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Consuelo Wilkins, MD, MSCI, Senior Vice President for Health Equity and Inclusive Excellence for Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) and Senior Associate Dean for Health Equity and Inclusive Excellence for Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, always knew she wanted to be a physician. "Health equity was built into everything I did, even if I didn’t know it or recognize it at the time," Wilkins said. "I have always learned and believed that people are the same — everyone deserves to be healthy, and everyone should have the best opportunities to take care of themselves and their families." Click below to learn more about health equity initiatives. https://momentum.vicc.org/2021/09/everyone-deserves-to-be-healthy/ |
Vanderbilt was the lead site for an NIH-funded, phase 2, multicenter influenza vaccine study in pediatric allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HCT) recipients that may lead to a change in the current flu vaccine recommendations in this vulnerable population. Natasha Halasa, MD, MPH and colleagues recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine, that two doses of high-dose trivalent flu vaccine resulted in higher amounts of influenza-specific antibodies than two doses of standard dose quadrivalent vaccine. https://news.vumc.org/2023/03/02/high-dose-flu-vaccine-beneficial-for-pediatric-stem-cell-transplant-patients/ |
Comparing an Alternative Surgical Procedure, Sentinel Lymph Node (SLN) Biopsy, with Standard Neck Dissection for Patients with Early-Stage Oral Cavity Cancer
Head/Neck
Head/Neck
This phase II/III trial studies how well sentinel lymph node biopsy works and compares sentinel lymph node biopsy surgery to standard neck dissection as part of the treatment for early-stage oral cavity cancer. Sentinel lymph node biopsy surgery is a procedure that removes a smaller number of lymph nodes from your neck because it uses an imaging agent to see which lymph nodes are most likely to have cancer. Standard neck dissection, such as elective neck dissection, removes many of the lymph nodes in your neck. Using sentinel lymph node biopsy surgery may work better in treating patients with early-stage oral cavity cancer compared to standard elective neck dissection.
Head/Neck
II/III
Topf, Michael
NCT04333537
NRGHN006
Gabapentin plus Ketamine for the Prevention of Acute and Chronic Pain in Patients with Locally Advanced Head and Neck Cancer Undergoing Chemoradiation
Multiple Cancer Types
This phase I/II trial studies the side effects and best dose of a combination of gabapentin and ketamine and to see how well it works to prevent acute and chronic pain in patients receiving chemotherapy and radiation therapy (chemoradiation) for head and neck cancer that has spread to nearby tissue or lymph nodes (locally advanced). Gabapentin is a medication that is commonly used to treat nerve related pain. Specifically, it has been used to treat pain involving the mouth, throat and nasal passages in head and neck cancer patients treated with radiation. Ketamine is a type of general anesthetic that blocks pathways to the brain involved with sensing pain. This trial may help doctors determine how patients tolerate the combination of gabapentin and ketamine and to find the correct dosing for ketamine in those taking gabapentin. This will be the basis for a future, larger study to look at how effective this combination is at reducing and/or preventing pain in head and neck cancer patients.
Head/Neck,
Phase I
I/II
Lockney, Natalie
NCT05156060
VICCHNP2173
111In-Panitumumab for Nodal Staging in Patients with Head and Neck Cancer
Multiple Cancer Types
This phase I trial tests the safety and effectiveness of indium In 111 panitumumab (111In-panitumumab) for identifying the first lymph nodes to which cancer has spread from the primary tumor (sentinel lymph nodes) in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) undergoing surgery. The most important factor for survival for many cancer types is the presence of cancer that has spread to the lymph nodes (metastasis). Lymph node metastases in patients with head and neck cancer reduce the 5-year survival by half. Sometimes, the disease is too small to be found on clinical and imaging exams before surgery. 111In-panitumumab is in a class of medications called radioimmunoconjugates. It is composed of a radioactive substance (indium In 111) linked to a monoclonal antibody (panitumumab). Panitumumab binds to EGFR receptors, a receptor that is over-expressed on the surface of many tumor cells and plays a role in tumor cell growth. Once 111In-panitumumab binds to tumor cells, it is able to be seen using an imaging technique called single photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT). SPECT/CT can be used to make detailed pictures of the inside of the body and to visualize areas where the radioactive drug has been taken up by the cells. Using 111In-panitumumab with SPECT/CT imaging may improve identification of sentinel lymph nodes in patients with head and neck squamous cell cancer undergoing surgery.
Head/Neck,
Phase I
I
Rosenthal, Eben
NCT05901545
VICC-EDHAN23201P
An Imaging Agent (89Zr Panitumumab) with PET/CT for Diagnosing Primary Lesions and/or Metastases in Patients with Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Head/Neck
Head/Neck
This phase I trial evaluates the usefulness of an imaging agent (zirconium Zr 89 panitumumab [89Zr panitumumab]) with positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) for diagnosing primary tumors and/or the spread of disease from where it first started (primary site) to other places in the body (metastasis) in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. 89Zr panitumumab is an investigational imaging agent that contains a small amount of radiation, which makes it visible on PET scans. PET is an established imaging technique that utilizes small amounts of radioactivity attached to very minimal amounts of tracer, in the case of this research, 89Zr panitumumab, to allow imaging of the function of different cells and organs in the body. CT utilizes x-rays that traverse the body from the outside. CT images provide an exact outline of organs and potential disease tissue where it occurs in patients body. The combined PET/CT scanner is a special type of scanner that allows imaging of both structure (CT) and function (PET) following the injection of 89Zr panitumumab. This 89Zr panitumumab PET/CT may be useful in diagnosis of primary tumors and/or metastasis in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
Head/Neck
I
Topf, Michael
NCT05747625
VICCHN2279
Virtual Patient-Specific 3D Specimen Maps for Adjuvant Head & Neck Radiotherapy Planning
Head/Neck
Head/Neck
This study measures the impact of patient-specific 3D specimen maps on adjuvant radiation treatment volumes and doses to critical organs.
Head/Neck
N/A
Topf, Michael
NCT05743569
VICCHN22102
Intraoperative Identification and Stimulation of the Glossopharyngeal Nerve
Head/Neck
Head/Neck
This clinical trial evaluates different nerve patterns to the throat muscles (stylopharyngeus and pharyngeal constrictor) and what they look like in different patients by measuring and photographing them in the neck during surgery when the nerves are dissected (separated into pieces) as part of regular surgical care. Researchers think that some of the muscles in the neck might be useful for treating a condition called obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This happens when muscles of the throat relax at night and the airway becomes blocked. Blockage of airflow leads to drops in oxygen levels and can disturb sleep by forcing a persons brain to wake to restore airway muscles so they can breathe. This trial may help researchers provide a new way to treat OSA that may be better than the current standard ones.
Head/Neck
N/A
Ceremsak, John
NCT05754216
VICC-EDHAN23196
A Study to Evaluate the Safety and Tolerability of TOS-358 in Adults With Select Solid Tumors
Multiple Cancer Types
The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the safety of TOS-358 in adults with select
solid tumors who meet study enrollment criteria. The main questions it aims to answer are:
1. what is the maximum tolerated dose and recommended dose for phase 2?
2. how safe and tolerable is TOS-358 at different dose levels when taken orally once or
twice per day?
solid tumors who meet study enrollment criteria. The main questions it aims to answer are:
1. what is the maximum tolerated dose and recommended dose for phase 2?
2. how safe and tolerable is TOS-358 at different dose levels when taken orally once or
twice per day?
Breast,
Cervical,
Gastrointestinal,
Gynecologic,
Head/Neck,
Lung,
Phase I,
Urologic
I
Berlin, Jordan
NCT05683418
VICC-DTPHI23103
A Study Evaluating an Advanced Pneumatic Compression Device Versus Usual Care for Treatment of Head and Neck Lymphedema
Head/Neck
Head/Neck
To compare the effectiveness of an APCD to Usual Care in the management of lymphedema and
fibrosis (LEF) in head and neck cancer (HNC) survivors.
fibrosis (LEF) in head and neck cancer (HNC) survivors.
Head/Neck
N/A
Murphy, Barbara
NCT04797390
VICCHN2111
Biomarker-Driven Radiation Therapy Dose Reduction after Transoral Robotic Surgery for the Treatment of HPV-Positive Oropharyngeal Cancer
Head/Neck
Head/Neck
This phase II trial tests whether reduced dose radiation therapy after transoral robotic surgery works in treating patients with human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive oropharyngeal cancer. HPV positive oropharyngeal cancer has a better prognosis than oropharyngeal cancer not caused by HPV. A standard of care treatment for HPV positive oropharyngeal cancer is transoral robotic surgery followed by radiation therapy. However, this treatment is associated with many long-term side effects including difficulty swallowing. Radiation therapy uses high energy rays to kill tumor cells and shrink tumors. Giving reduced dose radiation therapy after transoral robotic surgery may improve swallowing outcomes and quality of life compared to standard of care dose radiation therapy after transoral robotic surgery.
Head/Neck
II
Topf, Michael
NCT05387915
VICC-ITHAN23125
Descriptive Study of Pain Syndrome in Survivors of Head and Neck Cancer
Head/Neck
Head/Neck
Head/Neck
N/A
Kohutek, Zachary
VICC-VDHAN23178