Abramson Cancer Center At Penn Medicine

This pilot trial investigates whether hydroxychloroquine (a malaria drug) and everolimus (an immune-suppressing drug), taken alone or together, can help prevent breast cancer from returning in high-risk patients. The study enrolls people who have completed primary treatment for s…

This study looks at whether giving lower doses of radiation to a smaller area after robotic surgery can still keep HPV-positive throat cancer from coming back. About 150 adults with early-stage throat cancer will receive this gentler radiation plan. The goal is to see if two year…

This trial compares two FDA-approved catheters used during TACE, a procedure that delivers chemotherapy directly to liver tumors. Twelve participants with liver cancer or neuroendocrine tumors will receive two TACE procedures, each using a different catheter. The goal is to see w…

This study looks at whether sending reminders (nudges) to doctors, patients, or both can increase the number of people with HIV who smoke getting help to quit. About 500 patients and their doctors are involved. The goal is to see if these nudges lead to more referrals and partici…

This study looks at whether giving a shorter course of lower-dose radiation after robotic surgery is safe for people with HPV-related throat cancer. About 104 adults with early-stage disease will receive this de-intensified treatment. The goal is to keep the cancer from coming ba…

This early-phase trial tests whether adding a single, focused dose of radiation before surgery can make the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab work better in people with early-stage breast cancer. About 27 participants will receive both treatments, then have surgery to see if the t…

This study tests a text-message chatbot called 'Penny' that sends reminders and checks in on symptoms for lung cancer patients taking daily targeted therapy pills. 75 patients will either use the chatbot or get usual care, and researchers will measure how well they stick to their…

This pilot trial is testing whether adding stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) to the standard transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) can better control liver cancer in patients waiting for a liver transplant. About 40 patients will be enrolled to see if the combination im…

This early-phase trial tests a new approach for people with locally advanced esophageal cancer. Before surgery, patients receive proton beam radiotherapy along with two chemotherapy drugs (carboplatin and paclitaxel). The main goal is to find the safest dose and see how well pati…

This phase 2 trial tests a combination of the drug niraparib and a device that delivers electric fields (Tumor-Treating Fields) in 30 people with recurrent glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer. The goal is to see if the combo can control the tumor, shrink it, or keep it stabl…

This study tests whether adding a light-activated drug (photodynamic therapy) during surgery can help people with a rare lung cancer called epithelioid malignant pleural mesothelioma live longer. About 52 adults with cancer limited to one side of the chest will receive either sta…

This study tests a combination of an immunotherapy drug (pembrolizumab) and low-dose radiation for people with non-Hodgkin lymphoma that has come back or not responded to prior treatments. Six participants will receive the drug plus radiation to one or more tumor sites. The goal …

This phase 1 trial tests a combination of radiation therapy and the chemotherapy drug Abraxane (nab-paclitaxel) in people with pancreatic cancer that cannot be surgically removed. The goal is to find the safest and most effective doses to improve local tumor control and survival.…

This study tests whether giving the immunotherapy drug nivolumab before and after surgery for stage III melanoma can help prevent the cancer from returning. About 67 adults with resectable melanoma will receive one dose of nivolumab before surgery, then after surgery they will ge…

This study compares two types of radiation therapy—proton and photon—for people with non-metastatic breast cancer. The goal is to see if proton therapy reduces heart problems and improves quality of life while still controlling the cancer. About 1,200 participants who had surgery…

This phase 2 trial tests an experimental drug called XmAb20717 in 27 adults with advanced biliary tract cancers (bile duct or gallbladder cancer) that worsened after standard chemotherapy. The drug is a bispecific antibody designed to activate the immune system against cancer by …

This early-phase trial is testing a new radioactive tracer called 18F-FTT in 30 men with prostate cancer. The tracer is designed to light up PARP-1 activity on PET/CT scans, which may help doctors see where cancer has spread. Researchers will compare the scan results with tissue …

This early-stage trial is testing whether a single low-dose injection of indocyanine green (ICG), a dye already approved for other uses, can help surgeons identify and remove brain or spinal cord tumors more precisely. About 105 adults with nervous system tumors will receive the …

This study is testing whether a fast breast MRI can find cancers that mammograms miss in Black women with dense breast tissue. About 500 African American women who recently had a normal mammogram will get an additional abbreviated MRI. Researchers want to see if this extra scan d…

This early-phase trial tests a radioactive tracer called [18F]FluorThanatrace to see if it can measure PARP-1, a protein linked to breast cancer, using PET scans. Up to 30 people with known or suspected breast cancer will get a scan before surgery or therapy. The goal is to see i…

This early-stage study tests an experimental vaccine designed to prevent cancer in adults with BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations. The vaccine is given alone or with another drug, followed by a mild electric pulse to help it enter cells. Researchers want to see if it is safe and wheth…

This study uses artificial intelligence to find people aged 45-49 who are at higher risk for colorectal cancer but have never been screened. Participants are randomly assigned to receive either standard care or extra help from a patient navigator who guides them through getting a…

This study compares two approaches to treating lymphedema (swelling) in people who have had head and neck cancer. One group gets all their therapy in a clinic, while the other starts with a few in-person sessions and then continues via video calls at home. The goal is to see if t…

This study tests whether a chatbot that texts patients and tracks their phone activity can catch cancer treatment symptoms early. About 70 adults with lung, gastrointestinal, or head and neck cancers will use the chatbot during chemo and radiation. The goal is to see if this appr…

This study tested a 24-week weight loss program delivered via video calls for 22 breast cancer survivors who were overweight or obese. The goal was to see if the program was practical and well-liked, and whether it improved quality of life, physical activity, and mood. Participan…

This study looks at whether a new approach to managing symptoms can improve quality of life for cancer patients who are starting palliative care. About 208 adults from Pennsylvania took part. Researchers compared two different methods of symptom control to see which one helps pat…

This study follows 100 cigarette smokers (half aged 21-34, half aged 35-65) who have tried or currently use e-cigarettes. Over 12 months, participants use a mobile app to report changes in smoking and vaping habits, reasons for switching, and their beliefs about e-cigarettes. The…

This study looks at how to best collect information about social and behavioral needs (like housing, food, or transportation) from women newly diagnosed with breast cancer. Researchers will compare different screening tools and methods (like chatbots or phone calls) to see which …

This study looks at how doctors and patients feel about a new approach to picking antibiotics for people with blood cancers who have a reported penicillin allergy. The goal is to understand what might make it easier or harder to use this approach in everyday hospital care. About …

This study looks at whether taking extra random biopsies during a colonoscopy helps find precancerous growths in people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. About 1,600 participants will be randomly assigned to one of two biopsy…

This study looks at two ways to share important genetic findings with people who joined a biobank. Some participants will get their results through a website or chatbot, while others will speak with a genetic counselor by phone or video. The goal is to see if the digital method w…

This study is testing whether a chatbot can help parents of children with cancer learn about genetic risks and decide whether to get tested themselves. The chatbot provides education and support as an alternative to speaking with a genetic counselor. The goal is to make it easier…

This study tests whether sending text message reminders to patients and alerts to doctors can increase the number of women who get their recommended mammograms. About 8,490 women aged 40-74 who are overdue for screening will take part. The goal is to see if these simple 'nudges' …

This study asks 50 lung cancer doctors to review AI-generated explanations for patient prognosis and rate how trustworthy they seem. The goal is to see if a newer type of AI (neurosymbolic) is more trusted than standard methods. No patients are treated; the data is simulated. The…

This study follows 200 men with prostate cancer who are receiving hormone therapy (androgen deprivation therapy) for at least 6 months. Researchers want to understand how this treatment affects the heart over time, and how factors like medical history, race, income, and access to…

This study watches 50 people with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) who are starting a type of drug called a BTK inhibitor. These drugs can cause high blood pressure and irregular heartbeats. Participants will use a wearable device at home to track their heart rhythm and blood p…

This study watches 25 people with breast or lung cancer who are getting immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy. Researchers use heart scans and blood tests to see if the treatment harms the heart's tiny blood vessels. No new drugs are given; the goal is to learn how to better protec…

This study follows 700 breast cancer patients to understand how chemotherapy affects the heart. Researchers use echocardiograms and blood tests to find early signs of heart damage. The goal is to better predict and prevent cardiotoxicity in cancer treatment.

This study tests whether sending text reminders to patients and alerts to their doctors can increase the number of people who get yearly lung cancer screening or follow-up tests. About 825 patients and their clinicians are taking part. The goal is to see if these simple nudges im…

This study follows 600 women whose breast cancer has returned to learn how the cancer changes over time. Participants provide tumor samples and blood, and optionally bone marrow, at multiple points. The goal is to identify genetic markers of cancer progression, not to test a new …

This study tests a mobile app designed to help adolescent and young adult cancer survivors follow their personalized care plans. 25 survivors aged 15-29 who have finished cancer treatment will use the app to receive tailored text messages and educational content. The goal is to s…

This study was designed to test a new robotic system that keeps a patient's head still during radiation therapy for brain cancer. The goal was to see if the system could hold the head within a very small target area. However, the study was withdrawn before any participants were e…

This study follows 200 women with breast cancer who are receiving doxorubicin and/or trastuzumab. Researchers want to learn how these drugs affect the heart over time and how factors like race, income, and access to healthcare play a role. Participants will have heart ultrasounds…

This study looks at how well cancer patients respond to common vaccines like flu, COVID-19, and shingles. Researchers will measure antibody levels before and after vaccination in 250 adults with cancer. The goal is to understand immune responses in this group, not to test a new t…

This study interviews 24 women with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations to learn how they might use polygenic risk scores and multi-cancer early detection tests when deciding about cancer screening or risk-reducing surgery. The goal is to better understand patient attitudes, not to test a t…

This study checks how well the immune system works in healthy people with BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations. About 50 adults over age 25 who carry these gene changes but have not had cancer will get a seasonal flu vaccine. Researchers will measure their antibody and immune cell respo…

This study tracks 221 people with stage II or III lung cancer to see how chemoradiation therapy affects their heart health. Participants undergo heart scans, blood tests, and quality-of-life surveys before, during, and for at least two years after treatment. The goal is to better…

This study tests whether a gentle reminder to doctors can increase referrals to gynecologic oncology for women with suspicious ovarian masses. Researchers will send a message to ordering providers within 48 hours of imaging results, encouraging them to refer patients. The study i…

This pilot study tests a new FDA-approved cone-beam CT imaging system (Halcyon 4.0) for planning radiation therapy. Researchers will compare its image quality and ease of use to standard CT scans in 27 adults with various cancers. The goal is to see if the new system can improve …

This study looks at 180 women in India with cervical cancer who are receiving standard chemoradiation. Half are HIV-positive and half are HIV-negative. Researchers want to see if HIV affects how often patients complete treatment and how severe side effects are. The goal is to lea…

This study tests whether sending patients direct reminders and giving their doctors electronic nudges can increase colorectal cancer screening rates. About 20,000 adults aged 50-72 who are overdue for screening will be randomly assigned to receive different types of outreach or u…