Malignant Pleural Effusion

Oncological treatment of patients with disseminated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is depending on the status of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), so called oncodrivers. These can be measured in pleural fluid, but the prevalence is uncertain. In a prospective study, the research team aim to measure PD-L1, ALK and EGFR in patients with pleural fluid cytology positive for NSCLC to report the prevalence. Also, the study will investigate if the chance of obtaining oncodriver status is depending on the volume analysed and how the lack of oncodrivers influence the following work-up.

This research study aims to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of a novel immunotherapy, Fast TIL, an Adoptive Cellular Therapeutic (ACT), to fight cancer that has spread to the pleura or pleural mesothelioma. The ACT product is created at AHN West Penn using the participant's pleural infiltrating T-cells (PIT). It is administered through a pleural catheter along with the drug Interleukin-2 (IL-2). Based on previous research it is believed that it may help fight the tumor and relieve symptoms. As a participant, their pleural fluid will be collected and the PIT cells will be isolated and expanded in the lab to create the ACT product. Before receiving the ACT product through their pleural catheter, they will undergo outpatient lymphodepleting chemotherapy. LDC is a standard procedure for many approved immunotherapy treatments Following the infusion, they'll receive IL-2 through the catheter for two days to stimulate the expanded PIT cells. The active treatment phase lasts about three weeks, with follow-up visits over five years at AHN West Penn Hospital, potentially requiring a hospital stay of up to six days. Blood samples will be taken to monitor their response. As this is a first-in-human study, treatment carries an unknown risk up to and including death from toxicity. However, the risks of similar immunotherapy treatments are well documented.

This research study aims to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of a novel immunotherapy, Fast TIL, an Adoptive Cellular Therapeutic (ACT), to fight cancer that has spread to the pleura or pleural mesothelioma. The ACT product is created at AHN West Penn using the participant's pleural infiltrating T-cells (PIT). It is administered through a pleural catheter along with the drug Interleukin-2 (IL-2). Based on previous research it is believed that it may help fight the tumor and relieve symptoms. As a participant, their pleural fluid will be collected and the PIT cells will be isolated and expanded in the lab to create the ACT product. Before receiving the ACT product through their pleural catheter, they will undergo outpatient lymphodepleting chemotherapy. LDC is a standard procedure for many approved immunotherapy treatments Following the infusion, they'll receive IL-2 through the catheter for two days to stimulate the expanded PIT cells. The active treatment phase lasts about three weeks, with follow-up visits over five years at AHN West Penn Hospital, potentially requiring a hospital stay of up to six days. Blood samples will be taken to monitor their response. As this is a first-in-human study, treatment carries an unknown risk up to and including death from toxicity. However, the risks of similar immunotherapy treatments are well documented.

Research with biospecimens such as blood, tissue, or body fluids can help researchers understand how the human body works. Researchers can make new tests to find diseases, understand how treatments work, or find new ways to treat a disease. The purpose of this study is to collect biospecimens for research from patients with known or suspected lung cancer. The information learned from the biospecimens may be used in future treatments. The purpose of this protocol is to create a pleural fluid registry for use in future studies.

chemical pleurodesis using doxycycline is an acceptable and commonly employed palliation for malignant pleural effusion. Rotation of patient during pleurodesis using the powder from doxycycline capsule is still practiced in some centers. The benefit of rotation practice in pleurodesis can be verified after properly designed study on the outcome of pleurodesis with rotation and non-rotation by chest ultrasound assessment

The purpose of this study to find out if tocilizumab can be safely infused into chest or abdominal cavities of patients with malignancy ascites (MA) or malignant pleural effusions (MPE). Patients will have a total of 4 doses, one dose administered each week. Each dose will be greater than the previous one.

Pleural effusion is common in different diseases and especially malignant effusions can have fast onset symptoms such as chest pain, dyspnoea, and coughing. Malignant pleural effusion (MPE) is an exudative effusion with malignant cells. It is a common symptom and accompanying presentation of metastatic disease. It Impacts up to 15% of all patients with cancer and is the most common in breast, lung, cancer, lymphoma, and gynaecological malignancies . There are 150,000 new cases of MPE in the United States yearly and 100,000 in Europe . Patients have an overall survival (OS) rate of 3-12 months after the initial diagnosis . Malignant pleural effusion (MPE) poses significant challenges in management, impacting patient quality of life and overall prognosis. Almost all radiological procedures can help diagnose pleural effusions . Thoracentesis is used as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool. The procedure has been modified with the addition of ultrasound, that is very functional for targeting certain anatomical areas of the pleura and finding an appropriate entry point . Three primary strategies are commonly employed: intercostal tube drainage, big tail catheter drainage, and ultrasound-guided aspiration. This study aims to evaluate these methods' efficacy, safety, and outcomes. To compare intercostal tube drainage, big tail catheter drainage, and ultrasound-guided aspiration in managing massive malignant pleural effusion (MPE).

This is a phase I open label, single-arm, dose-escalation study to evaluate the feasibility, safety, tolerability, PK/PD, and to determine RP2D of MT027 via an locoregional delivery in subjects with pleural malignant tumors, who have previously received standard of care therapy.. Subjects meeting the study entry criteria including having tumor antigen B7H3 overexpression via immunohistochemistry (IHC ) will be enrolled and assigned to cohorts sequentially to receive study treatments, assessments, as well as post-treatment safety follow-ups in the study.

Comparision between pleurodesis by pleural abrasion using medical thoracoscopy and bleomycin instillation via indwelling pleural catheter. Evaluating the effectiveness of pleural abrasion using medical thoracoscopy in patients with malignant pleural effusion and evaluating the role of ROSE in diagnosis and management of malignant pleural effusion

Patients with malignant pleural disease often experience a significant symptom burden and a short life expectancy. The cornerstone of their treatment is relieving breathlessness by draining fluid from around the lungs and attempting to prevent further fluid build up. Inpatient chest drainage and talc pleurodesis remains the most successful method of stopping the fluid build up but this often requires an average hospital stay of four days. This can be an inappropriate length of time for this patient group. Our study would investigate whether this treatment could be provided on an outpatient, ambulatory basis and facilitate a greater quality of life. The investigators would assess deliverability of the trial protocol and collect patient feedback to see if our patients consider it an acceptable and worthwhile intervention.