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Thompson Oncology Group

Covenant Health System

Thompson Cancer Survival Center – Clinical Trials

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Clinical Trials

Clinical trials are research studies designed to discover new ways to treat different cancers and directly impact the number of new therapies and treatments available to fight cancer. Today’s trials are tomorrow’s standard of cancer care.

Thompson was the first to bring cancer clinical trials to East Tennessee over 25 years ago. Today, Thompson’s clinical trials department is under the leadership of David Chism, MD, and Kristi Simcox, BS, CCRP, System Director of Clinical Research. Our oncologists are certified to participate in clinical trials and work with multiple cancer research groups to bring innovative treatments to East Tennessee. In addition, we partner with pharmaceutical companies to give our patients access to new treatments not otherwise available. We offer clinical trials because they often lead to better ways to diagnose, treat, and prevent cancer, allowing people to live healthier and longer lives. Ask your doctor if a clinical trial might be right for you.

Thompson Cancer Survival Center offers clinical trials at the following Thompson Oncology Group locations:

  • Blount 
  • Downtown Knoxville
  • Lenoir City 
  • Oak Ridge 
  • West Knoxville
  • Thompson Proton Center

Our Team

NameTitleContact Info
David Chism, MDMedical Director of Clinical Research[email protected] | 865-331-1812
Ryan Grover, MDMedical Director of Thompson Proton Center[email protected] | 865-862-1600
Kristi Simcox, BS, CCRPSystems Director of Clinical Research[email protected] | 865-331-4985
Jessica Severt, RN, BSNStudy Coordinator[email protected] | 865-331-4966
Ashley Lyons, RNStudy Coordinator[email protected] | 865-331-2586
Sarah France, RNStudy Coordinator[email protected] | 865-331-2587
Casey M., BSStudy Coordinator, Thompson Proton Center[email protected] | 865-331-8216
Christina HallerRegulatory Specialist[email protected] | 865-331-1902
Catherine Duke-Taylor, BSStudy Coordinator, Thompson Proton Center[email protected] | 865-331-8215

Active Medical Oncology Clinical Trials

Esophageal

Protocol NumberNCT NumberTitlePrincipal Investigator
NRG-GI006NCT03801876Phase iii randomized trial of proton beam therapy (pbt) versus intensity modulated photon radiotherapy (imrt) for the treatment of esophageal cancerDavid Chism, MD

Leukemia/Lymphoma

Protocol NumberNCT NumberTitlePrincipal Investigator
M22-128NCT06508658A Phase 3, Multicenter, Randomized, Open-Label Study of Epcoritamab Plus Lenalidomide Compared to Rituximab Plus Gemcitabine and Oxaliplatin in Participants with Relapsed or Refractory Diffuse Large B-Cell LymphomaDavid Chism, MD

Melanoma

Protocol NumberNCT NumberTitlePrincipal Investigator
EA6141NCT02339571Randomized Phase II/III Study of Nivolumab plus Ipilimumab plus Sargramostim versus Nivolumab plus Ipilimumab in Patients with Unresectable Stage III or Stage IV MelanomaDavid Chism, MD

Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer

Protocol NumberNCT NumberTitlePrincipal Investigator
V940-002NCT06077760A PA Phase 3, Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo- and Active-Comparator-Controlled Clinical Study of Adjuvant V940 (mRNA-4157) Plus Pembrolizumab Versus Adjuvant Placebo Plus Pembrolizumab in Participants With Resected Stage II, IIIA, IIIB (N2) Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (INTerpath-002)David D. Chism, MD
V940-009NCT06623422A Phase 3 Randomized Double-blind Study of Adjuvant Pembrolizumab With or Without V940 in Participants With Resectable Stage II to IIIB (N2) NSCLC not Achieving pCR After Receiving Neoadjuvant Pembrolizumab With Platinum-based Doublet Chemotherapy (INTerpath-009)David Chism, MD

Active Proton Therapy Clinical Trials

Breast

Protocol NumberNCT NumberTitlePrincipal Investigator
Breast Spot DeleteNCT04873362Evaluation of Radiobiological Effects in Skin Toxicities for Breast Cancer Patients with Pencil Beam Scanning Proton TherapySamantha

Esophageal

Protocol NumberNCT NumberTitlePrincipal Investigator
Head & Neck Spot DeleteNCT06183268Evaluation of Radiobiological Effects in Skin Toxicities for Head and Neck Cancer Patients with Pencil Beam Scanning Proton TherapySamantha Hedrick, PhD

Registry

Protocol NumberNCT NumberTitlePrincipal Investigator
REG001-09NCT01255748Evaluation Tracking Project:  A Prospective Chart Review of Patients Treated with Radiation TherapyRyan Grover, MD

Coming Soon