TLI and UTHSCSA will be participating in projects 2 and 4 ,To examine cirrhotic patients and their risk factors for developing liver cancer . Researchers hope to improve ability to prevent liver cancer , and to better identify patients at higher risk for developing liver cancer at an early stage. C. Early detection of HCC in patients with cirrhosis remains suboptimal. The efficacy of HCC surveillance for the early detection of HCC is a subject of intense debate due to the lack of sensitive and specific biomarkers that are well validated in prospective studies. Further, implementation of surveillance in practice is very low. The MIRA aims to develop novel, urgently needed, and highly effective surveillance biomarkers of patients with cirrhosis, and improve the utilization of currently available surveillance strategies. Project 2: Metabolic Syndrome and Risk Prediction of Hepatocellular Carcinoma (PI: H El-Serag). This project will develop risk stratification algorithms based on demographic, clinical, molecular and epidemiological risk profiles to identify cirrhotic patients who might benefit from chemoprevention or intensive surveillance. Our proposed multicenter prospective cohort study of >4000 patients with cirrhosis and up to 4 year follow up (a conservative estimate of 300 new HCC cases) will be the largest cohort study of cirrhotic patients assembled in Texas (and U.S). We will evaluate phenotypic (including molecular endophenotypes) and genotypic aspects of MetS as well as established risk factors.Project 4: Novel Biomarkers for Hepatocellular Carcinoma (PI: L Beretta). This project will identify and validate novel biomarkers for risk stratification and early HCC detection. Although several biomarkers have supporting pre-clinical (phase 1) and case-control (phase 2) data, few have been evaluated in retrospective cohort (phase 3) or prospective cohort (phase 4) studies. The prospective Texas multicenter cohort study of cirrhosis patients (i.e. Phase 3) in which 300 HCC cases will be compared to 600 controls nested in this cohort. We will validate several promising existing markers as well as aim to discover novel biomarkers for HCC detection.

The PI is studying if sorafenib/hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) will have improved efficacy when compared to sorafenib alone and in patients progressing of sorafenib the addition of HCQ would lead to disease stability in patients with advanced hepatocellular cancer (HCC).

In a small study at Johns Hopkins, women were treated with partial breast irradiation and chemotherapy given at the same time. We are now testing in a bigger study whether giving partial breast irradiation and chemotherapy at the same time (our new method) has the same side effects and outcomes as giving partial breast irradiation and chemotherapy at different times(older method). In this study women who had their breast cancer removed but need radiation to the breast will be randomized to partial breast irradiation at the same time as chemotherapy or partial breast radiation at a different time than chemotherapy. Randomization is like flipping a coin but in this study about 2 of every 3 women will get the new method.

We propose to test whether H1 and H2 clustering can distinguish patients responsive or resistant to the combination therapy with immunotherapy in a prospective clinical study.

We will assess physical functioning, daily physical activity with wearable activity monitors, biological markers (serum and salivary cortisol), diet, program adherence, as well as psycho-social measures of physical, mental, and spiritual wellbeing. In addition, BCS will be asked to describe their best day possible and their typical day. We will conduct a qualitative analysis from their responses to identify endorsement of themes.

This will be a long-term multi-center study to comprehensively study patients with primary liver cancer (PLC).

To compare the progression-free survival (PFS) of mezigdomide (CC-92480, also known as BMS-986348), bortezomib and dexamethasone (MeziVd) to that of pomalidomide, bortezomib and dexamethasone (PVd) in subjects with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM)

This is a prospective, observational study designed to evaluate the clinical validity of Myriad Genetics’ MRD test in patients diagnosed with breast cancer. It is expected that enrollment will be split between the different breast cancer subtypes defined by immunohistochemistry (HR+/HER2-, HER2+ (HR+ and HR-), TNBC) and according to BINV-A of National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines with ER+ status used here as >10% of nuclei staining.

A Study of imlunestrant vs physician’s choice endocrine therapy as adjuvant treatment after 2 to 5 years of standard adjuvant endocrine therapy for patients with ER+, HER2- early breast cancer with an increased risk of recurrence