Research

Active Clinical Trials-Open to Enrollment

Comprehensive Outcomes for After Cancer Health (COACH) [Sponsor: Pack Health, A Quest Diagnostics Company]

COACH is a study currently being conducted across the country to learn more about the health and well-being of individuals who have completed their primary cancer therapy. This study also evaluates if and how a digital coaching intervention may help support individuals and improve their outcomes.

The study consists of 2 groups:

6 months of coaching followed by 6 months of monitoring
6 months of monitoring followed by 6 months of coaching

Participants will be asked to:

Answer surveys up to once per month
Wear a Fitbit® for 12 months, even if you have another device
Collect a stool sample at enrollment and at 6 months

A description of this clinical trial, including eligibility criteria, is available on http://www.ClinicalTrials.gov, as required by U.S. Law. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05349227

Lead Physician: Anneliese Gonzalez, MD
Contact: Kaukab Jafry at 832-325-6537 or [email protected]

Psycho-Spiritual Support for Patients with Advanced Cancer and their Family Caregivers (Protocol 2023-0450)

The goal of this behavioral research study is to learn about the effects of two different supportive care programs on patients’ and their family caregivers’ psychological wellbeing and overall quality of life.

Participants will be asked to answer a set of questionnaires 4 times. Participants will be randomized to 1 of 3 following study groups. All sessions will be online by video conference using Zoom.

Group 1: participants will take part in the family-focused meditation program
Group 2: participants will take part in the family-focused cancer-related discussion program
Group 3: participants will not take part in the family-focused meditation or cancer-related discussion program but will complete the same questionnaires as Group 1 and 2

Eligibility Criteria: Patients must be diagnosed with metastatic (stage IV) breast, thoracic, gastrointestinal, gynecological, or genitourinary cancer; without disease progression for at least 3 months based on CT imaging surveillance; have an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of ≤ 2; and have a family caregiver willing to consent to participate in this study. Patients and caregivers must be age 18 years and older; able to read and speak English or Spanish and provide consent; and have a NCCN Distress Thermometer score of ≥4.

Lead Physician: Julie Rowe, MD
Contact: Ayodeji (Ayo) Adeniji at 713-500-5570 or [email protected]

A Phase 1/1b, First-in-Human, Open Label, Dose Escalation and Cohort Expansion Study of MGC026 in Participants with Advanced Solid Tumors (Protocol CP-MGC026-01)

The purpose of this study is to learn about the safety of the test drug MGC026, find the best dosage of the test drug, and to learn if, or how well, the test drug works in participants with locally advanced or metastatic solid tumors whose cancer has progressed during or after standard treatments. The study has a dose escalation and a cohort expansion portion. Participants will receive MGC026 by intravenous (IV) infusion. The dose of MGC026 will be assigned at the time of enrollment. Participants may receive up to 35 treatments if there are no severe side effects and as long as the cancer does not get worse.

Key Eligibility Criteria: You may be able to join this trial if you are 18 years of age or older, have adequate performance status, adequate organ function, and no underlying medical or psychiatric condition impairing your ability to receive, tolerate, or comply with planned study treatment dosing or study procedures.

A description of this clinical trial including eligibility criteria is available at http://www.ClinicalTrials.gov. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT06242470

Lead Physician: Julie Rowe, MD
Contact: Kaukab Jafry at 832-325-6537 or [email protected]

Translational Trials-Open to Enrollment

Development of a Patient-Derived Xenograft Mouse Model of Solid Tumors

The purpose of this research study is to create patient-derived xenograft (PDX) mouse models and patient- derived organoids (PDO). PDX/PDO tumor models are created using a small portion of a patient’s left- over tumor tissue. In this study, researchers want to look at and compare the genetic changes of the tumor models with drug response and/or resistance.

Eligibility Criteria: Patients must be age 18 years and older, with solid tumors, undergoing cancer treatment at UTHealth/Memorial Hermann Hospital-Texas Medical Center, and able to provide a solid tumor sample (from a standard of care biopsy/surgery).

Lead Physician: Julie Rowe, MD
Contact: Betty Arceneaux at 713-704-3186 or [email protected]