Dana-farber Cancer Institute

This early-phase study tested a new vaccine called WDVAX in 23 people with advanced melanoma. The vaccine is made from each patient's own killed tumor cells, combined with immune-boosting proteins, and formed into a small tablet. The goal was to see if it's safe and possible to c…

This study tested whether adding a drug called ganetespib to the standard hormone therapy fulvestrant helps people with a certain type of advanced breast cancer. The cancer was hormone receptor-positive and had stopped responding to hormone therapy. Fifty adults took part. The go…

This study tested whether giving the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab after a stem cell transplant can help keep lymphoma from coming back. It included 82 people with Hodgkin lymphoma, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, or T-cell lymphoma that had returned or not responded to prior t…

This study tested a combination of three drugs (paclitaxel, trastuzumab, and pertuzumab) given before surgery to 23 people with a rare and aggressive type of breast cancer called inflammatory breast cancer. The goal was to see if the treatment could eliminate all signs of cancer …

This study tested whether combining the drug atezolizumab with a precise type of radiation (stereotactic radiosurgery) could help control triple-negative breast cancer that has spread to the brain. Six participants with stage IV breast cancer took part. The goal was to see how lo…

This study tested a combination of three drugs (lenalidomide, bortezomib, and dexamethasone) in 46 people newly diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a blood cancer. The goal was to see how well the treatment controlled the disease and what side effects occurred. While many patients r…

This study tested a program to help people with lung cancer stop smoking. Researchers worked with 263 patients to provide support and medication. The goal was to see if the program could help more patients quit and improve how doctors track tobacco treatment.

This study tested a combination of two drugs, idelalisib and ofatumumab, in 27 adults with previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL). The goal was to see how well the drugs worked together to shrink or control the cancer. Particip…

This study tested a combination of chemotherapy (CAPOX) and two targeted antibodies (trastuzumab and bevacizumab) in 37 adults with HER2-positive metastatic stomach or esophageal cancer. The goal was to see how well the treatment shrank tumors and how safe it was. Results showed …

This early-phase trial tested an experimental drug called CUDC-907 in 26 children and young adults (ages 1-21) whose solid tumors, brain tumors, or lymphoma had stopped responding to standard treatments. The main goal was to find safe dosing and identify side effects. Researchers…

This study tested whether giving personalized doses of the chemotherapy drug L-asparaginase to adults (ages 18-50) with untreated acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is safe and feasible. Researchers aimed to see if patients could complete all 30 planned doses after achieving remi…

This study looked at 800 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) to compare two forms of the drug asparaginase: a pegylated version given through a vein and a standard version given as a shot. The goal was to see which caused fewer serious side effects like allergic reac…

This study tested whether a drug called T-DM1 causes fewer side effects than the standard treatment of paclitaxel plus trastuzumab in people with stage I HER2-positive breast cancer. About 500 participants were randomly assigned to one of the two treatments. The researchers also …

This early-phase study tested two drugs, palbociclib and binimetinib, in 34 people with advanced lung cancer that has a specific KRAS gene change. The main goal was to find the safest dose and see if the combination can shrink tumors or slow cancer growth. Participants had to hav…

This study tested the drug neratinib, alone or with other medicines, in 140 people with HER2-positive breast cancer that had spread to the brain. The goal was to see if the treatment could shrink or stabilize brain tumors. Researchers also looked at how previous treatments affect…

This study tested whether adding a low dose of the drug Interleukin-2 (IL-2) to a standard therapy called Extracorporeal Photopheresis (ECP) could help people with chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) that did not improve with steroids. cGVHD is a serious condition where don…

This early-phase study tested two drugs, ASP8374 and cemiplimab, in 14 people with a returning type of brain cancer called glioblastoma. The main goals were to find a safe dose and see if giving the drugs before surgery could boost the immune response against the tumor. The study…

This study tested a combination of two drugs, Imprime PGG and Rituximab, in 25 people with a slow-growing type of blood cancer called indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma that had come back or not responded to prior treatment. The main goal was to see how many patients had their tumors …

This early-phase study tested the safety of combining two drugs—pembrolizumab (an immunotherapy) and AMG386 (which targets blood vessel growth)—in 62 people with advanced solid tumors like melanoma, ovarian, kidney, or colorectal cancer. The main goal was to find the safest dose …

This early-phase study tested a new treatment combining immune-boosting drugs with specially trained natural killer (NK) cells in 11 people with advanced head and neck cancer that had returned or spread. The goal was to see if the combination was safe and could shrink tumors. Whi…

This early-phase study tested the drug venetoclax in 5 adults with a rare and aggressive blood cancer called BPDCN that had come back or not responded to prior treatments. The main goal was to check safety and find the right dose. Researchers also looked at how well the drug shra…

This study tested a drug called niraparib in 32 people with advanced pancreatic cancer that has specific DNA repair problems. The goal was to see if the drug could slow down cancer growth. Participants took niraparib pills, and researchers measured how long they lived without the…

This early-phase study tested the safety of adding the drug afatinib to standard radiation therapy for people with intermediate- or high-risk head and neck cancer after surgery. Afatinib blocks proteins that help cancer grow and may make cancer cells more sensitive to radiation. …

This study tested a new saliva test that looks for DNA from HPV and a related virus to detect HPV-positive throat cancer. Researchers compared results from 360 people—some with cancer and some without—to see how accurate the test is. The goal is to develop a simple, non-invasive …

This study tested whether a drug called obinutuzumab can prevent chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD), a common and serious complication after a stem cell transplant. The trial involved 181 people who had received a stem cell transplant from a donor. The main goal was to see…

This study tested whether fasting for a longer period each night could help overweight or obese adults with early blood cancer signs (MGUS, smoldering multiple myeloma, or smoldering Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia) lose weight and possibly prevent the disease from progressing. Twe…

This study tested a new program called BOLSTER, designed to give extra support to people with gynecologic or gastrointestinal cancers and their caregivers after a hospital stay. The program focused on helping patients manage complex care needs at home. The study measured whether …

This study tested whether testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) can safely improve symptoms like low energy and sexual problems in men who had their prostate removed for cancer. 136 men with low-risk prostate cancer and stable PSA levels took part. The goal was to see if TRT cou…

This study tested a program called PRISM that helps teens and young adults (ages 12-24) with advanced cancer build coping skills and resilience. 195 participants were randomly assigned to receive the program or usual care. The goal was to see if PRISM could improve quality of lif…

This study tested whether a program called PRISM (Promoting Resilience in Stress Management) is practical and helpful for young adults aged 18-39 who have been diagnosed with cancer or desmoid tumors. The program aims to reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety. Researchers enro…

This study tested whether a single online sleep education session, with or without extra coaching, could help young adult cancer survivors (ages 20-39) sleep better. 56 survivors who had finished active cancer treatment took part. The program aimed to reduce insomnia severity and…

This study tested whether acupuncture can help prevent or lessen nerve pain, numbness, and tingling caused by chemotherapy in people with early-stage breast cancer. 89 participants received either acupuncture or relaxation exercises during their chemo treatment. The goal was to s…

This study tested a smartphone app called HOPE (Helping Our Patients Excel) along with a Fitbit device to help women with advanced gynecologic cancer manage symptoms during chemotherapy. The goal was to see if the technology was easy to use and could improve quality of life. Abou…

This study looked at whether acupuncture can help reduce tingling, numbness, burning, and pain in the hands and feet of women who finished chemotherapy for early-stage breast cancer. 57 women took part. The goal was to see if acupuncture could ease these nerve-related side effect…

This study looked at whether giving blood transfusions at home is practical and acceptable for people with advanced blood cancers who need regular transfusions. Ten patients with a life expectancy of six months or less took part. The goal was to see if home transfusions could be …

This study tested a 6-session therapy called Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for cancer patients who are at risk of misusing opioids. The therapy helps patients cope with difficult thoughts and feelings that can lead to opioid misuse. The study included 40 adults with can…

This study tested whether a single online educational session could improve sleep in cancer survivors who have trouble sleeping. 70 survivors with significant insomnia took part. Researchers measured changes in insomnia severity and mood after 8 weeks.

This study tested whether acupuncture can reduce hot flashes in women with hormone-positive breast cancer. 84 participants were randomly assigned to receive acupuncture or standard care. The researchers tracked hot flash frequency and severity over 10 weeks to see if acupuncture …

This study tested whether showing patients a video about advance care planning and training doctors in communication could improve how cancer care decisions are made. Over 13,800 people from multiple clinics took part, mostly through medical record review. The goal was to see if …

This study looked at 147 people with triple negative breast cancer to see if a genetic test called HRD could predict which chemotherapy—cisplatin or paclitaxel—works better before surgery. Participants received one of the two drugs, and researchers measured tumor response. The go…

This study involved 246 women who had a breast biopsy showing either flat epithelial atypia or intraductal papilloma without atypia, which are non-cancerous changes. Researchers wanted to see how often these women had an undetected cancer in the same breast. They found that the r…