A random one from me (since one thing I commonly use them for is search, e.g. "Find the lowest price on a belimo lr230a rotary actuator" or whatnot). Not knowing what type of cancer you have, I asked a model to come up with a random type of terminal cancer and a random place in the US. It gave: Stage IV Metastatic Cholangiocarcinoma (Bile Duct Cancer) with Peritoneal Carcinomatosis, and Boise, Idaho. So:
Prompt: "I have metastatic cholangiocarcinoma with peritoneal carcinomatosis. I live in Boise, Idaho. Conduct a search for clinical trials, whether for the cancer treatment or for pain management to help better deal with it. I am willing to travel."
Treatment-Focused Clinical Trials
The landscape of cholangiocarcinoma treatment is evolving, with many clinical trials focused on targeted therapies, immunotherapies, and novel chemotherapy combinations.
Targeted Therapies: A significant area of research involves therapies that target specific genetic mutations found in some cholangiocarcinomas.[1][2] Molecular profiling of your tumor is often required to determine if you are a candidate for these trials.[1] Key targets include:
FGFR2 Fusions or Rearrangements: Several trials are evaluating drugs that target the fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2).[2][3][4] Drugs like pemigatinib, infigratinib, and futibatinib have shown promise and are being studied in various trial phases.[2]
IDH1 and IDH2 Mutations: Mutations in the isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 and 2 genes are another focus of targeted therapy research.[2]
BRAF V600E Mutations: Trials are investigating the effectiveness of BRAF inhibitors, sometimes in combination with other drugs.[2]
HER2 Amplification: Some studies are exploring therapies for cholangiocarcinomas that overexpress the HER2 protein.[5]
Immunotherapy: Immunotherapy, which harnesses the body's immune system to fight cancer, is another active area of investigation.[6] Trials are exploring the use of checkpoint inhibitors, sometimes in combination with chemotherapy or other targeted agents.[7][8]
Chemotherapy: Researchers are continuously working to improve chemotherapy regimens.[6] Clinical trials may involve new chemotherapy drugs, novel combinations of existing drugs, or different methods of delivery.[6] One specific trial for patients with peritoneal metastases from biliary tract cancer is investigating the use of pressurized intraperitoneal aerosolized nab-paclitaxel in combination with standard chemotherapy (gemcitabine and cisplatin).[9]
Actively Recruiting Trials: For the most current information on actively recruiting clinical trials, you and your doctor can search the official registry at ClinicalTrials.gov. The Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation also provides a curated list of trials on its website.[10] Some ongoing trials for advanced cholangiocarcinoma include studies on:
Durvalumab and tremelimumab with chemotherapy.[7]
Pembrolizumab and olaparib.[7]
Various FGFR inhibitors.[7][11]
Combination therapies for specific genetic mutations.[7][12]
Pain Management Clinical Trials
Peritoneal carcinomatosis can often lead to significant pain. While many of the treatment-focused trials aim to alleviate pain by controlling the cancer, some studies specifically address pain management.
One notable approach being investigated is the use of virtual reality (VR) for gastrointestinal cancer pain. A trial at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is exploring how VR can help improve patient-reported outcomes for severe abdominal pain.[8]
Leading Cancer Centers
Your willingness to travel opens up the possibility of seeking treatment at nationally recognized cancer centers with expertise in cholangiocarcinoma and peritoneal carcinomatosis. These centers often have a wide range of clinical trials available.[10] Some of the top institutions include:
Mayo Clinic: With locations in Rochester, Minnesota; Jacksonville, Florida; and Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona, the Mayo Clinic is a major referral center for cholangiocarcinoma and has pioneered liver transplantation for this disease.[12][13]
Moffitt Cancer Center: Located in Tampa, Florida, Moffitt has a robust clinical trials program for cholangiocarcinoma, focusing on new therapies like anti-angiogenesis, EGFR inhibitors, and immunotherapy.[6][14]
Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University: Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Winship is a top-performing research institute for cholangiocarcinoma with a high volume of clinical trials.[15]
City of Hope: With locations in California, Arizona, Georgia, and Illinois, City of Hope has a specialized program for bile duct cancer and an extensive clinical trials program.[16]
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK): Located in New York City, MSK has a multidisciplinary team with extensive experience in treating bile duct cancer.[17]
University of California Health System: The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and University of California, San Diego (UCSD) have active clinical trial programs for cholangiocarcinoma.[3][4]
To find and inquire about specific trials, you can use the clinical trial identifiers (NCT numbers) found in the search results and on ClinicalTrials.gov to get more detailed information, including locations and contact information.[7][11] It is recommended to work closely with your healthcare provider to navigate these options and find the best fit for your circumstances.
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I can't be bothered to transcribe all those links, since that's presumably not your cancer, but here's a random one, here's another random one (search for "Identifier"), here's another random one, etc.
(BTW, when I tasked it to sum up example prompts of things that might be of benefit to you using a couple pages of copy-pasted Slashdot history, I had no idea about your situation. Sorry to hear that, man, that sucks :( )