Chemoradiotherapy for Cervical and Pancreatic Cancer

(METEOR-CRATR Trial)

Recruiting at 1 trial location

Overseen By Cliff Robinson, M.D.

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Washington University School of Medicine

Disqualifiers: Others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: Varies based on individual treatment plans

60 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

The trial aims to gather detailed information on how chemoradiotherapy affects tumors and surrounding tissue in patients with locally advanced cervical or pancreatic cancer. Researchers will collect samples such as blood and tumor tissue and perform special MRI scans throughout the treatment process. This study may suit individuals diagnosed with cervical or pancreatic cancer who are scheduled to receive radiotherapy. As an unphased trial, it offers a unique opportunity to contribute to scientific understanding and potentially improve future treatment options.

Do I have to stop taking my current medications for the trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It's best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your doctor.

Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's treatments are likely to be safe?

Previous studies have used a special type of MRI called diffusion basis spectrum imaging (DBSI) to understand how treatments affect patients with cervical and pancreatic cancer. DBSI provides detailed pictures of tissues, helping doctors see changes in the treated area.

Research has shown that DBSI is non-invasive, involving no harmful procedures. Patients have tolerated it well, with no reports of major side effects. This makes DBSI a safe option to use alongside other cancer treatments to monitor the body's response.

In this trial, DBSI MRI collects data, not as a treatment. Therefore, there is no extra risk from the DBSI MRI beyond what is usually expected from standard imaging procedures. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about this trial because it uses advanced imaging techniques, like diffusion basis spectrum imaging (DBSI) MRI, to assess the effects of radiotherapy on the tumor microenvironment in cervical and pancreatic cancer patients. Unlike standard imaging methods, DBSI MRI provides a more detailed look at the tumor's biological changes, potentially offering insights into how tumors respond to treatment over time. This could lead to more personalized treatment plans and improve our understanding of how different cancers react to radiotherapy.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for cervical and pancreatic cancer?

This trial will explore the use of diffusion basis spectrum imaging (DBSI) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for both cervical and pancreatic cancer. Research has shown that DBSI might enhance understanding of cervical cancer by revealing tumor changes. In cervical spondylotic myelopathy, DBSI has provided clearer views of tissue changes, suggesting it could also improve tumor visualization. In pancreatic cancer, diffusion-weighted imaging, a similar MRI technique, has better detected cancer and assessed its spread. These imaging methods can differentiate types of pancreatic growths and provide detailed views of tumor features. Although direct data on using DBSI for cervical and pancreatic cancer is limited, positive results in related areas suggest its potential usefulness for diagnosing and monitoring cancer. ^{1 2 6 7 8}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Cliff Robinson, M.D.

Principal Investigator

Washington University School of Medicine

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

Inclusion Criteria

My cervical cancer is in an advanced stage.

My pancreatic cancer is advanced or has spread to other parts.

I can take care of myself but might not be able to do heavy physical work.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive definitive-intent chemoradiotherapy with biospecimen collection and imaging

Varies based on individual treatment plans

Multiple visits for treatment and biospecimen collection

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in tumor microenvironment and safety

5 years

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Blood collection
• Diffusion basis spectrum imaging (DBSI) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• Tumor collection via biopsy

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Pancreatic Cancer Experimental Treatment 3 Interventions

* Patients will have blood and tumor collected at various time points throughout participation in the study. * Patients will have standard of care imaging obtained at various time points and a diffusion basis spectrum imaging (DBSI) MRI will be obtained at the end of standard of care MRI.

Group II: Cervical Cancer Experimental Treatment 3 Interventions

* Patients will have blood and tumor collected at various time points throughout participation in the study. * Patients will have standard of care imaging obtained at various time points and a diffusion basis spectrum imaging (DBSI) MRI will be obtained at the end of standard of care MRI.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Washington University School of Medicine

Lead Sponsor

Trials

2,027

Recruited

2,353,000+

The Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital

Collaborator

Trials

43

Recruited

6,600+

National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Collaborator

Trials

14,080

Recruited

41,180,000+

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10158908/

Diffusion Basis Spectrum Imaging Provides Insights Into ... Diffusion basis spectrum imaging (DBSI) is a noninvasive quantitative imaging modality that may improve understanding of cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) ...

2. thejns.org thejns.org/spine/view/journals/j-neurosurg-spine/37/4/article-p588.xml

Analysis of combined clinical and diffusion basis spectrum ... The authors used diffusion basis spectrum imaging (DBSI) to delineate white matter injury more accurately in the setting of spinal cord compression.

3. academic.oup.com academic.oup.com/noa/article/5/1/vdad050/7131380

Diffusion basis spectrum imaging as an adjunct to ... Diffusion basis spectrum imaging as an adjunct to conventional MRI leads to earlier diagnosis of high-grade glioma tumor progression versus ...

4. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1529943022010427

Diffusion basis spectrum imaging predicts long-term ... This study examines the ability of preoperative DBSI metrics to predict clinically important CSM outcome measures at 2-years follow-up.

5. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10629376/

Diffusion basis spectrum imaging predicts long-term ... Diffusion basis spectrum imaging predicts long-term clinical outcomes following surgery in cervical spondylotic myelopathy. Justin K Zhang ...

6. cancer.gov cancer.gov/research/participate/clinical-trials-search/v?id=NCI-2024-07196

Diffusion Basis Spectrum Imaging for Assessing ... DBSI may help to identify changes in the treatment area and how treatment affects patients with cervical or pancreatic cancer. Eligibility Criteria ...

7. ajronline.org ajronline.org/doi/10.2214/AJR.12.9713

Pearls and Pitfalls in MRI of Gynecologic Malignancy With ... The aim of this review is to describe the role of MRI of the female pelvis. Both the pearls and the pitfalls of DWI are summarized in a case-based review.

8. neurology.org neurology.org/doi/10.1212/NXI.0000000000000655

Diffusion basis spectrum imaging provides insights into MS ... We developed diffusion basis spectrum imaging (DBSI) to accurately detect and distinguish components of white matter (WM) pathologies in MS.