Cancer Paid Clinical Trials in Pennsylvania

The purpose of this study is to determine whether certain genes in cancer may be abnormal. When a gene is abnormal this is called a mutation. Most mutations in cancer cells are not inherited (passed down from parents) but happen after birth in the cancer itself. Most cancers have many mutations. Some of these mutations are important for the cancer cells to survive while others are not. The goal of this study is test cancer for certain mutations using leftover tumor tissue from a previous surgery or biopsy. Participants will also be asked to provide a tube of blood cheek (also known as a buccal) swab, or a saliva sample that contains normal genes for comparison. The purpose of Part B of this study is to: Understand how genetic changes in tumor effect the chance of responding to experimental cancer treatment. Understand how the genes in the tumor change overtime in response to targeted cancer treatment. Read Less

The investigators hypothesize that intensification of local therapy will lead to improvements in local control and survival in patients with unresectable and borderline resectable pancreatic cancer. We propose to do this by combining nab-paclitaxel concurrently with dose-escalated radiation therapy. In the first part of this phase I study (sub-trial 1), the nab-paclitaxel dose will be escalated while the radiation dose is held constant at a standardly accepted level. The use of this novel chemoradiotherapy regimen will take advantage of nab-paclitaxel's specific anti-tumor and anti-stromal properties, which may enhance the efficacy of radiation therapy, and thereby improve local control. After the MTD of nab-paclitaxel had been determined, a second arm in sub-trial 1 will evaluate the addition of paricalcitol to nab-paclitaxel concurrently with dose-escalated radiation therapy. In addition, after the MTD of the nab-paclitaxel is reached in sub-trial 1 arm A, in the second part of this study (sub-trial 2), we will administer nab-paclitaxel at the determined MTD concurrently with escalated doses of radiation. We will utilize IMRT or protons to safely deliver high doses of radiation while maximally sparing surrounding normal tissue. Patients will also preferentially have 2-3 fiducial markers placed in or around the tumor for daily localization. Chemotherapy before and/or after chemoradiotherapy may be given as per standard of care. Correlative tissue and serum biomarkers are an important, but optional, part of this study. Read Less

This study is for patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. We want to learn more about how we can optimize pain control in patients who undergo transoral robotic surgery (TORS) for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Our goal is to determine if a local anesthetic called EXPAREL® (Liposomal Bupivacaine) impacts postsurgical pain and swallow function in patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma undergoing TORS. EXPAREL® is an FDA-approved anesthetic drug that provides long-lasting and precise pain relief when injected into the surgical wound. Our study team wants to determine if injecting EXPAREL® into the surgical wound will provide better pain relief and swallow function when compared to patients who do not undergo postoperative EXPAREL® injection. Both options for postoperative pain control are considered standard of care for patients undergoing TORS. Read Less

This is an unblinded, randomized clinical study comparing the efficacy of DNA damaging chemotherapy using carboplatin, to standard of care therapy for patients who have metastatic castrate resistant prostate cancer. This trial will use olaparib or carboplatin as initial therapy with crossover to the alternate or second-line drug after first progression for patients with tumors containing BARD1, BRCA1, BRCA2, BRIP1, CHEK1, FANCL, PALB2, RAD51B, RAD51C, RAD51D, or RAD54L inactivating mutations. Participants are randomized (1:1) and receive either carboplatin (AUC 5, IV) every 21 days, first or olaparib taken orally (300 mg), twice daily in 28 day cycles, until intolerance, complete response, or progression by Prostate Cancer Working Group 3 (PCWG3) criteria. Participants then crossover from the first-line therapy to the second-line therapy with the opposite study medication and receive treatment to intolerance or progression (whichever is first). Enrolled participants will be allowed to crossover to second line therapy if they continue to meet initial eligibility criteria, and at least three weeks have elapsed since last administration of either carboplatin or olaparib. Throughout the study, safety and tolerability will be assessed. Progression will be evaluated with bone scan, CT of the abdomen/pelvis, or MRI and PSA as per PCWG3 criteria. Read Less

To find out if contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) can be used to determine if patients receiving combined ICI therapy for triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) are responding to treatment earlier than standard of care MR or CT. Read Less

Aromatase inhibitors are a powerful medication for reducing the risk of recurrence and increasing survival in postmenopausal breast cancer patients. However, these medications can lead to intolerable side effects, poor medication adherence, and increased stress levels. This project's broad objective is to assess whether an intervention can improve medication adherence and reduce physical symptoms and stress in breast cancer patients prescribed aromatase inhibitors. Participants will be randomly assigned to a values affirmation or reflective journaling condition. Interventions will be writing-based, one essay per month for six months. Physical symptoms and perceived stress will be assessed at baseline, post-intervention (one month after the intervention), and follow-up (six months from the post-intervention assessment and seven months after the end of the intervention). Furthermore, an electronic pill bottle will continuously assess daily compliance so that medication adherence rates during the intervention, post-intervention, and follow-up can be calculated. Read Less

This is a multi-centre, Phase 1/2, open-label clinical trial of the VTP-850 prime-boost immunotherapeutic in men with biochemical recurrence after definitive local therapy for prostate cancer. Read Less

This phase III trial compares the effects of shorter chemotherapy (chemo)-immunotherapy without anthracyclines to usual chemo-immunotherapy for the treatment of early-stage triple negative breast cancer. Paclitaxel is in a class of medications called anti-microtubule agents. It stops cancer cells from growing and dividing and may kill them. Carboplatin is in a class of medications known as platinum-containing compounds. It works in a way similar to the anticancer drug cisplatin, but may be better tolerated than cisplatin. Carboplatin works by killing, stopping or slowing the growth of cancer cells. Cyclophosphamide is in a class of medications called alkylating agents. It works by damaging the cell's deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and may kill cancer cells. It may also lower the body's immune response. Docetaxel is in a class of medications called taxanes. It stops cancer cells from growing and dividing and may kill them. Doxorubicin is an anthracycline chemotherapy drug that damages DNA and may kill cancer cells. Pembrolizumab may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Shorter treatment without anthracycline chemotherapy may work the same as the usual anthracycline chemotherapy treatment for early-stage triple negative breast cancer. Read Less

This is a prospective clinical trial that will examine if biennial contrast-enhanced mammography added to annual 3D mammography (tomosynthesis) substantially improves breast cancer detection with minimal increase in false-positives, in women with a personal history of breast cancer. Read Less

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of offering self-sampled human papillomavirus (HPV) tests in increasing participation in cervical cancer screening, compared to the standard of care clinician-sampled test. The primary study endpoints are (1) patients' acceptability of self-sampled HPV tests vs. clinician-sampled test, and (2) patients' completion of self-sampled HPV test. The secondary study endpoint to be measured is the increase in cervical cancer screenings of any type in the PSH St. Joseph's residency clinic patient population. Read Less

This phase I clinical trial studies how well low intensity shockwave therapy (LiSWT) improves erectile function in patients who have had nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy (NS-RP), a type of surgery that attempts to save the nerves near the tissues being removed, for prostate cancer. Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a known side effect of the radical prostatectomy procedure. The low intensity shockwave therapy delivers painless electrotherapy pulse to increase blood flow and supply, activation of tissues and wound healing. Using LiSWT after NS-PRP may improve erectile function in men with prostate cancer. Read Less

After informed consent, participants will be asked to complete a medical/family history questionnaire and provide a blood sample. Some participants may also be asked to provide a urine sample. Individuals undergoing procedures that require collection of biological samples for clinical purposes may have these samples saved for research purposes. Participants will also be asked for their permission for study investigators to access medical records and/or recontact them for updates to their medical and family histories. Data and biospecimens will be stored for potential future research projects. Read Less