Education and Training

  • Mechanical Support Measures of Adjustment and QOL

    The purpose of this study is to develop a measurement system to assess adjustment to mechanical circulatory support (MCS) (also referred to as a ventricular assist device [VAD]) and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients with advanced heart failure who receive a VAD. This investigators refer to this measurement system as Mechanical Circulatory Support: Adjustment and Quality of Life (MCS A-QOL).

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  • Integrin Alpha-v-Beta and [18F]-R01-MG-F2 PET/CT in Measuring Response in Patients With Pancreatic Cancer and Healthy Volunteers

    This pilot clinical trial studies the use of integrin alpha-v-beta [18F]-R01-MG-F2 Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (PET/CT) and Positron Emission Tomography-Magnetic Resonance Imaging in (PET/MRI) in measuring response in patients with pancreatic cancer and healthy volunteers. Integrins, such as integrin alpha-v-beta-6 (avb6), are a family of membrane receptors that are overexpressed on the cell surface of pancreatic cancers. [18F]-R01-MG-F2 targets avb6, which may improve early detection of and better stratify treatment options for patients with pancreatic cancer.

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  • Microarray Analysis of IFN-Induced Gene Expression in Obese and Non-Obese Patients With Chronic Hepatitis C

    The response rate to interferon-based anti-viral therapy for chronic hepatitis C is lower in patients who are obese. However, it is not clear whether this is related to suboptimal dosing of the medication or alterated response in obese patients. Alterated immune response had been reported in obese patients. The goal of current study is to determine the immune response to interferon in obese compared to non-obese chronic hepatitis C in an tissue culture system.

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  • Progesterone for Maintenance Tocolysis: A Randomized Placebo Controlled Trial

    Preterm delivery is the most common cause of infant morbidity and mortality in the United States. Some women have episodes of preterm labor during their pregnancy which can be temporarily stopped. These women, however, are at high risk for delivering before term. At this time, we do not have sufficient evidence to use any medication to help prevent these women from delivering early. Recently, preliminary studies have shown that progesterone may help prevent some women at high risk for preterm delivery from delivering early. Our study will investigate whether progesterone can help this specific group of women, women with arrested preterm labor, deliver healthy infants at term.

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  • Microsatellite Analysis of Urinary Sediment in Detecting Bladder Cancer

    RATIONALE: New diagnostic procedures such as microsatellite analysis of sediment in the urine may improve the ability to detect bladder cancer without invasive procedures.

    PURPOSE: Diagnostic trial to study the effectiveness of microsatellite analysis of sediment in the urine in detecting bladder cancer in healthy participants, participants who have genitourinary conditions requiring cystoscopy, and patients who have bladder cancer.

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  • Liposome-encapsulated Daunorubicin-Cytarabine, Fludarabine Phosphate, Cytarabine, and Filgrastim in Treating Younger Patients With Relapsed or Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia

    This phase I/II trial studies the side effects and best dose of liposome-encapsulated daunorubicin-cytarabine when given with fludarabine phosphate, cytarabine, and filgrastim and to see how well they work in treating younger patients with acute myeloid leukemia that has come back after treatment (relapsed) or is not responding to treatment (is refractory). Liposome-encapsulated daunorubicin-cytarabine is made up of two chemotherapy drugs, cytarabine and daunorubicin hydrochloride, and works to stop cancer cell growth by blocking the cells from dividing. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as fludarabine phosphate and cytarabine, work in different ways to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading. Filgrastim may increase the production of blood cells and may help the immune system recover from the side effects of chemotherapy. Giving liposome-encapsulated daunorubicin-cytarabine followed by fludarabine phosphate, cytarabine, and filgrastim may be a better treatment for patients with relapsed acute myeloid leukemia and may cause fewer side effects to the heart, a common effect of other chemotherapy treatments for acute myeloid leukemia.

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  • Levocarnitine in Treating Patients With Vismodegib-Associated Muscle Spasms

    This randomized clinical trial studies levocarnitine in treating patients with vismodegib-associated muscle spasms. Levocarnitine may decrease muscle spasms caused by vismodegib.

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  • Lap-assisted vs. US-Guided Visualization of TAP Blocks

    Peripheral nerve blocks have been effective in decreasing post-operative pain as well as the use of narcotics for numerous years. Typically, these blocks are placed by anesthesiologist via ultrasound. In more recent years, surgeons have been placing nerve blocks laparoscopically. Since there are few studies that looks compare the two techniques we aim to perform a randomized control trial to demonstrate if a laparoscopic placed nerve block is as efficient and accurate as an ultrasound placed block.

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  • Language Development in Preterm Children

    This research investigates the ways in which preterm birth affects how very young children learn to speak and understand language, and how older children gain efficiency in language processing. The investigators observe how children at different ages learn new words and comprehend familiar words, how they communicate effectively with others, and how they use both linguistic and non-linguistic skills in problem-solving. All of the activities in the investigators' studies are designed to be age-appropriate and fun for children.

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  • Prospective Evaluation of Chronic Pancreatitis for Epidemiologic and Translational Studies

    The Coordinating and Data Management Center (CDMC) at MD Anderson Cancer will be responsible for the coordination and data management for the Prospective Evaluation of Chronic Pancreatitis for Epidemiologic and Translational Studies (PROCCEED) Study, which is part of the NIH U01 funded Consortium for the Study of Chronic Pancreatitis, Diabetes, and Pancreatic Cancer (CPDPC). No patient enrollment will occur at MDACC. All patient recruitment will occur at external sites that are a part of the CPDPC. The data management systems, auditing, and monitoring effort are supported by the MD Anderson Cancer Center Clinical Research Support Center (CRSC).

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  • Linking Digital Smartphone Behaviour With Brain Function

    This study will thus examine daily behaviour based on smartphone use and link it to the neurological and neuropsychological status as well as to neuroradiological studies that are part of the clinical routine. The study will examine behaviour changes before and after surgery, and how this change in measured behaviour with the smartphone relates to today's "gold standard", namely professional neuropsychological examination and quantification of brain damage on imaging studies (MRI).

    This study is a proof-of-principle study that intends to build the basis for larger future observational studies on patients with focal or diffuse brain pathologies.

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  • Lymphedema Prophylaxis in Breast Cancer Survivors Who Show Early Evidence of High-risk Status

    To compare the effectiveness of usual treatments for lymphedema [massage and elastic compression sleeve, instituted at-risk and before the development of swelling (lymphedema)], compared to the use of a newly-marketed device, the Flexitouch, which electronically simulates the effect of massage upon lymph flow.

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  • Inotuzumab Ozogamicin and Post-Induction Chemotherapy in Treating Patients With High-Risk B-ALL, Mixed Phenotype Acute Leukemia, and B-LLy

    This phase III trial studies whether inotuzumab ozogamicin added to post-induction chemotherapy for patients with High-Risk B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (B-ALL) improves outcomes. This trial also studies the outcomes of patients with mixed phenotype acute leukemia (MPAL), and B-lymphoblastic lymphoma (B-LLy) when treated with ALL therapy without inotuzumab ozogamicin. Inotuzumab ozogamicin is a monoclonal antibody, called inotuzumab, linked to a type of chemotherapy called calicheamicin. Inotuzumab attaches to cancer cells in a targeted way and delivers calicheamicin to kill them. Other drugs used in the chemotherapy regimen, such as cyclophosphamide, cytarabine, dexamethasone, doxorubicin, daunorubicin, methotrexate, leucovorin, mercaptopurine, prednisone, thioguanine, vincristine, and pegaspargase or calaspargase pegol work in different ways to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading. This trial will also study the outcomes of patients with mixed phenotype acute leukemia (MPAL) and disseminated B lymphoblastic lymphoma (B-LLy) when treated with high-risk ALL chemotherapy.

    The overall goal of this study is to understand if adding inotuzumab ozogamicin to standard of care chemotherapy maintains or improves outcomes in High Risk B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (HR B-ALL). The first part of the study includes the first two phases of therapy: Induction and Consolidation. This part will collect information on the leukemia, as well as the effects of the initial treatment, to classify patients into post-consolidation treatment groups. On the second part of this study, patients with HR B-ALL will receive the remainder of the chemotherapy cycles (interim maintenance I, delayed intensification, interim maintenance II, maintenance), with some patients randomized to receive inotuzumab. The patients that receive inotuzumab will not receive part of delayed intensification. Other aims of this study include investigating whether treating both males and females with the same duration of chemotherapy maintains outcomes for males who have previously been treated for an additional year compared to girls, as well as to evaluate the best ways to help patients adhere to oral chemotherapy regimens. Finally, this study will be the first to track the outcomes of subjects with disseminated B-cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia (B-LLy) or Mixed Phenotype Acute Leukemia (MPAL) when treated with B-ALL chemotherapy.

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  • Molecular Analysis of Breast Cancer

    This is a research-based study that is looking at the biologic features of breast tissue, lymph node tissue, or blood in order to study breast cancer development growth, and spread. Through tissue and/or blood samples we hope to gain further knowledge and understanding of how to improve diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer by identifying the molecular markers that predict clinical outcome and response to therapy.

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  • Modafinil Treatment for Sleep/Wake Disturbances in Older Adults

    Modafinil, trade named Provigil, is a medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome, and shift work sleep disorder. Each of these problems is characterized by difficulty sleeping at night and excessive daytime sleepiness. Modafinil is prescribed during the day to counteract this sleepiness. The idea behind this treatment is that sleepiness that leads to napping during the day prevents a patient from being tired or sleepy enough to get good sleep at night. This study is designed to determine if the medication can "reset" participants' sleep/wake rhythm to a more normal rhythm.

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  • Phase 1-2 Vatalanib and Gemcitabine in Advanced Pancreatic Cancer

    The purpose of the study is to determine the optimal safe and tolerable dose of gemcitabine in combination with once daily or twice daily dose of PTK/ZK in patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer. The Phase II part of this study planned to determine the antitumor activity of this regimen and its effectiveness of preventing tumor growth and spread.

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  • Insulin Resistance in Patients With Mood Disorder

    Insulin resistance is known to be associated with mood disorders and cognitive difficulties. The purpose of this study is to treat depressed patients with rosiglitazone (also known as [AKA] Avandia), therefore improving glucose sensitivity, which in turn has the potential to affect mood and thinking. We, the researchers at Stanford University, are recruiting men and women who have been diagnosed with depression, and are willing to participate in this 3 month study. Participation involves neuropsychological testing, 2 blood draws called an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), which tests for glucose and insulin levels, and the medication, rosiglitazone. Participants are allowed to continue on their current psychiatric medication.

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  • LIPS-B: Lung Injury Prevention Study With Budesonide and Beta

    This study tested whether inhaled budesonide and formoterol were able to alleviate or prevent pulmonary injury when administered early in hospital course to the patients at risk for developing acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The FDA has approved many uses for budesonide and formoterol, including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but the use of these two drugs is experimental for ARDS.

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  • Identification and Characterization of Novel Proteins and Genes in Head and Neck Cancer

    Through this study, we hope to learn more about the mechanisms, which may contribute to development and progression of head and neck cancer. The long-term goal of this study will be to develop new strategies and drugs for the diagnosis and treatment of head and neck cancer.

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  • Laparotomy vs. Drainage for Infants With Necrotizing Enterocolitis

    This study will compare the effectiveness of two surgical procedures -laparotomy versus drainage - commonly used to treat necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) or isolated intestinal perforations (IP) in extremely low birth weight infants (≤1,000 g). Infants diagnosed with NEC or IP requiring surgical intervention, will be recruited. Subjects will be randomized to receive either a laparotomy or peritoneal drainage. Primary outcome is impairment-free survival at 18-22 months corrected age.

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