Collection of cancer tissue after death for research
Inpatient Hospice With Procurement of Tissue on Expiration in Thoracic Malignancies, Bladder Cancer, Ovarian Cancer, Epithelial Cancer and Patients Treated With an Adoptive Cellular Therapy
This study is trying to collect cancer tissue from patients with advanced lung, ovarian, bladder, or chest cavity cancers after they pass away to learn more about how these cancers grow and resist treatment.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 275 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 120 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC) NIH |
| Drugs / interventions | chemotherapy, immunotherapy |
| Locations | 1 site (Bethesda, Maryland) |
| Trial ID | NCT01851395 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This study aims to collect cancer tissue samples from patients with advanced lung, chest cavity, ovarian, or bladder cancers, as well as those treated with adoptive cell therapy, shortly after death. The goal is to better understand tumor heterogeneity, clonal evolution, and treatment resistance in these malignancies. Patients will receive hospice care and must consent to autopsy and tissue donation. The collected samples will be analyzed to provide insights into cancer progression and treatment outcomes.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates include adults with incurable lung, chest cavity, ovarian, or bladder cancers, or those who have undergone adoptive cell therapy.
Not a fit: Patients with early-stage cancers or those who are not terminally ill may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved understanding of cancer biology and better treatment strategies for patients with advanced malignancies.
How similar studies have performed: While studies on tumor heterogeneity and tissue collection post-mortem are ongoing, this specific approach to rapid autopsy for advanced cancers is relatively novel.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
* INCLUSION CRITERIA: * Patients must have histologically or cytologically confirmed metastatic NSCLC, SCLC, EPCC, pNET, thymic epithelial tumor (thymoma, thymic carcinoma) or mesothelioma confirmed by the NCI Laboratory of Pathology. Patients with bladder cancer (including urothelial carcinoma and other rare bladder or kidney histology), ovarian cancer, epithelial cancers (breast, colorectal, pancreatic, stomach and biliary cancers) and malignancies previously treated with an ACT are also eligible. * Age \>= 18 years. * Incurable disease or terminal diagnosis. * Patients or legally authorized representative (LAR) must sign an informed consent indicating that they are aware of the investigational nature of this study. * Patients must provide valid written designation of an assigned Durable Power of Attorney (DPA). If one is not available, an LAR must be assigned. * Patients and their legal next of kin must agree to a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order and agree to Consent for Autopsy as part of the end-of-life care plan. EXCLUSION CRITERIA: * Women known to be pregnant (known positive pregnancy test, although such testing is not required for enrollment) are excluded. * Known HIV-positive patients will be excluded (although HIV testing is not required for enrollment) because of the potential for contamination of tissue.
Where this trial is running
Bethesda, Maryland
- National Institutes of Health Clinical Center — Bethesda, Maryland, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Anish Thomas, M.D. — National Cancer Institute (NCI)
- Study coordinator: Linda C Sciuto, R.N.
- Email: linda.sciuto@nih.gov
- Phone: (240) 760-6117
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.