6 Clinical Trials for Various Conditions
Background: RASopathies are a group of conditions caused by a genetic change. People with a RASopathy may have developmental issues, cognitive disability, poor growth, and birth defects. They may also have an increased risk for developing cancer. Researchers want to learn more. Objective: To learn more about RASopathies, how genes and environmental factors contribute to cancer development in people with RASopathies, and the best way to find these cancers and other conditions early or prevent them. Eligibility: People of any age who have or may have a RASopathy, and their family members. Design: Participants will complete questionnaires about their personal and family medical history. Their medical records will be reviewed. Participants will give blood and urine samples. They will give a saliva or cheek cell sample. Some samples will be used for genetic testing. Participants may have a skin biopsy. Participants may have a physical exam by the RASopathies study team. They may also have exams by additional specialists, such as dentists; urologists; ear, nose, and throat doctors; and neurologists. Participants may have computed tomography of the face and mouth. They may have an ultrasound of the abdomen. They may have a bone density scan. They may have skeletal and/or spine x-rays. They may have magnetic resonance imaging of the brain, low back, chest, and/or heart. They may be photographed. Participants may have other tests, such as sleep, brain and heart electrical activity, speech and swallow, metabolism, hearing, eye, and colon function tests. Participants may sign separate consent forms for some tests. Participation will last indefinitely. Participants may be contacted once in a while by phone or mail. They may have follow-up visits.
Background: RASopathies are a group of genetic diseases that affect a child s development. They cause physical, cognitive, and behavioral symptoms. Caring for a child with a RASopathy can be stressful. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a therapy that helps people become more aware and accepting of difficult thoughts and feelings. ACT has been found to be helpful for parents with high parenting stress. Objective: To find out if Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) can help caregivers of children with a RASopathy better cope with parenting stress. Eligibility: People aged 18 years or older who care for a child (younger than 18 years) with a RASopathy. The child must live with the caregiver at least 50% of the time. Design: The study is fully remote. Participants need a mobile device that can play audio and video and connect to the internet. They can borrow an iPod if needed. Participants will download a free app called MetricWire. They will use this app to watch videos and answer questions. The first 8 participants will be in a pilot study. They will receive the ACT intervention starting the first week after they begin the study. After the pilot study, we will start a new phase called the randomized trial. In this phase, participants will have a 50-50 chance of being in the group that will start the intervention right away or the group that will start the intervention after about 2 months. Participants will fill out surveys on 5 random days each week. These surveys have 7 questions and take about 2 minutes. They will also fill out 3 longer questionnaires: once before ACT begins, once just after the 8-week study period, and once about 3 months later. Questions will cover topics including: Parenting stress Life satisfaction Self-compassion Uncomfortable feelings and thoughts Mindfulness Participants will take part in an 8-week ACT intervention. They will have one 75-minute session with an ACT coach in the first week. Participants will watch 9- to 17-minute videos each week. The videos talk about how to practice ACT techniques to cope with parenting stress. Participants will have 20- to 30-minute coaching sessions in weeks 3 and 6. The coach will help them practice exercises and work through any problems.
The RASopathies are a group of developmental disorders caused by genetic changes in the genes that compose the Ras/mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. New RASopathies are being diagnosed frequently. This pathway is essential in the regulation of the cell cycle and the determination of cell function. Thus, appropriate function of this pathway is critical to normal development. Each syndrome in this group of disorders has unique phenotypic features, but there are many overlapping features including facial features, heart defects, cutaneous abnormalities, cognitive delays, and a predisposition to malignancies. This research study proposes to collect and store human bio-specimens from patients with suspected or diagnosed RASopathies. Once obtained, blood and/or tissue samples will be processed for: metabolic function studies, biomarkers, genetic studies, and/or the establishment of immortalized cell lines. In addition, data from the medical record (including neuropsychological evaluations) and surveys will be stored to create a longitudinal database for research conducted at CCHMC or at other research institutions.
Background: Clinical Genetics Branch (CGB) researchers study individuals and populations at high genetic risk of cancer in order to improve our understanding of cancer and to improve cancer care. There are currently 8 open clinical genetics studies at the CGB. * 001109: Defining the Natural History of Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Fanconi anemia (SCC Screening in FA). * 20C0107: Clinical, Genetic, and Epidemiologic Study of Children and Adults with RASopathies (RASopathies Study). * 02C0052: Etiologic Investigation of Cancer Susceptibility in Inherited Bone Marrow Failure Syndromes: A Natural History Study (Cancer in Bone Marrow Failure). * 11C0255: Clinical, Epidemiologic, and Genetic Studies of Li-Fraumeni Syndrome (Li Fraumeni Syndrome Study). * 11C0034: DICER1-Related Pleuropulmonary Blastoma Cancer Predisposition Syndrome: A Natural History Study (Pleuropulmonary Blastoma). * 02C0211: Clinical, Laboratory, and Epidemiologic Characterization of Individuals and Families at High Risk of Melanoma (Melanoma-Prone Families). * 78C0039: Clinical, Laboratory, and Epidemiologic Characterization of Individuals and Families at High Risk of Cancer (Cancer-prone families study). * 10CN188: Genetic Clues to Chordoma Etiology: A Protocol to Identify Sporadic Chordoma Patients for Studies of Cancer-susceptibility Genes (Sporadic Chordoma Study). Objective: To find people to participate in active CGB cancer research studies. Eligibility: People of any age who meet the eligibility criteria for one of the open CGB cancer research studies. This typically involves a personal or family history of certain cancers that are being studied by researchers at CGB. Design: Participants will fill out a screening questionnaire to determine if they are eligible to participate in one or more CGB clinical genetics studies. The survey asks about personal health history, including cancer; their family history; and genetic testing results and takes 15 to 20 minutes. Each study has its own eligibility criteria. Survey respondents will respond with study (or studies) that are interested in participating in, and the relevant study team(s) will review the screener to determine eligibility to participate in the study. Participants who are determine to be eligible for a study based on their screener will be contacted by the respective study team to learn more about the study and to consent to enroll in the study if they choose to do so. Participants who consent to enroll in a study will be asked to provide medical records and samples such as blood, saliva, or other tissues and to participate in activities such as phone interviews or surveys. They may be invited for evaluations at the clinical center. Every study activity is voluntary. None of the studies provide treatments. Participants may be contacted to consider enrolling in future studies.
NOTE: This is a research study and is not meant to be a substitute for clinical genetic testing. Families may never receive results from the study or may receive results many years from the time they enroll. If you are interested in clinical testing please consider seeing a local genetic counselor or other genetics professional. If you have already had clinical genetic testing and meet eligibility criteria for this study as shown in the Eligibility Section, you may enroll regardless of the results of your clinical genetic testing. While it is well recognized that hereditary factors contribute to the development of a subset of human cancers, the cause for many cancers remains unknown. The application of next generation sequencing (NGS) technologies has expanded knowledge in the field of hereditary cancer predisposition. Currently, more than 100 cancer predisposing genes have been identified, and it is now estimated that approximately 10% of all cancer patients have an underlying genetic predisposition. The purpose of this protocol is to identify novel cancer predisposing genes and/or genetic variants. For this study, the investigators will establish a Data Registry linked to a Repository of biological samples. Health information, blood samples and occasionally leftover tumor samples will be collected from individuals with familial cancer. The investigators will use NGS approaches to find changes in genes that may be important in the development of familial cancer. The information gained from this study may provide new and better ways to diagnose and care for people with hereditary cancer. PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: * Establish a registry of families with clustering of cancer in which clinical data are linked to a repository of cryopreserved blood cells, germline DNA, and tumor tissues from the proband and other family members. SECONDARY OBJECTIVE: * Identify novel cancer predisposing genes and/or genetic variants in families with clustering of cancer for which the underlying genetic basis is unknown.
Short stature can be caused by a number of genetic etiologies, many of which directly affect the growth plate. The FGFR3/CNP pathway is central to growth of the chondrocyte. The study team hypothesizes that patients with selected genetic causes of short stature that interact with this pathway will benefit from treatment with vosoritide, a CNP analog, a selective NPR-B agonist which directly targets the growth plate. This study will enroll patients with short stature in selected genetic categories and will follow them for a 6 month observation period to obtain a baseline growth velocity, safety profile and quality of life assessment. Patients will then be treated with vosoritide for 12 months and will be assessed for safety monitoring and improvement in height outcomes.