Abramson Cancer Center At Penn Medicine

This study tested a drug called niraparib in 11 men with advanced prostate cancer that was growing despite hormone therapy. All participants had previously received platinum chemotherapy. The goal was to see if niraparib could keep the cancer from progressing for at least 6 month…

This early-phase study tested whether the heart medication carvedilol could safely prevent heart damage in breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy with doxorubicin and/or trastuzumab. Researchers assigned 68 women to either usual care or carvedilol based on their risk of he…

This study looked at whether the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab can help people with a limited form of lung cancer (oligometastatic NSCLC) that has already been treated. 51 adults received pembrolizumab every 3 weeks for up to 16 cycles. The main goal was to see how long it too…

This study compared four different smoking cessation programs to see which one works best for underserved smokers who are getting lung cancer screening. Over 3,200 participants from four U.S. health systems took part. The goal was to find the most effective way to help them quit …

This early-phase trial tested a combination of three drugs—olaparib, palbociclib, and fulvestrant—in 9 people with advanced, hormone receptor-positive breast cancer who also have BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations. The main goal was to see if the combination is safe and to measure how long…

This study tested a precise type of radiation called proton therapy for people with rare tumors called chordomas and chondrosarcomas. The goal was to see if it was safe and could be given without major side effects. 54 adults with these tumors in the skull base or spine took part…

This early-phase trial tested whether combining a special type of radiation (hypofractionated radiotherapy) with two immunotherapy drugs (MEDI4736 and tremelimumab) is safe and tolerable for people with advanced melanoma, lung, breast, or pancreatic cancer that has spread. The st…

This study tested a new type of counseling called BAPS to help smokers with HIV quit smoking. 651 participants were split into two groups: one received standard smoking cessation counseling, and the other received BAPS therapy. The goal was to see which approach led to more peopl…

This study tested whether anti-vaping social media messages designed specifically for sexual and gender minority (SGM) teens could prevent them from starting to vape. Over 1,100 SGM youth aged 13-20 who had not vaped recently received either tailored or generic messages. The goal…

This study tested whether using virtual reality (VR) for mindfulness and relaxation before radiation therapy is practical for cancer patients. Twenty-five adults scheduled for radiation simulation tried the VR program. The main goal was to see if at least 75% could complete the V…

This study looked at how to increase the number of patients who get DPYD testing before starting chemotherapy for gastrointestinal cancer. DPYD testing checks for gene changes that can cause severe or even deadly side effects from common chemo drugs. Researchers tested different …

This study tested a community support program to help people attend lung cancer screening appointments. Researchers compared attendance rates among West Philadelphia residents who opted into the program, those who did not, and residents from another area. The goal was to see if t…

This study tested whether sending reminders to cancer patients and alerts to their nurses could increase how often patients complete symptom questionnaires. 476 adults starting a new cancer therapy were randomly assigned to usual care, reminders with alerts, or remote monitoring …

This study collected blood from 43 healthy adults aged 18-60 to serve as a comparison for a test that looks for cancer cells in the blood. Participants gave about 20 mL of blood at up to 20 visits. The goal was to help make the test more accurate for future cancer patients.

This study looked at ways to improve PET/CT scans for people with non-small cell lung cancer. The goal was to see if changing how the images are taken and processed could make staging more accurate. Thirty adults took part, and the focus was on safety and image quality, not on tr…

This study tested whether trained patient ambassadors could help more people with advanced gynecologic cancer learn about and join clinical trials. 23 patients participated in discussions with an ambassador. The goal was to see if this approach is practical and acceptable, not to…

This study looked at 172 breast cancer patients to see how two types of radiation therapy—proton and photon—affect heart health. Researchers measured heart function and blood markers before, during, and up to one year after treatment. The goal was to understand which method might…

This study tested whether social incentives, like gamification and donations to charity, can help low-income families increase their daily walking. 779 participants wore Fitbits to track steps over 12 months. The goal was to see if these strategies make physical activity more eng…

This study tested a chatbot named Penny to see if it could help adults who had cancer as children or young adults get back into regular follow-up care. Participants had not seen a doctor for their cancer history in at least three years. The chatbot sent text messages to help them…

This study looked at whether the color of a cigarette package changes how people smoke low-nicotine cigarettes. Researchers measured daily cigarette use, puffing behavior, and exposure to harmful chemicals in 219 adult smokers over 35 days. The goal was to understand if package c…

This study tested a decision aid to help adults aged 76-85 with low health literacy decide about colorectal cancer screening. 60 participants from community health centers used the tool to see if it changed their screening intentions and knowledge. The goal was to improve informe…

This project offered free transportation and scheduling help to people in Philadelphia who needed lung cancer screening. The goal was to see if these services helped more people attend their appointments. The study included 252 participants and compared attendance among those who…

This study tested a simple way to help hospitalized patients with advanced lung or gastrointestinal cancers talk about their care goals with their cancer doctor after leaving the hospital. About 80 patients took part, with half completing a short survey about their preferences, w…

This study followed 44 adults with leukemia or lymphoma who received CAR T-cell therapy to see how their hearts were affected. Researchers used heart scans, blood tests, and quality-of-life surveys to track heart function over time. The goal was to find out how often heart proble…

This study tested different ways to encourage genetic testing in people at high risk for breast or ovarian cancer. Over 1,300 participants received either a direct message through an online patient portal or a reminder to their doctor during a visit. The goal was to see which met…

This study tested whether sending reminders (nudges) to doctors, patients, or both could increase the number of women with extremely dense breasts who get a breast MRI. Over 1,300 women aged 40-74 took part. The goal was to see if these nudges help catch cancer earlier, especiall…

This study tested a program that uses computer algorithms and patient navigators to help people in low-income areas complete their colorectal cancer screening. 385 adults from specific Philadelphia zip codes who had not finished a colonoscopy or stool test were included. The goal…

This study tested a robotic platform that uses motion cameras to keep a person's head still in real time. Twenty healthy volunteers participated, and no radiation was used. The goal was to collect motion data to help develop better head stabilization methods for future brain radi…

This early-phase study tested a special PET/CT scan that uses a tracer to detect immune cells (CD8+ T cells) in tumors. Six adults with advanced melanoma who were also on immunotherapy and hydroxychloroquine received the scan before and after treatment. The goal was to see if cha…