Thoracic Surgery

Below are current clinical trials.

Filter this list of studies by location, status and more.

1. A Study of Performing Surgery for Resectable Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma After Radiation Therapy

   Rochester, Minn.

   The purpose of this study is to assess the possibility, safety, and therapeutic effect of administering a short, quick course of high-dose radiation treatment focused on half of the chest, followed by surgery to remove that portion of the lungs, in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma.  

2. A Study to Collect Thoracic Specimens to Develop a Thoracic Specimen Registry

   Rochester, Minn.

   The primary objective of this proposal is to develop a Thoracic Specimen Registry at Mayo Clinic. The purpose of the registry will be to support ongoing research in the etiology, early diagnosis, clinical management, and prognosis of lung cancer and other cancers and diseases of the thorax by developing a complete repository of specimens from patients with thoracic disease including but not limited to suspected lung cancer, mediastinal and pleural tumors and from patients at a very high risk of developing other thoracic cancers or other thoracic diseases. 

3. Effect of TTFields (150 kHz) in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) Patients With 1-10 Brain Metastases Following Radiosurgery (METIS)

   Scottsdale/Phoenix, Ariz., Jacksonville, Fla.

   The study is a prospective, randomized controlled phase III trial, to test the efficacy, safety and neurocognitive outcomes of advanced NSCLC patients, following stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for 1-10 brain metastases, treated with NovoTTF-100M compared to supportive treatment alone. The device is an experimental, portable, battery operated device for chronic administration of alternating electric fields (termed TTFields or TTF) to the region of the malignant tumor, by means of surface, insulated electrode arrays.

4. A Study to Form a Single Usable Questionnaire Specifically for Foregut Surgery at Mayo Clinic

   Rochester, Minn.

   The Mayo Clinic Foregut Surgery Report Card Questionnaire has been created in order to have a consistent evaluation tool for patients undergoing foregut surgery in order to standardize and validate outcome measures.

5. A Study to Assess DNA Tumor Markers in Whole Blood Specimens of Patients with Newly Diagnosed Lung Cancer

   Rochester, Minn.

   The purpose of this study is to assess Methylated DNA tumor markers distributed in blood samples of patients newly diagnosed with different types of lung cancer. The goal is to develop new blood screening tests that can identify the type and primary site of cancer.

6. Immune Responses in Prostate, Lung, Melanoma and Breast Cancer Patients Following Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT), Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT) or Brachytherapy

   Rochester, Minn.

   Success of cancer immunotherapy is limited by the ability of solid tumors to evade local and systemic antitumoral immune responses. Several mechanisms of tumor immune evasion have been identified, including low intratumor expression of antigens and elevated expression of inhibitory co-regulatory molecules. An effective immunotherapy is one which would induce necrotic cell death and accompanying proinflammatory cytokine induction. Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT) or Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT) or brachytherapy, which is capable of delivering high, confromal radiation doses (>8 Gy) of tumor ablative radiation may be an effective means of conditioning a tumor bed to a state favorable to the initiation of robust antitumoral immune responses.

7. Genetic Testing in Screening Patients with Stage IB-IIIA Non-small Cell Lung Cancer That Has Been or Will Be Removed by Surgery (The ALCHEMIST Screening Trial)

   Scottsdale/Phoenix, Ariz., Rochester, Minn.

   This research trial studies genetic testing in screening patients with stage IB-IIIA non-small cell lung cancer that has been or will be removed by surgery. Studying the genes in a patient's tumor cells may help doctors select the best treatment for patients that have certain genetic changes.

8. A Study of the Making and Storage of a Bank of Special Stem Cells for Use in Future Research and the Growth of New Cells

   Rochester, Minn., Scottsdale/Phoenix, Ariz., Jacksonville, Fla.

   The purpose of this study is the growing and storage of stem cells, made using the tissue samples of patients and others. As new technologies develop, these cells may be able to be grown into new cells to replace those damaged by disease or injury.

9. Patient Outcomes and Quality of Life following Total Gastrectomy

   Rochester, Minn.

   The purpose of this study is to determine the long-term functional outcomes of patients undergoing total gastrectomy.

10. A Study to Evaluate Thymoma Recurrence

    Rochester, Minn.

    The purpose of this study is to evaluate thymoma recurrence rates in patients who underwent thymectomy.