Clinical Trials and Studies

BIDMC Acupuncture for Breast Cancer Related Lymphedema Study

Researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, MA are conducting a study to demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of acupuncture for patients with breast cancer related lymphedema.

You may be eligible for this study if you have a single arm affected by lymphedema following breast cancer treatment.

Participants will be paid $50 for their time and will receive acupuncture treatments free of charge.

The study length is 6 weeks.

All prospective study subjects who are not current patients of the lymphedema treatment clinic at BIDMC must first be evaluated by Dr. Singhal to assess if they are appropriate candidates for the study (a comprehensive lymphedema evaluation) and then have clinical measurements taken by a certified lymphedema therapist. (These two appointments are outside of the study).

There are a total of 12 acupuncture sessions which take place over a 6-week period. Acupuncture sessions generally begin 1-2 weeks after a patient has had their baseline evaluation (lab work and clinical measurements). Clinical measurements are repeated at week 3 (midpoint) of the study. At the end of the study (week 6), participants have clinical measurements and bloodwork taken.

There are two study groups (all patients are offered 12 acupuncture sessions regardless of initial group assigned!)—one group receives 12 acupuncture sessions right away during this 6 week period (after baseline evaluation), and the other group is monitored clinically for 6-weeks, but then receives their 12 acupuncture treatments after that time period.

All parking-related costs are reimbursed by the study.

Please contact the study team to find out more or to see if you are eligible:

Dhruv Singhal, MD
Email address: lymphaticsurgery@bidmc.harvard.edu
Phone Number: 617-632-7827
University of California San Francisco (UCSF) Breast Cancer Related Lymphedema Study

UCSF researcher Christine Miaskowski, RN, PhD and colleagues are conducting a research study to learn more about the signs and symptoms of lymphedema associated with breast cancer treatments. Lymphedema is the swelling in the arms, shoulders, hands and/or breast area as a result of breast cancer treatment. The team also wants to know if there are genetic, (i.e., inherited) factors that predict whether patients develop lymphedema or not.

To be eligible to participate in the Risk Factors of Breast Cancer Lymphedema Study, you must:

• Be female, at least 18 years old
• Have had breast cancer on one side only
• Completed surgery for breast cancer & any other breast cancer treatment (radiation and chemotherapy) at least 6 months ago
• Have a diagnosis of breast cancer treatment-related lymphedema

Participants will complete online questionnaires and have a one-time study visit to UCSF, Parnassus campus. Participants will be paid $150 for their time and travel.

To find out if you qualify or for other questions, contact the study research team at 855-855-UCSF (855-855-8273) toll free or email Judy Mastick, RN, study project director, at symptoms@ucsf.edu.
Systemic Therapy to Treat Lymphatic Malformations

Clinical Trial at Stanford School of Medicine:

Dr. Joyce Teng, MD, PhD at Stanford University School of Medicine, CA is conducting a clinical trial on the use of Sildenafil treatment for patients ages 6 months - 10 years of age with Lymphatic Malformations (LM).

Participation involves visits to Stanford, as well as at local sub-sites being conducted in Chicago, IL, and Denver, Colorado. Duration is 20 - 52 weeks. There is no compensation for this study, but all travel is covered by Stanford. A separate study is also being conducted, which involves genetic testing of patients with lymphatic malformations.

To find out more information or to see if your child qualifies, please contact Elidia Tafoya, MPH, study coordinator, at 650-724-1982 or by email at etafoya@stanford.edu. To view clinical study flyer, click here.
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University of Missouri-Columbia (MU) lymphedema study for breast cancer survivors

A new study is available through the University of Missouri-Columbia (MU) for breast cancer survivors who have been diagnosed with lymphedema. It uses interactive theatre and printed information compared to printed information alone to test whether an interactive approach is more effective than printed information alone in helping women stick to their lymphedema self-management regimens.

For more information and/or scheduling a study appointment, please contact Pamela Ostby, PhD(c), RN, OCN® at 314/255-6677 or you can email leresearch@missouri.edu.

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AMERICA’S CLINICAL RESEARCH HOSPITAL

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, is the nation’s largest hospital devoted entirely to clinical research. Learn More >
CLINICAL TRIALS

A registry and results database of publicly and privately supported clinical studies of human participants conducted around the world. Learn More >
RESEARCH MATCH

Connecting people who are trying to find research studies and researchers who are looking for people to participate in their studies. A free and secure registry that has been developed by major academic institutions across the country who want to involve you in the mission of helping today’s studies make a real difference for everyone’s health in the future. Learn More >
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