Cancer Clinical Trials in Stanford, CA

Gastric cancer afflicts 27,000 Americans annually and carries a dismal prognosis. One reason for poor outcomes is late diagnosis, as the majority of gastric cancers in the United States are diagnosed at a relatively advanced stage where curative resection is unlikely. Gastric intestinal metaplasia (GIM) is a precancerous change of the stomach which increases risk for subsequent gastric cancer multiple-fold. The Gastric Precancerous Conditions Study (GAPS) is an observational study with two over-arching objectives: 1) improve the non-invasive identification of patients with GIM, and 2) develop biological markers to predict the subset of GIM which will progress onto gastric cancer. To achieve Aim 1, a case-control study (N=300 pairs) matching cases of GIM with age-/gender-matched controls will be recruited form the population of subjects undergoing clinically-indicated endoscopy. Determination of gastric pathology will be made by two, independent gastrointestinal pathologists. At time of endoscopy, a detailed clinical questionnaire is administered by face-to-face interview. Saliva and blood is collected prior to endoscopy. At time of endoscopy, protocoled clinical biopsies (per Revised Sydney Protocol) as well as additional research specimens are collected. Scoring of GIM will be performed based on the Operative Link for GIM scoring system. To achieve Aim 2, patients with histologically-confirmed GIM (N=300) will be followed longitudinally. Biennial endoscopic surveillance will be performed, with repeat biopsies, specimen collection, and histologic scoring. Progression of GIM will be defined as upstaging of GIM score, or development of either dysplasia or carcinoma on any biopsy. Read Less

A research study on the diagnosis of spread of disease for children who have been diagnosed with solid tumors using a new whole body imaging technique and a new MR contrast agent (ferumoxytol). Standard tests that are used to determine the extent and possible spread of a child's disease include magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, computed tomography (CT), Positron Emission Tomography (PET) as well as bone scanning, and metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) scanning. The purpose of this study is to determine if newer imaging tests referred to as whole body diffusion-weighted MR and whole body PET/MR can detect the extent and spread of the disease as accurately or even better as the standard tests (CT, MR and/or PET/CT). The advantage of the new imaging test is that it is associated with no or significantly reduced radiation exposure compared to standard CT and PET/CT imaging tests. The results of whole body MR and PET/MR will be compared with that of the conventional, standard imaging studies for tumor detecting. Read Less

This is a research study using Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor (GCSF) as a bone marrow stimulating agent for imaging to guide radiation treatment planning. G-CSF is a type of growth factor. Growth factors are proteins made in the body. G-CSF is a type of growth factor that makes the bone marrow produce white blood cells to reduce the risk of infection after some types of cancer treatment. Read Less

Phase 1 and 2 trial to study the safety, pharmacokinetics, and efficacy of TAS0953/HM06 in patients with advanced solid tumors with RET gene abnormalities. Phase 1 aims to determine the Maximum Tolerated Dose (MTD) and identify the Recommended Phase 2 Dose (RP2D) to be used in phase 2. Read Less

The Gastric Cancer Registry will combine data acquired directly from patients with gastric cancer; with a family history of gastric cancer in a first or second degree relative; or persons with a known germline mutation in their CDH1 (E-Cadherin) gene via an online questionnaire with genomic data obtained from saliva, blood and tissue samples. The purpose of this registry is to gain better understanding of the causes of gastric cancer, both environmental and genetic; whether certain genomic data can predict outcomes of treatment and survival. Read Less

Partial nephrectomy (PN) is the standard treatment for localized renal masses and should be preferred in clinical T1 (<7 cm tumor diameter) renal tumors over radical nephrectomy (RN) whenever technically feasible. Nonetheless, indications, approaches, techniques for PN, and correct reporting of outcomes, are still a matter of great debate within the urology community. Concurrently, case-report series suggested that alternative strategies for the treatment of localized renal tumors (ablation techniques (AT), watchful waiting (WW), active surveillance (AS)) could be feasible with acceptable oncologic outcomes in particular settings of patients with localized renal tumors. In this complex clinical scenario, the role surgeon-related and environmental factors (such as surgical experience, hospital resources, countries' social background and performance of health system) are important to address the best personalized approach in patients with renal tumors. In the light of current evidence, many unsolved questions still remain and many unmet needs must be addressed. In particular, 1) the risk-benefit trade-offs between PN and RN for anatomically complex renal localized tumors; 2) the definition of evidence-based strategies to tailor the management strategy (AT vs WW vs AS vs surgery) in different subset of patients with particular clinical conditions (i.e. old, frail, comorbid patients); and 3) the definition of evidence-based recommendations to adapt surgical approach (open vs laparoscopic vs robotic) and resection techniques to different patient-, tumor-, and surgeon-specific characteristics. To meet the challenges, to overcome the limitations of current kidney cancer literature (such as the retrospective study design, potential risk of biases, and heterogeneous follow-up of most series), and to provide high-quality evidence for future development of effective clinical practice Guidelines, we designed the international REgistry of COnservative or Radical treatment of localized kiDney tumors (i-RECORD) Project. The expected impact of the i-RECORD project is to provide robust evidence on the leading clinical and environmental factors driving selection of the management strategy in patients with kidney cancer, and the differential impact of different management strategies (including AS, WW, AT, PN and RN) on functional, perioperative and oncological outcomes, as well as quality of life assessment, at a mid-long term follow-up (5-10 years). Read Less

Approximately one fourth of cases of endometrial cancer (EC) are diagnosed in premenopausal women, of whom approximately 40% wish to preserve their fertility. When arising in young women, EC usually presents with favorable prognostic features, as a focal, well differentiated endometrioid tumor, with minimal or absent myometrial invasion. This profile corresponds to the Type 1 EC, which correlates with the estrogen/progesterone receptor positive (ER+/PR+) pattern. On the other hand, these patients frequently present with clinical signs of a hyperestrogenism (chronic anovulation, infertility, obesity). Primary progestin therapy has been demonstrated to be effective in early well differentiated tumors and in poor operative candidates with response rates ranging from 58-100%.Currently, the therapeutic approach to an early stage EC consists of a staging laparotomy/laparoscopy, including a total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (TAH-BSO), peritoneal washings, and lymphadenectomy (pelvic and aortic), depending on the pathological risk profile pre- and intraoperatively determined. Therefore, the current standard of surgical approach is preclusive of fertility. The worldwide experience and data on conservative management of EC are, however, still limited. Most of reports based on cases retrospectively collected, harboring potential methodological bias, using different treatments and drugs, and with insufficient follow-up. Some systematic reviews have been published in the last decade, trying to summarize the literature data. Therapeutic results seem to be promising with a regression rate of approximately 75% and relapse occurring in 25-40% of cases, with anecdotical reports of deaths of disease (DOD). The fertility outcome was, however, not satisfying with about 30% pregnancy rate in patients attempting to conceive, and an overall low rate of assisted reproductive techniques (ART) despite the subfertile clinical profile.Therefore, there is a need for a prospective, multicentre cooperative project able to systematically collect data from consecutive patients treated according to defined (not necessarily identical) protocols, concerning the oncological, as well as, the obstetrical outcomes. Moreover, this project could represent the "template" in which a pretreatment fertility counseling, psychological support, and definitive surgery are routinely included according to shared criteria. Read Less