Clinical Trials

Clinical trial will test new treatment to improve survival rates for patients with operable gastrointestinal tumors

A clinical phase II trial at the NIH Clinical Center will test the effectiveness of a monoclonal antibody used immediately before and after surgery for patients with primary pancreatic and bile duct cancer and those who have liver metastasis from colorectal cancer. The trial is investigating whether this treatment can prevent the disease from coming back after surgery.

Clinical trial studies antibiotic therapy for fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma, a rare liver cancer

Fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma (FLC) is a rare liver cancer that usually grows in teens and young adults. Unresectable FLC usually does not improve with surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Tim F. Greten, M.D., Deputy Chief of the Thoracic and GI Malignancies Branch, is leading a study that tests the theory that certain bacteria in the gut may influence the development of FLC.

James Kochenderfer receives 2019 FNIH Trailblazer Prize for Clinician-Scientists

James Kochenderfer, M.D., Investigator in the Surgery Branch, has received the 2019 Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH) Trailblazer Prize for Clinician-Scientists. The award recognizes the outstanding contributions of early career clinician-scientists whose work has the potential to or has led to innovations in patient care. Dr. Kochenderfer was selected as the 2019 recipient for developing immunotherapies that leverage chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells to treat blood cancers, including lymphoma and multiple myeloma.

Metastatic breast cancer survivor shares her clinical trial story

We’re celebrating breast cancer awareness month by sharing the story of Samantha Seinfeld, a metastatic breast cancer survivor who participated in a CCR first-in-human clinical trial over 10 years ago. Since then, she has remained cancer-free. Margaret Gatti-Mays, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.P., Assistant Research Physician in the Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, and James Gulley, M.D., Ph.D., Chief of the Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, are currently evaluating Samantha’s unusual immune response in hopes of improving the responses of other patients.

Stanley Lipkowitz and Alexandra Zimmer answer breast cancer “Redditor” questions

Stanley Lipkowitz, M.D., Ph.D., Chief of the Women’s Malignancies Branch (WMB), and Alexandra Zimmer, M.D., Assistant Research Physician in WMB, recently answered questions about breast cancer during a Reddit “Ask Me Anything” (AMA). During the event, Drs. Lipkowitz and Zimmer discussed topics ranging from recent advances in breast cancer treatment to genetic and environmental factors that influence risk for disease.

Kenneth Aldape discusses importance of precise diagnosis in brain and spine tumors

Kenneth Aldape, M.D., Chief of the Laboratory of Pathology, recently discussed the importance of a precise diagnosis in the treatment of brain and spine tumors in an NCI-CONNECTions blog. In the blog, he shares how he’s using the latest technologies and techniques to provide more individualized care for patients.

Clinical trial studies combination therapy for B-cell lymphoma that has spread to the central nervous system

Mark Roschewski, M.D., Senior Clinician in the Lymphoid Malignancies Branch, is leading a study of a combination therapy to treat aggressive B-cell lymphoma that has spread to the brain and spinal cord.

Clinical trial tests chemotherapy dose for graft-versus-host disease after bone marrow transplant

The use of cyclophosphamide after hematopoietic cell transplantation (post-transplantation cyclophosphamide) may reduce the risk of severe forms of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), particularly chronic GVHD. Christopher G. Kanakry, M.D., Investigator in the Experimental Transplantation and Immunology Branch, is conducting a clinical trial to test if an intermediate dose of this drug is better than higher doses as well as evaluating the optimal time to give this drug.

Amy LeBlanc discusses how dogs are helping cure childhood cancers

Amy LeBlanc, D.V.M., Director of the Center for Cancer Research’s Comparative Oncology Program, was recently featured in an Everyday Health article that discusses the importance of studying the connection between cancer in dogs and cancer in children. Dr. LeBlanc says, “By studying [dogs] in the context of clinical trials, it can advance new concepts and better treatment for humans and, potentially, for dogs as patients themselves.”

Clinical trial evaluates dual drug therapy for untreated follicular lymphoma

Follicular lymphoma (FL) is a cancer of white blood cells (B cells) that help your body fight infections. Investigators are leading a clinical trial at the NIH Clinical Center to see if a combination therapy can slow the growth of FL in patients who have not received prior treatment.

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