Abramson Cancer Center At Penn Medicine

This early-stage study is testing whether combining a chemotherapy drug (nab-paclitaxel) with higher doses of radiation can better control pancreatic cancer that is difficult or impossible to remove with surgery. The goal is to see if this more intense treatment is safe and can s…

This study is testing a personalized approach to prevent melanoma skin cancer from coming back after surgery. Patients first receive a single dose of the drug nivolumab before their operation. Based on how well the tumor responds to that single dose, doctors then assign a specifi…

This early-phase study is testing a combination treatment for people with locally advanced esophageal cancer. Before surgery, participants receive proton beam radiation therapy along with two chemotherapy drugs (carboplatin and paclitaxel). The main goal is to find the highest sa…

This study compares two types of radiation therapy—proton and photon—for people with non-metastatic breast cancer. Researchers want to see which treatment causes fewer heart problems and maintains better quality of life while still effectively controlling cancer. Over 1,200 parti…

This study is testing whether adding low-dose radiation to an immunotherapy drug (pembrolizumab) can help control non-Hodgkin lymphoma that has come back or stopped responding to other treatments. It is for adults whose cancer has progressed after at least two prior therapies. Th…

This study tests whether simple text message reminders ('nudges') sent to doctors, patients, or both can help more people living with HIV get connected to proven quit-smoking programs. It compares four different approaches to see which is most effective at getting people referred…

This study is testing whether adding a special light-activated drug treatment during surgery helps people with a specific type of lung cancer (epithelioid malignant pleural mesothelioma) live longer. All participants have surgery to remove as much cancer as possible, followed by …

This study is testing whether a mobile app that sends text messages can help young cancer survivors better manage their long-term health. All participants get a personalized care plan, and some are randomly chosen to also receive the app with tailored reminders and tips. The goal…

This study is testing if a text-message chatbot named 'Penny' can help people with lung cancer remember to take their daily oral medications and manage side effects. Researchers are comparing the chatbot to usual care in 75 patients to see if it improves how consistently patients…

This study is testing whether combining two procedures helps control liver cancer in patients waiting for a liver transplant. It compares a standard procedure (TACE) to that same procedure plus targeted radiation (SBRT). The goal is to see if the combination is more effective at …

This small pilot study is testing whether a 6-month weight loss program delivered through video calls is practical and acceptable for breast cancer survivors who are overweight. Participants attend weekly group sessions focused on diet, exercise, and lifestyle changes, tracking t…

This study is testing whether a shorter course of lower-dose radiation is safe and effective for patients with HPV-related throat cancer who have already had surgery. The goal is to see if reducing radiation can control the cancer while causing fewer side effects and improving qu…

This study is testing if a simple electronic reminder for doctors can help more patients with a suspicious ovarian mass get quickly referred to a specialized cancer surgeon. The goal is to see if this 'nudge' improves the speed and rate of referrals, especially for patients from …

This study is testing whether combining a pill called niraparib with a wearable device that delivers Tumor-Treating Fields (TTFields) can help control recurrent glioblastoma, a very aggressive brain cancer. The goal is to see if the device makes the tumor cells more vulnerable to…

This study is testing if adding a single, targeted dose of radiation to an immunotherapy drug (pembrolizumab) before surgery is safe and can help shrink breast tumors. It involves about 27 patients with early-stage, operable breast cancer. Researchers want to see if this combinat…

This study is testing whether using lower doses of radiation to a smaller area of the head and neck can still effectively control cancer after surgery for HPV-positive throat cancer. The goal is to see if this 'de-intensified' approach can maintain good cancer control while poten…

This study is testing an experimental drug called XmAb20717 for people with advanced bile duct or gallbladder cancer that has worsened after standard chemotherapy. It involves 27 participants who will receive the drug to see if it can shrink tumors or slow cancer growth. The goal…

This study is testing a new type of PET scan that uses a special tracer to look for a protein called PARP-1 in prostate cancer tumors. It involves 30 men with prostate cancer who are already scheduled for surgery. The goal is to see if this scan can better identify and locate can…

This study is testing whether a quick, 10-minute MRI scan can find breast cancers that regular mammograms might miss in Black women with dense breast tissue. Researchers are enrolling 500 Black women who recently had normal mammograms but have dense breasts. The goal is to see if…

This study is testing whether a safe, FDA-approved dye can help surgeons see brain tumors more clearly during an operation. Patients receive a low-dose injection of the dye on the day of surgery, and a special camera system makes the tumor tissue glow. The goal is to help surgeon…

This study is testing simple reminder systems to help more women get recommended breast cancer screening. It sends text message reminders to patients and alerts doctors in their computer system when someone is overdue for a mammogram. The goal is to see if these low-cost nudges c…

This study is comparing two different blood-thinning medications that patients take at home after surgery to remove their bladder for cancer. The goal is to see which drug patients are better at taking consistently, which one they prefer, and what the typical out-of-pocket cost i…

This study is testing simple reminder systems to help more people get their recommended annual lung cancer screenings. Researchers are sending text messages to patients and alerts to their doctors when a screening is due. The goal is to remove common barriers and make it easier f…

This study is testing if a computer program (AI) can better identify 45 to 49-year-olds who are behind on colon cancer screening and might be at higher risk. Those flagged by the AI will be offered extra help from a patient navigator to complete either a stool test or a colonosco…

This early-stage study is testing an experimental vaccine designed to potentially prevent cancer in people who carry BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations, which significantly increase cancer risk. The research will enroll 44 adult participants, including both cancer survivors and health…

This study is testing a program to help more people get screened for colon cancer. It will send text reminders to 20,000 patients who are overdue for screening and give their doctors alerts during appointments. The goal is to see if these simple nudges can get more people to comp…

This study is testing whether a simple chatbot on a patient's phone, combined with a Fitbit-like activity tracker, can help spot and manage symptoms from cancer treatment earlier. The goal is to see if this early warning system can help patients feel better and reduce unplanned t…

This study is testing two different approaches to managing symptoms for cancer patients receiving palliative care. Researchers want to see which method better improves patients' quality of life and reduces their symptoms. The study involves 208 adult cancer patients in Pennsylvan…

This study aims to understand how well cancer patients' immune systems respond to common vaccines for flu, COVID-19, and shingles. Researchers will measure antibody levels in 250 adult cancer patients before and after they receive these vaccines. The goal is to learn how cancer a…

This study aims to learn how breast cancer changes at a genetic level when it returns and spreads in the body. Researchers will observe 600 women with recurrent breast cancer, collecting tumor samples and blood to identify markers of cancer progression. The goal is to gather know…

This study aims to better understand how often two effective leukemia drugs cause high blood pressure and irregular heartbeats. Researchers will give 50 patients smartwatches and home blood pressure monitors to track their heart health during treatment. The goal is to gather real…

This study is testing whether a new type of CT scanner can produce better images for planning radiation therapy for cancer. Researchers will compare images from the new scanner to those from current standard machines to see if they are clearer and easier for doctors to use. The g…

This study is testing whether a new type of PET scan can measure a specific protein (PARP-1) inside breast cancer tumors. About 30 people with suspected or confirmed breast cancer will get this special scan before their surgery or chemotherapy. Researchers will compare the scan r…

This study aims to determine whether taking fewer random tissue samples during colonoscopy is just as effective at finding precancerous growths in people with long-term inflammatory bowel disease. Researchers will compare two different biopsy approaches in over 1,600 patients und…

This study aims to understand why and how certain breast cancer drugs can damage the heart over many years. Researchers will follow 200 women for up to 15 years, tracking their heart health with regular scans and surveys. The main goal is to learn how a person's background—includ…

This study aimed to develop a new robotic system to help keep patients' heads perfectly still during whole brain radiation therapy. Researchers wanted to track head movements in real time and make tiny adjustments during treatment. The goal was to improve treatment accuracy by ke…

This study aims to understand how women with BRCA gene mutations think about new tools for assessing their ovarian cancer risk. Researchers are interviewing 24 women to learn how they might use genetic risk scores and early detection blood tests when deciding whether to have prev…

This study tests whether sharing important genetic health risk information through a secure website is as effective as sharing it through a phone call with a genetic counselor. Researchers will enroll 2,500 people who previously donated samples to a biobank and have a genetic res…

This study aims to understand how a common type of cancer immunotherapy might affect the heart's smallest blood vessels. Researchers will follow 25 adults with breast or lung cancer who are starting this treatment. They will use heart scans and blood tests to monitor for changes …

This study aims to understand how BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations affect the immune system's response to the seasonal flu vaccine. Researchers are enrolling 50 healthy adults with these mutations but no cancer history to measure their antibody levels before and after vaccination. T…

This study aims to understand how radiation and chemotherapy for advanced lung cancer affects heart health over time. Researchers are following 221 patients for at least two years, using heart scans, blood tests, and surveys to measure changes. The goal is to identify early signs…

This study aims to find early warning signs that predict heart damage in breast cancer patients receiving certain chemotherapy drugs. Researchers will follow 700 patients for up to 10 years, tracking blood markers and heart scans to identify who is most at risk. The goal is to he…

This study aims to understand if women with HIV and cervical cancer complete their cancer treatment at the same rate and experience the same side effects as women without HIV. It will follow 180 women in India who are receiving standard chemoradiation for cervical cancer. The goa…