Clinical Research
This is a listing of Loyola University Health System clinical research that is open and actively recruiting patients. Please click on the name of the research for a brief description, eligibility requirements and contact information. All research listed below have been approved by Loyola's Institutional Review Board chairman for promotion on our Web site.
A Measure of Endothelial Function in Depressed PatientsThe purpose of this study is to determine whether depressed individuals show signs of dysfuntion in the cells that line blood vessels.
Leukemia Relapse TrialThe goals of this study are: 1) To find out the effectiveness and side effects of the high dose combination chemotherapy treatment for all subjects on this study
2) To find out the effectiveness and side effects of higher dose vincristine compared to standard dose vincristine
Aortic valve
Aortic Valve Surgery in Marfan PatientsThe purpose of the trial is to collect information on how patients do after having surgery on their aortic valve and compare the results of those who had their valve replaced to those who had the valve repaired.
Brain tumor
A Phase III trial comparing the standard dose of temozolomide with a more increased, longer lasting dose of temozlomide in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastomaThe purpose of this study is to determine whether increasing the duration of temozolomide treatment after radiation from five days out of 28 days (standard-dose schedule) to 21 days out of 28 days (dose-dense schedule) will further improve results.
Breast cancer
A randomized phase III study of whole breast radiation versus partial breast radiation for women with breast cancerThe purpose of this study is to see if partial breast irradiation is as good as or better than whole breast irradiation in keeping cancer from coming back in the breast.
SOFT TrialThe purpose of this study is to see if shutting down a woman's ovaries plus giving tamoxifen is better at preventing the return of breast cancer than just giving tamoxifen alone in premenopausal women. It also will test whether a newer hormone drug called exemestane plus suppression of the ovaries is better than tamoxifen plus suppression of the ovaries. The side effects of these different treatments will be studied.
Anastrozole with or without fulvestrant as first-line therapy in treating postmenopausal women with metastatic breast cancerThe purpose of this study is to determine how effective combining anastronzole with fulvestrant is compared to anastrozole alone in treating postmenopausal women with metastatic breast cancer.
Administration of hormone therapy to suppress ovary function during chemotherapy after surgical removal of breast cancer.The research is being done to determine if supressing ovary function during chemotherapy can reduce the incidence of premature menopause, which is often caused during adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer.
Breast Radiation Using Mammosite Brachytherapy (after breast conserving surgery)The purpose is to test whether radiation to part of the breast using brachytherapy after the removal of cancer gives similar results to those obtained when the whole breast receives radiation therapy. The study seeks to assess safety of the mammosite device in this setting, including the quality of life.
Cancer, Cervical or Endometrial
A phase II study of radiation therapy to the pelvis with or without chemotherapy for patients diagnosed with endometrial or cervical cancerThe purpose of the study is to test whether the use of an advanced radiation therapy delivery technique called intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) can spare normal tissue, including small bowel and large bowel, from radiation. The research is being done to try to reduce radiation side effects (especially diarrhea) that occur with the standard radiation methods.
Continent urethra function
Function of the Urethra in Continent WomenStress incontinence is a common subtype of urinary incontinence, which affects millions of American women. In fact, one out of nine American women will undergo surgical treatment for this condition with up to 30 percent of those women requiring a second surgery. Women develop stress incontinence because the nerves that control the muscle (urethral sphincter) that keeps urine in the bladder are injured. The muscle is no longer able to work, and the women lose control of their urine. Studies have shown that women with stress incontinence have poor nerve and muscle function in the urethral sphincter; however, we do not know how the nerve and muscle work in women who do not leak urine. In order to understand why some women leak we need a better understanding of what is ?normal?.
Head and neck cancer
A study to treat surgically removed cancer of the head and neck using a chemotherapy drug in combination with radiation therapyThe purpose of the study is to find the best dose of the chemotherapy agent Docetaxel when given with radiation therapy after surgical removal of all visible head and neck cancer and to see how effective the treatment is on overall patient survival rates.
Melanoma
Vaccine Trial for Melanoma Patients Whose Disease Has Metastasized (Stage IV).The main purpose of the study is to determine the safety of the trial's experimental procedure and the maximum dose of the vaccine that a human can tolerate. A secondary purpose is to see if the experimental procedure causes the melanoma cancer to shrink.
Menopause
Hot Flash StudyEstradiol is a combination drug approved for the treatment of hot flashes and vaginal symptoms in postmenopausal women. This study drug contains two kinds of hormones, estrogen and progestin.
In this study, two different dose combinations of estrogen and progestin will be compared to a low-dose estrogen-only supplement and a placebo. The purpose of this research study is to determine the lowest effective doses of the hormones that are in the drug to treat symptoms of hot flashes in menopausal women.
Psoriasis
Etanercept Psoriasis RegistryThe purpose of this study is to continue to gather and evaluate information on the long-term safety of etanercept in a large number of patients with plaque psoriasis.
Stroke
ALIAS - Albumin in acute strokeMany stroke studies have been performed looking for an effective treatment for patients who have suffered an acute ischemic stroke. Thus far, all have failed. This study seeks to determine the effectiveness of albumin versus placebo given intravaenously for stroke patients.
Neck artery blockageCarotid artery occlusion can be a dangerous factor for TIA and stroke. The study will look at the outcome after brain artery/vein bypass surgery versus best medical therapy.