially taxane or platinum therapy, can cause damage to the to the nerves resulting in numbness, tingling and pain, which can cause difficulty walking. It can also cause cognitive dysfunction which may effect gait. TDCS is a non-invasive brain stimulation device which uses a very mild electrical current applied to the scalp to temporarily stimulate a specific area of the brain involved in thinking and movement which may improve walking, particularly while doing two things at once. TDCS may be effective in improving gait for older breast cancer survivors who received taxane and/or platinum chemotherapy.

Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy and FES PET/CT Imaging for the Treatment of Oligoprogressive Estrogen Receptor Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer

This phase II trial tests how well stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) works in treating patients with estrogen receptor positive (ER +) breast cancer that has spread from where it first started to other places in the body (metastatic) and has limited disease progression (oligoprogression). Currently, the standard of care for breast cancer patients with oligoprogressive disease is to change systemic therapy when progression occurs. Radiation therapy uses high energy x-rays, particles, or radioactive seeds to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. SBRT is a type of external radiation therapy that uses special equipment to position a patient and precisely deliver radiation to tumors in the body (except the brain). The total dose of radiation is divided into smaller doses (fractions) given over several days. This type of radiation therapy helps spare normal tissue and has been shown to improve survival. SBRT may kill more tumor cells and allow patients with oligoprogressive ER + metastatic breast cancer to continue taking current systemic treatment. This trial also tests how well ER targeted positron emission tomography (PET)/ computed tomography (CT) imaging, using FES, works in identifying progressive disease in patients with ER + metastatic breast cancer. FES, a radiolabeled substance, binds to estrogen receptors and gives off radiation that can be detected by a PET scan. The PET scan, an established imaging technique that utilizes small amounts of radioactivity attached to very minimal amounts of tracer, FES, forms an image that shows where tumor cells with estrogen receptors can be found in the body. CT images use x-rays to provide an exact outline of organs. FES PET/CT may improve identification of progressive disease in patients with ER + metastatic breast cancer.

National Cancer Institute "Cancer Moonshot Biobank"

This trial collects multiple tissue and blood samples, along with medical information, from cancer patients. The "Cancer Moonshot Biobank" is a longitudinal study. This means it collects and stores samples and information over time, throughout the course of a patient's cancer treatment. By looking at samples and information collected from the same people over time, researchers hope to better understand how cancer changes over time and over the course of medical treatments.

Testing the Addition of Anti-Cancer Drug, ZEN003694 (ZEN-3694) and PD-1 Inhibitor (Pembrolizumab), to Standard Chemotherapy (Nab-Paclitaxel) Treatment in Patients With Advanced Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

This phase Ib trial tests the safety and tolerability of ZEN003694 in combination with an immunotherapy drug called pembrolizumab and the usual chemotherapy approach with nab-paclitaxel for the treatment of patients with triple negative-negative breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body (advanced). Paclitaxel is in a class of medications called antimicrotubule agents. It stops cancer cells from growing and dividing and may kill them. Nab-paclitaxel is an albumin-stabilized nanoparticle formulation of paclitaxel which may have fewer side effects and work better than other forms of paclitaxel. Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as pembrolizumab may help the body's immune system attach the cancer and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. ZEN003694 is an inhibitor of a family of proteins called the bromodomain and extra-terminal (BET). It may prevent the growth of tumor cells that over produce BET protein. Combination therapy with ZEN003694 pembrolizumab immunotherapy and nab-paclitaxel chemotherapy may help shrink or stabilize cancer for longer than chemotherapy alone.

Functional Imaging in Prediction of Response to Abemaciclib for Advanced Hormone Receptor-Positive, HER2-Negative Breast Cancer

This phase II trial tests the accuracy of functional imaging (FFNP)-positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) to predict response to abemaciclib plus endocrine therapy. Abemaciclib is a drug used to treat certain types of hormone receptor positive (HR+), HER2 negative breast cancer. Abemaciclib blocks certain proteins, which may help keep tumor cells from growing. Endocrine therapy adds, blocks, or removes hormones that can cause cancer to grow. FFNP PET imaging is a form of x-ray that uses FFNP as an imaging agent that may provide more precise information about the location of tumors that "light up" with FFNP than a PET scan alone can provide.

An Optimized Ultrasound Twinkling Marker for the Imaging of Lymph Nodes in Patients With Clinically Node-Positive Breast Cancer, The UTMOST2 Trial

This phase I trial studies the performance, including ultrasound visibility, of an optimized ultrasound twinkling marker in imaging lymph nodes in patients with clinically node-positive breast cancer. In patients with biopsy-proven breast cancer, biopsy markers are used to identify the sites of cancer involvement in both the breasts and lymph nodes. These biopsy markers are critical for guiding surgical management many months after the marker is placed. For breast radiologists and breast surgeons, there is a need for simple, consistent visibility of biopsy markers by ultrasound, particularly several months after marker placement. Ultrasound is the imaging method of choice, particularly for lymph nodes in the armpit (axilla). Ultrasound is non-ionizing and is more comfortable for patients compared to mammography. However, ultrasound visibility of these markers is challenging and inconsistent, with ultrasound failing to detect the marker approximately 25% of the time. The Mayo-designed investigational biopsy marker takes advantage of an ultrasound phenomenon called twinkling artifact. The Mayo-designed optimized ultrasound twinkling marker may work better than standard biopsy clip marker in imaging lymph nodes in patients with clinically node-positive breast cancer.

Testing the Addition of Radium Therapy (Radium-223 Dichloride) to the Usual Chemotherapy Treatment (Paclitaxel) for Advanced Breast Cancer That Has Spread to the Bones

This phase II trial studies how well radium-223 dichloride and paclitaxel work in treating patients with advanced breast cancer that has spread to the bones. Radium-223 dichloride is a radioactive drug that behaves in a similar way to calcium and collects in cancer that has spread to the bones (bone metastases). The radioactive particles in radium-223 dichloride act on bone metastases, killing the tumor cells and reducing the pain that they can cause. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as paclitaxel, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading. Giving radium-223 dichloride and paclitaxel may work better in treating patients with metastatic breast cancer compared to paclitaxel alone.

Genetic Testing in Predicting Tumor Response in Patients With Stage I-III HER2 Negative Invasive Breast Cancer

This phase II trial studies how well genetic testing works in predicting tumor response in patients with stage I-III HER2 negative invasive breast cancer. Genetic testing is a procedure that tests tumor samples to learn if certain genes are activated (turned on) in the tumor and if the activation of these genes may predict if the tumor will be sensitive or resistant to routine breast cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy or hormonal therapy.