Clinical trials

This clinical trial studies whether a navigation program improves survivorship support service participation among survivors of breast cancer that has not spread from where it first started (primary site) to other places in the body (non-metastatic). Advances in treatment have caused the number of breast cancer survivors to grow. As this number increases, there are reported unmet supportive care needs in this population, including psychological distress and limitations in physical functioning. To address these needs, many cancer centers offer programming on a variety of topics including psychological services, exercise counseling, and nutrition counseling. Research has shown that while interest in these survivorship programs is high, participation remains low, especially among minority women. Navigation is a healthcare service that is designed to guide a patient through the healthcare system and reduce barriers to timely screening, follow-up, diagnosis, treatment, and supportive care. The navigation program in this trial is specifically focused on helping breast cancer survivors schedule and attend survivorship consultation appointments as well as providing additional support to underserved/vulnerable patients. A navigation program may be effective in improving survivorship support service participation among non-metastatic breast cancer survivors.

The goal of this interventional study is to to evaluate the effectiveness and acceptability of a focused upper body massage when offered after radiation treatments to participants diagnosed with breast cancer. Given the prevalence of musculoskeletal complaints during radiation therapy delivery and acknowledging the emotional stress associated with breast cancer diagnosis and treatment, the aims of this pilot study are to: 1) evaluate the effectiveness of a focused upper body massage, available after radiation treatments, on patient's muscle and joint achiness and disability/symptoms of the upper extremities; 2) evaluate the effectiveness of a focused chair massage, available after radiation treatments on health-related quality of life; 3) assess the need for repeating the pre-radiation simulation process and revising the established treatment plan; and 4) and evaluate patient acceptability of the massages offered during the course of radiation treatment.

This phase 1B trial tests the safety, side effects and best dose of rh-Hsc70- BZLF1 peptide complex (OSU-2131) with Stimulon (Trademark) QS-21 and evaluates how well it works in preventing Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection and related cancers in healthy volunteers and patients awaiting a solid organ transplant. Currently, patients who receive an organ transplant receive immune suppression therapy which can make it harder for the body to fight infections. This treatment also increases the risk for cancers that are triggered by the EBV. Vaccines made from synthetic peptide (RAKFKQLL) derived from the BZLF1 protein, may help the body build an effective immune response against EBV infections. QS-21, a saponin adjuvant, is a substance from plants that, when given with vaccine therapy, may improve the way the immune system responds to disease. Giving OSU-2131 with QS-21 may help the immune system fight EBV and protect against EBV infection and the cancers that it can cause in patients awaiting solid organ transplants.

The overall objective is to develop a clinical data registry that can be used to facilitate research with the ultimate goal of reducing the morbidity and/or mortality and improving the quality of life of patients diagnosed or living with hairy cell leukemia. With approximately 1,000 new cases of this rare disease identified in the US each year, HCL represents 2% of all cases of leukemia in adults. Considering the rarity of this chronic leukemia, the Hairy Cell Leukemia Foundation (HCLF), in partnership with investigators from its Centers of Excellence, seeks to develop a registry to help researchers identify new trends in outcomes, recognize the most effective treatments, discover previously unknown complications of the disease, and design clinical trials for new therapies.

This clinical trial compares the use of oral nicotine pouches to nicotine replacement therapy, consisting of nicotine patches and lozenges, to reduce cigarette use in smokers living in rural Appalachia. The lung and oral cancers that plague Appalachia are fueled by cigarette smoking. Oral nicotine pouches which contain nicotine but no tobacco leaf, present a new opportunity to reduce cancer risk among Appalachian adults who smoke. Oral nicotine pouches and nicotine replacement therapy may work well to reduce cigarette use for smokers in rural Appalachia.

This phase I trial finds out the best dose, possible benefits and/or side effects of papaverine when given together with chemoradiation intreating patients with stage II-III non-small cell lung cancer. Papaverine targets mitochondrial metabolism to decrease the cancer growth process. Giving papaverine with chemoradiation may work best to treat patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

This clinical trial aims to see if patients with triple negative breast cancer can complete a biobehavioral stress reduction program that also addresses health related social needs (e.g., utilities, transportation, etc.). The stress reduction program is over ten weeks and includes stress reduction (e.g., progressive muscle relaxation), coping, problem solving, communication, and social support. Health related social needs will be evaluated at the beginning of the study, and referrals will be made to social work to help address those needs. The study will examine stress as reported by the patients and also use biological markers.

This phase I trial compares electronic cigarette (EC) user preferences and smoking behaviors of nicotine analogs to nicotine to improve the understanding of nicotine analog addictiveness. Over the last ten years, EC use has become a major concern due to its increased use among adolescents and young adults. Though progress has been made in regulating nicotine containing products, some companies have shifted toward producing products containing nicotine analogs. ECs are battery-powered electronic devices designed to atomize a nicotine (the poisonous chemical found in tobacco)-containing liquid solution for inhalation in a manner that simulates smoking a tobacco cigarette. When nicotine enters the body, it causes an increased heart rate and use of oxygen by the heart, and a sense of well-being and relaxation. Nicotine analogs are compounds that are similar to nicotine in their chemical structure. Some nicotine analogs have been shown to have nicotine-like effects; however, more research is needed to prove they function similarly to nicotine and/or have similar effects. Comparing EC user preferences and smoking behaviors of nicotine analogs to nicotine may help improve the understanding of nicotine analog addictiveness. Additionally, combustible cigarette smoking is well-known to have deleterious effects on cardiovascular health. High blood pressure is one of the major health consequences of cigarette smoking and can increase the risk of hypertension, heart attack, and stroke. Although ECs have been marketed as a less harmful alternative to cigarette smoking, clinical trials have shown that vaping ECs can also lead to acute increases in blood pressure and heart rate. Nicotine can alter vascular reactivity by promoting the release of vasoconstrictors and suppressing the production of vasodilators. No research has examined how the synthetic nicotine in ECs affects hemodynamics, vascular health, and endothelial function. Assessing acute cardiovascular responses to nicotine analogs is therefore critical to enhancing our understanding of the potential cardiovascular risks associated with vaping ECs containing synthetic nicotine.

This study evaluates the time spent on obtaining insurance approval and drugs, means of insurance coverage, out-of-pocket costs for patients, and the surgical outcomes after neoadjuvant treatment is completed in skin cancer patients receiving "off label" and "on label" neoadjuvant treatment. "Neoadjuvant therapy" means cancer treatment given before surgery. However, in many instances, neoadjuvant therapy is used as an "off-label" approach for several types of skin cancers. "Off-label" means that the FDA has not yet approved its use for that type of cancer. Therefore, insurance approval of these "off-label" treatments could be delayed compared to label use, and "off-label" treatments may require several weeks of pre-authorization. There is evidence that the delayed start of cancer treatment can lead to poorer outcomes.

This study will evaluate the efficacy and non-inferiority of a non-surgical approach for the treatment of patients with locally advanced breast cancer.

This clinical trial compares virtual reality viewing of an unaltered streetscape versus a digitally manipulated opposite streetscape to assess the psychosocial response in participants. Visible measures of neighborhood factors might be associated with health outcomes and risk factors of those outcomes. Short-term exposure to virtual reality environments representing very high or very low levels of neighborhood physical disorder - presence or absence of garbage/litter, presence or absence of graffiti, presence or absence of an abandoned building, presence or absence of large dumpsters, poor or very well-kept building conditions, poor or very well-kept yard conditions, poor or very well-kept road verge conditions may be a safe and effective way to assess psychosocial response in participants.

This clinical trial evaluates the effects a probiotic intervention has on the gut and vaginal microbiome in patients undergoing chemotherapy for ovarian cancer that may have spread from where it first started to nearby tissue, lymph nodes, or distant parts of the body (advanced) or that has come back after a period of improvement (recurrent). Gut health is also known as the gut microbiome. The microbiome includes all of the bacteria and organisms naturally found in the digestive tract. Probiotics are dietary supplements containing live microorganisms that may help keep the gastrointestinal tract healthy. A probiotic intervention during platinum chemotherapy in ovarian cancer patients may impact the gut and vaginal microbiota, quality of life, symptoms, and oncologic outcomes.

This randomized clinical trial studies the Beating Lung Cancer in Ohio protocol in improving survival in patients with stage IV non-small cell lung cancer. The Beating Lung Cancer in Ohio protocol may help in evaluating immunotherapies and targeted therapies that prolong survival, have more favorable toxicity profiles than conventional chemotherapy and impact quality of life.

This clinical trial evaluates the feasibility of a novel tobacco cessation resource called a Buckeye Quit Stick among smokers with a diagnosed or suspected thoracic cancer. Tobacco use is the single most preventable cause of disease, disability, and death in the United States. While the benefits of quitting smoking are numerous, rates of persistent smoking after cancer diagnosis remain high. Research has found that patients who quit smoking but subsequently relapse frequently report the hand/oral habit as a barrier to sustained smoking cessation. The Buckeye Quit Stick is an innovative cessation aid designed to directly address patients' hand/oral habit by substituting the cessation aid for cigarettes without integrating pharmacologic intervention, which is typically managed by their medical provider and may require direct supervision due to the patient's health status. The Buckeye Quit Stick is designed to satisfy the repeated hand/oral pattern or ritual, thereby avoiding the physical loss of holding a cigarette in the hand or mouth and the action of smoking. It may also help occupy fidgeting hands and potentially reduce stress and cravings. This novel cessation resource may address key factors that influence smoking abstinence and improve patients' health outcomes.

This trial studies how well ultra-high resolution optical coherence tomography works in detecting micrometer sized early stage pancreatic cancer in participants with pancreatic cancer. Ultra-high resolution optical coherence tomography may help to accurately identify pancreatic cancer in resected pancreatic specimens.

This study evaluates the association of dietary inflammatory potential with breast cancer risk. Information collected in this study may help doctors to identify modifiable risk factors, screen high risk patients early, improve prevention strategies, and provide timely intervention for early therapeutic management as needed.

This clinical trial tests the impact of the The Ohio State University Connecting Underrepresented Populations to Clinical Trials (CUSP2CT) project on clinical trial referrals and enrollment in racial/ethnic minorities. Progress in cancer prevention, detection and treatment can only be made by identifying and validating new and improved methods, compounds and modalities in clinical trials. Unfortunately, participation in clinical trials is not equal across all racial and ethnic groups, limiting progress against cancer in all population groups and further widening the disparity gap. To change this picture, concerted effort needs to be directed both at the communities at risk for being left out of trials and the systems that cause the disparities at all levels involved in accrual to clinical trials. The CUSP2CT project may have the potential to increase referral and accrual of racial/ethnic minorities to prevention/control and treatment trials.

This randomized, double-blind, crossover human laboratory study compares the abuse liability of cigarettes containing menthol and non-menthol cigarette variants, using the participant's usual brand menthol cigarette as a within-subject reference. Participants complete standardized laboratory smoking sessions, behavioral economic tasks, and a naturalistic observational period. The study examines differences in nicotine delivery, smoking behavior, and subjective effects across cigarette types in laboratory and real-world contexts.

This study examines how the American College of Surgeons Geriatric Surgery Verification Program, also called the ACS GSV Program, is implemented at the James Cancer Hospital. The program is designed to improve surgical care for adults age 65 and older by helping care teams identify and address age-related needs before, during, and after surgery. Older adults with cancer may have concerns related to physical function, memory or thinking, medications, social support, and goals of care. If these needs are not recognized, patients may be at higher risk for complications, longer hospital stays, readmission, or discharge to a facility instead of home. The ACS GSV Program includes standards for geriatric surgery leadership, goals-of-care discussions, screening for age-related vulnerabilities, care plans for identified needs, age-friendly perioperative care, and regular review of surgical outcomes. This study will evaluate how well these standards are adopted across surgical oncology services and whether implementation is associated with better outcomes, such as shorter hospital stays, fewer complications, fewer readmissions, and improved discharge outcomes. The results may help improve surgical care workflows for older adults undergoing cancer surgery.

This clinical trial tests the feasibility of using the MyCap mobile application (app) for tracking time burden from treatment for patients with pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer is best treated with many care teams, such as medical oncology and surgery, requiring patients to dedicate significant time coordinating appointments among different doctors. This time commitment is referred to as time toxicity, defined as the time spent undergoing cancer-related medical care, such as emergency visits, ambulatory care, lab and infusion visits, hospitalizations, and the commuting and waiting times associated with each. At present, time toxicity is still understudied within the medical literature, with no gold standard established for the method of measurement. The MyCap mobile app may be a feasible way to track the time burden from treatment for patients with pancreatic cancer.

This clinical trial tests the safety and feasibility of endoscopic ultrasound-guided pulsed electric field ablation for the treatment of pancreatic neoplasms. Pancreatic cancer is a fatal disease that is difficult to diagnose at an early stage. The approach for pancreatic neoplasm treatment has changed and the recognition of minimally invasive treatments is growing. One such minimally invasive treatment, known as endoscopic ultrasound-guided pulsed electric field ablation, offers an alternative to surgery for managing certain precancerous or high-risk pancreatic cysts. The Aliya Pulsed Electric Field system uses brief, strong bursts of electricity, delivered through a thin needle, to destroy targeted tissue, such as tumors, without using heat. These electric pulses damage only the cells inside the treatment zone, leaving the healthy tissues and important nearby structures unharmed. This makes the treatment safer and less likely to cause harm to sensitive areas around the tumor. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided pulsed electric field ablation may be safe and feasible for the treatment of pancreatic neoplasms.

This phase II trial tests the effect of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided chemoablation in treating patients with pancreatic cysts. Pancreatic cancer is a fatal disease that is difficult to diagnose at an early stage, and the five-year survival rate is currently less than 10%. Pancreatic cysts are a common precancerous lesion that may develop into pancreatic cancer. An EUS is a procedure in which an endoscope is inserted into the body. An endoscope is a thin, tube-like instrument that has a light and a lens for viewing. A probe at the end of the endoscope is used to bounce high-energy sound waves (ultrasound) off internal organs to make a picture (sonogram). EUS-guided chemoablation uses a fine needle inserted into the pancreatic cyst to deliver chemotherapy, such as gemcitabine and paclitaxel, directly into the cyst ("intracystic"). Gemcitabine is a chemotherapy drug that blocks the cells from making DNA and may kill tumor cells. Paclitaxel is in a class of medications called antimicrotubule agents. It stops tumor cells from growing and dividing and may kill them. An EUS-guided chemoablation, with gemcitabine and paclitaxel, may be an effective minimally invasive strategy to destroy abnormal or precancerous cells while reducing exposure to the rest of the body in patients with pancreatic cysts.

This clinical trial tests two different physical therapy and relaxation interventions, one in-person and at-home called Resiliency and Operative Success for Adults Receiving Lung Cancer Surgery (ROAR-LCS) and one virtually called BeFitMe. These programs that take place before and after standard of care lung cancer surgery, called prehabilitation programs, promote resiliency and patient outcomes (operative success) for adults receiving lung cancer surgery. Lung cancers occur in the chest and often cause symptoms for patients. Poor physical performance and negative mood are two risk factors for a decline in functional status after surgery. Physical therapy and relaxation interventions (i.e. progressive muscle relaxation) are two such interventions that may improve physical and emotional recovery including a potential shortened hospital stay for patients receiving surgery for lung cancer. Starting these intervention programs early alongside cancer treatment can improve symptoms, improve functional status and quality of life, help with emotional needs of patients, improve recovery time, and may even prolong life. ROAR-LCS and BeFitMe may promote resiliency and operative success for adults receiving lung cancer surgery.

Although nicotine pouches have been gaining popularity over the last few years, little known about how nicotine pouch users actually use these products. This study will be comprised of adults who use nicotine pouches. If eligible, participants will be asked to complete three study visits and participate in two switching periods where participants use study-provided nicotine pouches.

This clinical trial evaluates whether an online cognitive training intervention (Intervention to enhance Cognitive Augmentation and Neuroplasticity \[I-CAN\]), delivered before and after treatment with chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy, works to improve cognitive and neurological outcomes in patients with multiple myeloma or B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma that has come back after a period of improvement (relapsed) or does not respond to treatment (refractory). Cancer treatment can have significant short and long-term side effects, including cognitive and neurological side effects such as impairments in attention, memory, language, and executive function. The I-CAN program is a form of cognitive training. Cognitive training is a therapeutic approach designed to improve and restore cognitive functioning, based on the brain's ability to reorganize and form new neural connections to accomplish tasks. I-CAN provides five core elements necessary for training the brain to create new neural connections including speed of processing, accuracy of processing, adaptivity, generalizability, and engagement. The I-CAN intervention, when delivered before and after therapy, may help reduce the cognitive side effects of treatment in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma or B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma.