Abramson Cancer Center At Penn Medicine

This study is for people with early-stage ER+ breast cancer who still have dormant (sleeping) cancer cells in their bone marrow after surgery and standard therapy. Researchers will test two drugs—avelumab (an immunotherapy) and hydroxychloroquine—alone or combined with palbocicli…

This study compares e-cigarettes and oral nicotine pouches to see which helps smokers reduce cigarette use. 200 adult smokers who have tried quitting before will switch to one of these products for 6 weeks. Researchers will measure how many cigarettes they smoke and track health …

This study tests different strategies to help people in Botswana start cervical cancer treatment sooner after diagnosis. Researchers will enroll 610 women with newly diagnosed invasive cervical cancer to see which approaches work best. The goal is to improve timely access to care…

This study looks at whether transplanting a woman's own frozen ovarian tissue can help her get pregnant after cancer treatments like chemo or radiation. It involves up to 10 women aged 18-45 who have trouble conceiving or have ovarian failure. The main goals are to see if the tra…

This early-stage study tests whether adding targeted radiation (SBRT) to a standard immunotherapy combination (atezolizumab and bevacizumab) is safe and effective for people with advanced liver cancer that cannot be treated with surgery. About 18 participants will receive the tre…

This early-phase trial tests whether adding the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab and image-guided surgery to standard chemotherapy is safe and feasible for people with malignant pleural mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive lung cancer. About 20 adults with measurable tumors will r…

This early-stage study tests whether adding the antibiotic vancomycin to precision radiation is safe for people with non-small cell lung cancer that has started to grow in a few spots. Ten participants will receive vancomycin for one week before and one month after radiation, wit…

This study tests whether two FDA-approved pills—abemaciclib (Verzenio) and hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil)—can reduce or eliminate leftover breast cancer cells hiding in the bone marrow. About 66 patients with high-risk breast cancer will take one or both drugs for six months. The…

This study tests whether giving an extra antibody drug (mosunetuzumab or glofitamab) after standard CAR-T cell therapy can improve outcomes for people with aggressive large B-cell lymphoma that has returned or not responded to prior treatments. About 42 participants will receive …

This early study looks at whether a supplement called beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) is safe and tolerable for people with large B-cell lymphoma who are receiving standard CAR-T cell therapy. Five adults will take the supplement by mouth during their treatment. Researchers will also …

This study tests whether combining three anti-cancer drugs (carboplatin, paclitaxel, and ramucirumab) can shrink tumors or slow their growth in people with advanced non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer. It includes about 59 adults whose cancer worsened after initial treatment …

This study looks at whether people with multiple myeloma who have responded very well to the drug teclistamab can safely stop taking it after 6-9 months, instead of continuing indefinitely. About 75 participants will stop therapy and be closely monitored, restarting only if their…

This study tests whether adding tocilizumab to atezolizumab can help control advanced non-small cell lung cancer in people whose cancer stopped responding to initial immunotherapy. About 28 adults with stage IV or recurrent disease will receive the combination. The goal is to see…

This study tests two investigational drugs, pembrolizumab alone or with lenvatinib, given before and after kidney cancer surgery. The goal is to see how these drugs affect the immune system's ability to fight the cancer. About 30 adults with high-risk kidney cancer will participa…

This study is for adults with colorectal cancer that has spread mostly to the liver. It tests whether combining two drugs, pembrolizumab and odetiglucan, can safely shrink tumors. About 27 participants will receive the treatment to see how well it works.

This study tests whether giving the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab before and after standard surgery can reduce the chance of Merkel cell carcinoma coming back. About 15 adults with resectable stage I to III cancer will receive one dose before surgery, then continue after. Rese…

This study tests a more precise way to place electrodes on the scalp for glioblastoma patients receiving Optune therapy, which uses electrical fields to kill cancer cells. By using advanced MRI to map the full extent of the tumor, researchers hope to deliver a stronger dose to th…

This study tests whether combining niraparib and ipilimumab can slow tumor growth in people with metastatic pancreatic cancer that has not worsened after initial platinum chemotherapy. About 68 adults will be randomly assigned to receive either the drug combo or standard chemothe…

This study tests whether adding a type of internal radiation (Yttrium-90) to a standard chemotherapy regimen (Capecitabine and Temozolomide) can better control neuroendocrine tumors that have spread to the liver and cannot be surgically removed. About 70 adults with grade 2 or 3 …

This study is testing a shorter, more intense course of targeted radiation therapy for men with high-risk or aggressive intermediate-risk prostate cancer. It combines two radiation techniques—proton therapy to the pelvis and a high-dose internal boost—to try to better control the…

This study tests whether advanced MRI scans can accurately tell the difference between cancerous and non-cancerous salivary gland tumors. Researchers will enroll 30 adults with a salivary gland lesion who have not been treated before. The goal is to improve treatment decisions an…

This early-stage study tests an investigational drug called CYTALUX (pafolacianine) that makes cancer cells glow under a special camera during surgery. The goal is to see if it helps surgeons find and remove all endometrial cancer tissue. About 10 adults with endometrial cancer w…

This early-phase study is testing a new radioactive tracer called [18F]FTT in women with suspected ovarian, fallopian tube, or peritoneal cancer. The goal is to see how the tracer moves through the body and whether it can help detect cancer on PET/CT scans. Up to 40 women will pa…

This early-phase study tests a new imaging device that combines a special PET scan with 3D mammography to better see estrogen receptor positive breast cancer. About 20 adults with newly diagnosed breast cancer will receive a radioactive tracer and then be scanned. The results wil…

This study is testing a new type of PET/CT scan to see if it can better detect and measure fibrosis (scar tissue) in the body. It will enroll 45 adults with conditions known to cause fibrosis, such as head and neck cancer, post-tuberculosis lung disease, and cardiac sarcoidosis. …

This study tests whether taking a beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) supplement can slow or stop the growth of intestinal polyps in people with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), a genetic condition that greatly raises colon cancer risk. Twenty participants will take BHB daily to see …

This study tests a light-based treatment called photobiomodulation to reduce chronic swelling (lymphedema) in the head and neck area after cancer treatment. It involves 150 adult survivors who have had head and neck cancer and still have swelling that hasn't fully responded to st…

This study tests whether giving an extra numbing shot (a nerve block) before Mohs surgery for skin cancer on the face or scalp can lower pain and anxiety during the procedure. About 150 adults will be randomly assigned to get either a real nerve block or a placebo (salt water) sh…

This study looks at two different ways to reach out to lung cancer patients who may need help with anxiety or depression. The goal is to see which method gets more people to start and stay in a telehealth counseling program. About 30 adults being treated for lung cancer at Penn M…

This study tests whether a supervised exercise program can improve recovery for people aged 60 and older undergoing a stem cell transplant for blood cancer. Participants will do exercises before and after their transplant. The main goal is to see if the program is practical and h…

This study tests a nerve block called the erector spinae plane block (ESPB) to relieve severe abdominal pain in people with gastrointestinal cancer who visit the emergency room. Researchers will compare opioid use and hospital stay length between those receiving the block and sim…

This study tests a precise type of proton radiation given after surgery for cervical, uterine, or endometrial cancer. The goal is to see if it causes fewer bowel side effects than standard radiation. About 25 adults who need pelvic radiation after surgery will take part.

This study tests whether a shorter course of radiation therapy is safe for children and young adults up to age 21 with incurable central nervous system (CNS) cancers. The goal is to see if this approach can reduce side effects while still controlling the disease. Fifteen particip…

This study looks at whether giving smokers who don't want to quit a choice of less harmful nicotine products (like e-cigarettes or nicotine pouches) can help them smoke less or stop entirely. About 472 adult smokers will be randomly assigned to try either a harm-reduction product…

This study tests a training program called Just ASK™ that helps doctors and nurses talk to breast cancer patients about clinical trials. The goal is to see if the training increases how often these discussions happen. About 80 healthcare providers and patients will take part, and…

This study looks at the bacteria and natural chemicals in the vagina to see if they can help find ovarian cancer earlier. Researchers will collect samples from 50 healthy women (who still have ovaries) and compare them to samples from women with a higher cancer risk or known ovar…

This study looks at what makes it hard for people with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer to stick to their treatment plan. It also tests a program that lets patients receive BCG therapy at home, using a chatbot to track symptoms and boost confidence. About 50 adults who are pres…

This pilot study will use two types of PET scans and a powerful 7Tesla MRI to create detailed metabolic profiles of glioblastoma, both in newly diagnosed and recurrent tumors. Researchers will compare the scan results with lab tests on tumor tissue to better understand how these …

This study looks at how interested people are in using telehealth and digital tools for genetic counseling and testing for cancer. About 360 adults who meet guidelines for genetic testing or are interested based on family history will take part. Participants can choose to use dig…

This study is testing a new, more precise way to measure HER2 protein levels in people with metastatic breast cancer. The goal is to see if this test can better predict who will benefit from a targeted drug called T-DXd. Researchers will enroll 200 adults with HER2-low breast can…

This study aims to find out how much a specific gene change (CTNNA1) raises the risk for stomach and breast cancer. Researchers will collect family health histories from 100 adults who carry this gene change or are close relatives of a carrier. The goal is to better understand th…

This study looks at whether a quick, practical geriatric assessment can help doctors better tailor cancer treatments for adults aged 70 and older with advanced cancer. About 150 participants will be tracked to see how often the assessment is completed and whether it leads to safe…

This study looks at whether getting genetic counseling for cancer risk online works as well as meeting with a counselor in person. About 1000 adults who are at risk for hereditary cancer will take part. They will either use a self-guided website or have traditional counseling to …

This study collects blood samples from 30 adults with pancreatic cancer to build a research database. The goal is to store samples and health information for future studies on circulating biomarkers. Participants must be patients at the University of Pennsylvania and able to give…

This study is developing artificial intelligence (AI) tools that can help doctors make better, personalized decisions for patients with heart disease, breast cancer, or sepsis. The goal is to make AI recommendations clear and trustworthy for doctors, while also ensuring safety. T…

This study aims to understand why some cancer patients develop autoimmune problems after receiving a type of immunotherapy called checkpoint inhibitors. Researchers will analyze blood samples and health records from 600 adults with cancer who are prescribed these drugs. The goal …

This study is testing a new imaging agent called [18F]F-GLN to see how well it shows breast cancer on PET/CT scans. About 40 adults with known or suspected breast cancer will receive one injection of the tracer and then be scanned. The goal is to gather information on safety and …

This study looks at how younger (21-34) and older (35-65) cigarette smokers use e-cigarettes (vaping). Researchers will track 100 smokers who have tried vaping or currently vape, using a mobile app diary for 12 months. The goal is to understand why people switch to vaping, how th…

This study tests a new radioactive tracer called [18F]FTT to see if it can detect a protein called PARP-1 in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. About 12 adults with advanced tumors will get one PET scan with the tracer. The goal is to measure how much tracer the tumors take up and…

This study looks at whether using telehealth (video or phone visits) can help more people who are at high risk for lung cancer complete a shared decision-making visit, which is the first step to getting screened. About 6,000 adults aged 50 to 80 with a heavy smoking history will …

This study aims to create a large registry and collection of blood, urine, and tumor samples from 8,000 adults with cancer or benign tumors who are receiving radiation therapy. The samples and health data will be stored and used by researchers to better understand cancer and impr…

This study looks at whether regular screening with endoscopic ultrasound or MRI can find early signs of pancreatic cancer in people who have a high inherited risk due to BRCA1/2, ATM, or PALB2 gene mutations. About 200 adults with these mutations will be monitored over time. The …

This study is building a collection of prostate tissue samples from 200 people who have genetic mutations that raise their risk for aggressive prostate cancer, along with samples from people without those mutations. Researchers will compare the samples to learn how these genes af…

This study looks at whether the flavor of e-cigarettes (fruit, tobacco, or menthol) helps people who smoke regular cigarettes switch to e-cigarettes. About 210 smokers who have tried to quit before will use flavored e-cigarettes for six weeks. Researchers will track how many ciga…

This study is comparing two approaches for managing small kidney tumors: active surveillance (watchful waiting with regular scans) versus immediate surgery or other treatment. Researchers want to see if carefully monitoring these small growths is as safe and effective as treating…