Cancer Clinical Trials in Canada

This trial seeks to evaluate a management strategy after the acute treatment duration (≥ 3 months of therapeutic anticoagulation) for patients with cancer and catheter-related upper extremity deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Read Less

Cancers are often treated with external beam radiotherapy. Current radiotherapy treatments are performed using computed tomography (also known as CT) scans which may not always clearly identify the cancer. In some instances, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be able to better identify cancers. Therefore, efforts are currently underway to use the MRI scans to improve radiotherapy treatments or eventually even use radiotherapy equipment that only uses MRI scans to guide treatments. This new technology that will only use MRI scans to guide treatments is called the Linac-MR (linear accelerator with an MRI). The purpose of this pilot phase of the study is to test whether the Alberta linac-MR P3 system at the Cross Cancer Institute can acquire high quality MR images safely. It will allow the researchers to develop the best collection of MR images possible with this new machine, in order to allow them to visualize tumors for future patients that are treated on this machine. Read Less

EXCEL will provide online and, where feasible, in-person exercise programs to individuals living with and beyond cancer (ILWBC). Research has shown that targeted programs that include tailored exercise prescriptions are more successful in helping individuals with chronic disease to incorporate physical activity and exercise into their daily routines. While ILWBC are advised by healthcare professionals (HCPs) to engage in exercise, there is a lack of cancer-specific exercise programs and cancer-trained exercise specialists in Canada, outside of the research setting. Considering the negative impact cancer and its treatments have on fitness and physical activity levels, community-based efforts towards improving access, uptake and maintenance of exercise programming are needed. This study will evaluate the benefits of a community-based or online EXCEL exercise program for people living with and beyond cancer across Canada, using a streamlined intake process compared to the original EXCEL Study (HREBA.CC-20-0098, NCT04478851). This 8 to 12-week program (intervention) will be delivered in-person or over virtual platform. It includes twice weekly supervised exercise classes. Read Less

Allogeneic Haemopoietic Stem Cell Transplant (Allo-HSCT) is a potentially curative option for patients with both malignant and non-malignant hematological disorders. There appears to be unique experiences that adolescents and young adults (AYA) face when undergoing transplant. There is literature to suggest that peer support for young adults is associated with improvements in mental health including greater happiness, self-esteem and effective coping, as well as reductions in depression, loneliness and anxiety. Our primary objective is to determine the feasibility and acceptability of an AYA peer support program for patients undergoing Allo-HSCT. Our secondary objective is to explore the impact of the AYA peer support program on sense of support/connectivity, anxiety, and depression. Read Less

Vaginal dilator therapy (VDT) with static dilators is often prescribed to patients following vaginal or pelvic radiation therapy. This study seeks to evaluate the feasibility of a novel intravaginal device that delivers patient-controlled dilation (Hyivy device). The study is designed as a proof-of-concept single-arm pilot study. The primary objective is to assess safety and tolerability, while also evaluating changes in health-related quality of life and pelvic pain. Read Less

People with advanced chronic cancers are now living for many years as a result of new targeted anti-cancer treatments. Many of these treatments are quite new and people may take them for months, even years, as long as the treatments are helping. The purpose of this study is to help understand how to best support people receiving these treatments. Read Less

The current standard preoperative assessment does not consider the needs of older adults undergoing non-oncological surgery. To enhance the treatment decision-making and planning for older adult surgical patients, the British Geriatric Society and the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons recommend the implementation of preoperative GA for all older adults. Geriatric assessment (GA) predicts treatment toxicity and overall mortality in older adults with complex health problems. However, in-person GA may not be feasible in several clinical settings for various reasons, including lack of training, time, or access to advanced geriatric services. These challenges can be minimized through a self-reported online GA that can be completed by patients prior to the participants' medical appointment. In a previous study, the investigators developed a self-reported online GA, known as the Comprehensive Health Assessment for My Cancer treatment Plan (CHAMP), which was used in geriatric oncology to increase accessibility to GA for older adults with cancer. In this study, the aim is to deploy the CHAMP tool to various clinics across 4 institutions and assess feasibility outcomes, as well as the efficacy of the CHAMP tool in the identification of geriatric issues and the development of supportive care. Read Less

More Canadians are surviving cancer, however, individuals with cancer live with side effects for years after treatments have ended. The physical and psychosocial benefits of regular physical activity (PA) during and after cancer treatment are well established. However, less than 30% of individuals with cancer meet current PA recommendations and PA levels decline significantly during treatment. PA services within the cancer institution to support well-being during treatment are not available for survivors across Ontario. Strategies are needed within cancer centres to close the gap between the evidence and clinical practice. What is the purpose? To evaluate the effectiveness of a novel exercise and education strategy for individuals with cancer during treatment. What are we proposing to do? This project includes two parts. In Part 1 participants will be put into one of three groups. Group 1 (Exercise \& self-management) will include eight sessions of supervised, institution-based exercise and self-management education. Group 2 (self-management only) will include eight virtual self-management education sessions with an exercise professional. Group 3 will receive usual care (i.e., no intervention). In Part 2 participants who attended less than 75% of their sessions will be asked to complete an interview on the barriers to continuing with the study during cancer treatment. Why is this work important? Findings from this trial will inform the way PA services are provided within cancer institutions across Ontario. This novel strategy incorporates both institution-based and home-based exercise strategies during treatment and highlights the importance of individuals with cancer taking an active role in managing their condition during treatment. This can prevent future complications and decrease burden on the individual and the healthcare system. Results will inform future decisions on PA implementation strategies for cancer survivors with diverse needs across Ontario. Read Less

This study will be a two-arm, multi-site RCT, to examine the effects of an entirely virtual, 6-month supervised PA program plus standard exercise counselling (PA+EC) versus a supervised PA plus motivationally-enhanced behavioral counselling (PA+BC) on moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in cancer survivors. A 6-month post intervention follow-up (T2) and 1-year post intervention follow-up (T3; 1-year follow-up from post-intervention) will take place after the intervention to address maintenance. The intervention is designed using evidence-based research in the fields of exercise oncology using effective clinical design and theoretical approaches, including behaviour change techniques, to gradually increase MVPA to at least 90 minutes per week in cancer survivors as per the exercise guidelines for cancer survivors. Read Less

The main objective is to evaluate the impact of intestinal preparation on the composition, diversity and metabolome of the intestinal microbiota. Read Less

Cancer continues to have the dubious honor of being the leading cause of premature mortality in Canada. The good news is, advances in early detection and cancer treatments are extending the lives of those diagnosed with the disease. However, as more people are living longer, the impact of the therapies used to treat the disease are becoming increasingly apparent. Ranging from the physiological to psychological, cancer survivors are often confronted with substantial, disabling, and life-threatening consequences. The benefits of physical activity (all movement) and exercise more specifically have long been established as a means of prevention and treatment of chronic disease. Several recent reviews and meta-analyses have demonstrated that exercise is a safe and effective means of preventing and improving a multitude of physical and psychological treatment and disease-related sequelae across the cancer trajectory. For example, we know that cancer survivors who exercise not only have a reduced risk of disease recurrence and cancer mortality, but also have reduced acute/late effects of their cancer and/or its treatment such as anxiety, depression, and cancer-related pain. Regrettably, despite our substantial knowledge base, the majority of cancer survivors are not sufficiently active to realize these benefits over the long-term. Moreover, even with the development of evidence-based guidelines, exercise has not yet been widely implemented as a standard of care in the oncology setting largely due to a lack of resources, exercise expertise, and awareness of benefits. Continuing to provide cancer care with little guidance and understanding of the benefits of exercise places cancer survivors at an increased risk for recurrence, late effects, and/or onset of additional co-morbidities, and premature mortality. Therefore, it is important to consider best practices that will optimize and improve quality of survival. Building on the ongoing work of our Alberta-based colleagues and the Alberta Cancer Exercise (ACE) Program (an evidence-based clinic-to-community cancer exercise model), Activating Cancer Communities through an Exercise Strategy for Survivors (ACCESS) is designed to bridge the gap between research and practice and in doing so, lessen the impact of a cancer diagnosis and its treatment(s) on the physical and psychological well-being of cancer survivors. Read Less

Studies have shown that tumors from the same patient may respond very differently to the same therapeutic agents. This study aims to investigate the genetic basis of tumors that respond abnormally well or poorly to therapeutic agents in an effort to understand the fundamental genetic basis of this response. The present protocol seeks to retrospectively perform Exome, next-generation (DNA) sequencing and/or other molecular techniques on tumor samples to identify the genetic basis of a patient's exceptional response to chemotherapy. Read Less