Lung Transplant
Explaining Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
Investigational Therapy May Help Avoid Lung Removal Surgery for Patients with Pleural Mesothelioma
The Mesothelioma Center within the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and Columbia University Medical Center is now recruiting patients for a clinical research study of a new targeted radiation and chemotherapy protocol for pleural mesothelioma, a cancer of the lung's lining that is almost always caused by previous exposure to asbestos. The standard treatment for pleural mesothelioma is currently surgery to remove the patient's lung — a potentially debilitating consequence. This study will investigate whether a combination of chemotherapy and radiation targeted directly at the lung's lining can improve outcomes while avoiding surgery. Overall, it is hoped that this study will decrease the need for patients to undergo radical surgery. (Robert Taub, MD)
Lung Transplant: Genetic Predictors of Primary Graft Dysfunction after Transplant
This study focuses on genetic determinants of primary graft dysfunction after lung transplantation. (Steven Kawut, MD, MS)
NOVEL Lung Trial: Normothermic Ex-Vivo Lung Perfusion as an Assessment of Extended/Marginal Donor Lungs
This is a two arm, non-randomized, open-label, study to evaluate the 30 day mortality of patients undergoing lung transplant lungs from marginal or extended donors treated with ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) versus those undergoing lung transplant with lungs considered transplant suitable. The University of Toronto group has systematically studied and developed an effective perfusion methodology to maintain donor lungs ex vivo (outside of the body) at physiologic body temperatures without adding further injury. Preclinical data shows that ex vivo perfusion with STEEN solution is as good if not better than the standard cold static preservation.The study proposes to use the EVLP technique to improve donor lung assessment preimplantation and, thereby safely increase the number of available lungs for transplant. If the lungs demonstrate a favorable ex vivo evaluation, the lungs will be transplanted into a patient. (Frank D'Ovidio, MD, PhD)
