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This phase II/III trial tests the role of DNA released from tumor cells into the blood in guiding the use of immunotherapy (nivolumab alone or with relatlimab) after surgical removal of the bladder for bladder cancer treatment. DNA is material found inside all of our cells that acts as a blueprint for how cells function. Tumor cells often have abnormal DNA that looks different than DNA in normal cells. A new test called Signatera has been developed that can detect bladder cancer DNA in the blood which might indicate the presence of bladder tumor cells somewhere in the body. 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. Relatlimab is a monoclonal antibody that may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. This trial may help doctors determine if the Signatera test can better identify which patients need an additional treatment with immunotherapy to help prevent bladder cancer from coming back after surgery.
This phase II trial tests the safety, side effects, best dose and activity of tovorafenib (DAY101) in treating patients with Langerhans cell histiocytosis that is growing, spreading, or getting worse (progressive), has come back (relapsed) after previous treatment, or does not respond to therapy (refractory). Langerhans cell histiocytosis is a type of disease that occurs when the body makes too many immature Langerhans cells (a type of white blood cell). When these cells build up, they can form tumors in certain tissues and organs including bones, skin, lungs and pituitary gland and can damage them. This tumor is more common in children and young adults. DAY101 may stop the growth of cancer cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Using DAY101 may be effective in treating patients with relapsed or refractory Langerhans cell histiocytosis.
This study is a Phase 1/2, multicenter, dose-escalation, open-label trial to assess safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of TP-3654 in patients with intermediate or high-risk primary or secondary MF.
This is a first-in-human, open-label, non-randomized, three-part phase 1 trial of INBRX-109, which is a recombinant humanized tetravalent antibody targeting the human death receptor 5 (DR5).

Testing the Addition of an Anti-Cancer Drug, ZEN003694, to the Usual Chemotherapy Treatment (Capecitabine) for Metastatic or Unresectable Cancers

This phase I trial tests the safety, side effects, and best dose of ZEN003694 in combination with the usual treatment with capecitabine in treating patients with cancer that has spread from where it first started (primary site) to other places in the body (metastatic) or cannot be removed by surgery (unresectable) and that it has progressed on previous standard treatment. ZEN003694 is an inhibitor of a family of proteins called the bromodomain and extra-terminal (BET). It may prevent the growth of tumor cells that over produce BET protein. Capecitabine is in a class of medications called antimetabolites. It is taken up by cancer cells and breaks down into fluorouracil, a substance that kills cancer cells. Giving ZEN003694 in combination with capecitabine may be safe in treating patients with metastatic or unresectable solid tumors.

TPIV100 and Sargramostim for the Treatment of HER2 Positive, Stage I-III Breast Cancer in Patients with Residual Disease after Chemotherapy and Surgery

This phase II trial studies how well TPIV100 and sargramostim work in treating patients with HER2 positive, stage I-III breast cancer that has residual disease after chemotherapy prior to surgery. It also studies why some HER2 positive breast cancer patients respond better to chemotherapy in combination with trastuzumab and pertuzumab. TPIV100 is a type of vaccine made from HER2 peptide that may help the body build an effective immune response to kill tumor cells that express HER2. Sargramostim increases the number of white blood cells in the body following chemotherapy for certain types of cancer and is used to alert the immune system. It is not yet known if TPIV100 and sargramostim will work better in treating patients with HER2 positive, stage I-III breast cancer.

Palbociclib and Binimetinib in RAS-Mutant Cancers, A ComboMATCH Treatment Trial

This phase II clinical trial evaluates the effectiveness of palbociclib and binimetinib in treating patients with RAS-mutated cancers. Palbociclib and binimetinib are both in a class of medications called kinase inhibitors. They work by blocking the action of abnormal proteins that signals cancer cells to multiply. This trial may help researchers understand if giving the combination of palbociclib and binimetinib can help improve the amount of time before the cancer grows in patients with patients with low grade serous ovarian cancer who have certain changes in the tumor DNA. This trial may also help researchers understand if giving the combination of palbociclib and binimetinib can help improve outcomes among patients with low grade serous ovarian cancer who have previously received a MEK inhibitor. For patients with other tumors, with the exception of lung cancer, colon cancer, melanoma and low grade serous ovarian cancers, this trial may help researchers understand if giving the combination of palbociclib and binimetinib can improve the clinical outcome of survival without progression in patients who have certain changes in their tumors DNA.

Testing the Addition of Abemaciclib to Olaparib for Women with Recurrent Ovarian Cancer

This phase I/Ib trial identifies the side effects and best dose of abemaciclib when given together with olaparib in treating patients with ovarian cancer that responds at first to treatment with drugs that contain the metal platinum but then comes back within a certain period (recurrent platinum-resistant). Abemaciclib may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Olaparib is an inhibitor of PARP, an enzyme that helps repair deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) when it becomes damaged. Blocking PARP may help keep tumor cells from repairing their damaged DNA, causing them to die. PARP inhibitors are a type of targeted therapy. Adding abemaciclib to olaparib may work better to treat recurrent platinum-resistant ovarian cancer.

Eunyoung Choi receives American Gastroenterological Association award 

Eunyoung Choi, PhD
Eunyoung Choi, PhD

Eunyoung Choi, PhD, associate professor of Surgery and of Cell and Developmental Biology is the recipient of the Young Investigator Award in Basic Science from the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA). 

Each year, the AGA honors two early-career investigators, one in basic science and one in clinical science, for their research achievements. The honorees must have held an academic faculty position for less than seven years. 

The AGA honored Choi for her work defining key oncogenes critical to gastric carcinogenesis, and for identifying potential drug candidates to target gastric precancerous stem cells. Choi specializes in the cellular mechanisms that drive the evolution of precancerous cells in gastric cancer and has pioneered the use of transgenic animal and precancer organoid models. 

An active AGA member, she serves as an abstract reviewer and council member for the AGA Council Cellular & Molecular Gastroenterology Section. Her accolades include the NIH/NCI Outstanding MERIT Award and the AGA-R. Robert & Sally Funderburg Research Award in Gastric Cancer, American Association for Cancer Research-Debbie’s Dream Foundation Innovation Grant, and the Vanderbilt University Stanley Cohen Innovation Fund Award. 

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Pelayo Correa and John Kuriyan named fellows of the AACR Academy

Pelayo Correa, MD
Pelayo Correa, MD

Pelayo Correa, MD, professor emeritus of Medicine and Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and John Kuriyan, PhD, dean of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Basic Sciences, have been elected to the 2025 class of fellows of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Academy.

John Kuriyan, PhD

The mission of the fellows of the AACR Academy is to recognize and honor extraordinary scientists whose groundbreaking contributions have driven significant innovation and progress in the fight against cancer.

Fellows of the AACR Academy constitute a global brain trust of leading experts in cancer science and medicine, working to advance the AACR’s mission to prevent and cure all cancers through research, education, collaboration, communication, advocacy and funding for cancer research.

Fellows of the AACR Academy are nominated and elected through a peer-reviewed process that rigorously evaluates each candidate’s scientific achievements and contributions to global cancer research. Only those whose work has made a profound and lasting impact on cancer research and related fields are considered for election and induction into the AACR Academy.

Correa was recognized for his “illustrious work defining the histological stages of gastric carcinogenesis through the ‘Correa Cascade’ and establishing the link between Helicobacter pylori infection and gastric cancer, fundamentally advancing the understanding of the pathology, epidemiology, and prevention of this disease.”

Kuriyan, Mary Geddes Stahlman Chair and University Distinguished Professor of Biochemistry, Chemistry, and Cell and Developmental Biology, was recognized for his “heralded contributions to cell signaling and kinase biology, including the elucidation of the switching mechanisms of tyrosine kinases such as SRC and EGFR, which has advanced the fundamental understanding of signal transduction regulation and informed the development of kinase-targeted therapies for cancer and other malignancies.”

Correa and Kuriyan are among 33 new fellows who will be recognized at the AACR Annual Meeting on April 25-30 in Chicago. Including this year’s class, only 375 cancer researchers have been named fellows of the AACR Academy.

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