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Consuelo Wilkins, MD, MSCI, Senior Vice President for Health Equity and Inclusive Excellence for Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) and Senior Associate Dean for Health Equity and Inclusive Excellence for Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, always knew she wanted to be a physician. "Health equity was built into everything I did, even if I didn’t know it or recognize it at the time," Wilkins said. "I have always learned and believed that people are the same — everyone deserves to be healthy, and everyone should have the best opportunities to take care of themselves and their families." Click below to learn more about health equity initiatives. https://momentum.vicc.org/2021/09/everyone-deserves-to-be-healthy/ |
Vanderbilt was the lead site for an NIH-funded, phase 2, multicenter influenza vaccine study in pediatric allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HCT) recipients that may lead to a change in the current flu vaccine recommendations in this vulnerable population. Natasha Halasa, MD, MPH and colleagues recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine, that two doses of high-dose trivalent flu vaccine resulted in higher amounts of influenza-specific antibodies than two doses of standard dose quadrivalent vaccine. https://news.vumc.org/2023/03/02/high-dose-flu-vaccine-beneficial-for-pediatric-stem-cell-transplant-patients/ |
Pembrolizumab versus Observation in Patients with Early Stage Triple-Negative Breast Cancer who had a Pathologic Complete Response after Chemotherapy plus Pembrolizumab, OptimICE-PCR Trial
Breast
Breast
This phase III trial compares the effect of continuation of treatment with pembrolizumab (usual approach) to observation only at preventing cancer from coming back in patients with early-stage triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) who achieved a pathologic complete response after preoperative chemotherapy in combination with pembrolizumab. The usual approach for patients with early-stage TNBC who receive preoperative chemotherapy plus pembrolizumab is to continue to receive pembrolizumab for up to 27 weeks after surgery. Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as pembrolizumab, may help the body's immune system attack the cancer, and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. This trial may help researchers determine if observation is as good as receiving pembrolizumab for 27 weeks after surgery in triple-negative breast cancer patients who achieved a pathologic complete response after preoperative treatment with chemotherapy and pembrolizumab.
Breast
III
Abramson, Vandana
NCT05812807
VICC-NTBRE23357
Two Studies for Patients with Unfavorable Intermediate Risk Prostate Cancer Testing Less Intense Treatment for Patients with a Low Gene Risk Score and Testing a More Intense Treatment for Patients with a Higher Gene Risk Score, The Guidance Trial
Prostate
Prostate
This phase III trial uses the Decipher risk score to guide therapy selection. Decipher score is based on the activity of 22 genes in prostate tumor and may predict how likely it is for recurrent prostate cancer to spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body. Decipher score in this study is used for patient selection and the two variations of treatment to be studied: intensification for higher Decipher score or de-intensification for low Decipher score. Patients with higher Decipher risk score will be assigned to the part of the study that compares the use of 6 months of the usual treatment (hormone therapy and radiation treatment) to the use of darolutamide plus the usual treatment (intensification). The purpose of this section of the study is to determine whether the additional drug can reduce the chance of cancer coming back and spreading in patients with higher Decipher score. The addition of darolutamide to the usual treatment may better control the cancer and prevent it from spreading. Alternatively, patients with low Decipher risk score will be assigned to the part of the study that compares the use of radiation treatment alone (de-intensification) to the usual approach (6 months of hormone therapy plus radiation). The purpose of this part of the study is to determine if radiation treatment alone is as effective compared to the usual treatment without affecting the chance of tumor coming back in patients with low Decipher score prostate cancer. Radiation therapy uses high energy to kill tumor cells and reduce the tumor size. Hormone therapy drugs such as darolutamide suppress or block the production or action of male hormones that play role in prostate cancer development. Effect of radiation treatment alone in patients with low Decipher score prostate cancer could be the same as the usual approach in stabilizing prostate cancer and preventing it from spreading, while avoiding the side effects associated with hormonal therapy.
Prostate
III
Kirschner, Austin
NCT05050084
VICC-NTURO23322
EA2176: Phase 3 Clinical Trial of Carboplatin and Paclitaxel +/- Nivolumab in Metastatic Anal Cancer Patients
Rectal
Rectal
This phase 3 trial compares the addition of nivolumab to chemotherapy (carboplatin and paclitaxel) versus usual treatment (chemotherapy alone) for the treatment of anal cancer that has spread to other places in the body (metastatic). Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as nivolumab, may help the body's immune system attack the cancer, and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Chemotherapy drugs, such as carboplatin and 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 nivolumab together with carboplatin and paclitaxel may help doctors find out if the treatment is better or the same as the usual approach.
Rectal
III
Eng, Cathy
NCT04444921
ECOGGIEA2176
Comparing the Outcome of Standard Systemic Therapy Only versus Standard Systemic therapy with either Surgery or Radiation Therapy, for Patients with Advanced Prostate cancer
Prostate
Prostate
This phase III trial compare the effects of adding definitive treatment (either radiation therapy or prostate removal surgery) to standard systemic therapy in treating patients with prostate cancer that has spread to other places in the body (advanced). Removing the prostate by either surgery or radiation therapy in addition to standard systemic therapy for prostate cancer may lower the chance of the cancer growing or spreading.
Prostate
III
Rini, Brian
NCT03678025
SWOGUROS1802
T-DM1 and Tucatinib Compared with T-DM1 Alone in Preventing Relapses in People with High Risk HER2-Positive Breast Cancer, the CompassHER2 RD Trial
Breast
Breast
This phase III trial compares the effect of usual treatment with trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) alone vs. T-DM1 in combination with tucatinib. T-DM1 is a monoclonal antibody, called trastuzumab, linked to a chemotherapy drug, called DM1. Trastuzumab is a form of targeted therapy because it attaches to specific molecules (receptors) on the surface of cancer cells, known as HER2 receptors, and delivers DM1 to kill them. Tucatinib blocks HER2, which may help keep cancer cells from growing and may kill them. Giving T-DM1 in combination with tucatinib may work better in preventing breast cancer from relapsing in patients with HER2 positive breast cancer compared to T-DM1 alone.
Breast
III
Abramson, Vandana
NCT04457596
SWOGBREA011801
Using Cancer Cells in the Blood (ctDNA) to Determine the Type of Chemotherapy that will Benefit Patients who Have Had Surgery for Colon Cancer, (CIRCULATE-NORTH AMERICA)
Multiple Cancer Types
This phase II/III trial aims to determine the type of chemotherapy that will benefit patients who have had surgery for their stage II or III colon cancer based on presence or absence of circulating tumor deoxyribonucleic acid (ctDNA). In ctDNA positive patients, this trial compares the effect of usual chemotherapy versus mFOLFIRINOX. In ctDNA negative patients, this trial compares the effect of usual chemotherapy versus ctDNA testing every 3 months to determine which approach might be better to prevent colon cancer from returning. Oxaliplatin is in a class of medications called platinum-containing antineoplastic agents. It works by damaging cells DNA and may kill cancer cells. Leucovorin is in a class of medications called folic acid analogs. It works by protecting healthy cells from the effects of chemotherapy medications while allowing chemotherapy agent to enter and kill cancer cells. Fluorouracil is in a class of medications called antimetabolites. It stops cells from making DNA and may slow or stop the growth of cancer cells. Capecitabine is in a class of medications called antimetabolites. It Is taken up by cancer cells and breaks down to a substance that kills cancer cells. Irinotecan is in a class of antineoplastic medications called topoisomerase I inhibitors. It works by stopping the growth of cancer cells. This trial may help doctors determine what kind of chemotherapy to recommend to colon cancer patients based on the presence or absence of ctDNA after surgery for colon cancer.
Colon,
Rectal
II/III
Ciombor, Kristen
NCT05174169
SWOGGI008
Testing the Addition of a New Drug, Daratumumab/rHuPH20, to the Usual Treatment (Lenalidomide) as Post-stem Cell Transplant Treatment for Multiple Myeloma, DRAMMATIC Study
Multiple Myeloma
Multiple Myeloma
This phase III trial compares the effect of usual treatment (lenalidomide) to using daratumumab/rHuPH20 plus the usual treatment after stem cell transplantation in patients with multiple myeloma. This drug combination may help patients live longer after their stem cell transplant. Another purpose of this study is to learn if the presence and amount of minimal residual disease (MRD) can help doctors predict when a patients multiple myeloma will get worse. MRD is the name for the small number of cancer cells that remain in the patient even after their multiple myeloma has been treated and they have no symptoms of the disease. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as lenalidomide, 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 daratumumab/rHuPH20, may induce changes in bodys immune system and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Giving lenalidomide and daratumumab/rHuPH20 may work better in treating patients with multiple myeloma compared to lenalidomide alone.
Multiple Myeloma
III
Baljevic, Muhamed
NCT04071457
VICC-NTPCL23369
Testing the Usual Treatment of Radiation Therapy and Hormonal Therapy to Hormonal Therapy alone for Low-Risk, Early Stage Breast Cancer, the DEBRA Trial
Breast
Breast
This phase III trial compares the effect of radiation therapy combined with hormonal therapy versus hormonal therapy alone in treating patients with low risk, early stage breast cancer with Oncotype Dx Recurrence =< 18. Oncotype DX is a laboratory test which results in a score that is used to help predict whether breast cancer will spread to other parts of the body or come back. Radiation therapy uses high doses of radiation to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors but may result in some side effects. Hormones called estrogen and progesterone may contribute to the growth of breast tumor cells. Hormone therapy, also called endocrine therapy, may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking or removing these hormones. This clinical trial may help researchers understand if patients with low-risk, early stage breast cancer who have Oncotype recurrence score of =< 18 can safely omit radiation therapy and only be treated with hormonal therapy without losing any radiation treatment benefit.
Breast
III
Chak, Bapsi
NCT04852887
NRGBREBR007
Non-Chemotherapy Treatment (Ramucirumab plus Pembrolizumab) or Standard Chemotherapy for Treatment of Stage IV or Recurrent Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Following Immunotherapy, Pragmatica-Lung Trial
Lung
Lung
This phase III trial compares the effect of the combination therapy with ramucirumab and pembrolizumab versus standard of care chemotherapy for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer that is stage IV or that has come back after a period of improvement (recurrent). Ramucirumab is a monoclonal antibody that may prevent the growth of new blood vessels that tumors need to grow. Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as pembrolizumab, may help the body's immune system attack the cancer, 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. This trial may help doctors find out if combination therapy with ramucirumab and pembrolizumab could help patients with stage IV or recurrent non-small cell lung cancer live longer compared to standard chemotherapy.
Lung
III
Iams, Wade
NCT05633602
VICC-NTTHO23073
Testing the Addition of an Anti-Cancer Drug, Irinotecan, to the Standard Chemotherapy Treatment (FOLFOX) after Long-Course Radiation Therapy for Advanced-Stage Rectal Cancers to Improve the Rate of Complete Response and Long-Term Rates of Organ Preservation
Rectal
Rectal
This phase II trial compares the effect of usual treatment approach alone (FOLFOX or CAPOX after chemoradiation) with using FOLFIRINOX after chemoradiation in patients with stage II-III rectal cancer. Combination chemotherapy regiments, such as FOLFIRINOX [folinic acid (leucovorin), fluorouracil, irinotecan, and oxaliplatin], FOLFOX (leucovorin, fluorouracil, and oxaliplatin), or CAPOX (capecitabin and oxaliplatin) use more than one anticancer drug that 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. FOLFOX or CAPOX are used after chemoradiation as usual treatment for rectal cancer. Giving FOLFIRINOX after chemoradiation may increase the response rate for the primary rectal tumor and lead to higher rates of clinical complete response (and thus a chance to avoid surgery) compared to FOLFOX or CAPOX after chemoradiation in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer.
Rectal
II
Ciombor, Kristen
NCT05610163
SWOGGIA022104