Gastric Neuroendocrine Tumor G1

Patients with digestive tract malignancy often experience severe and unremitting abdominal pain that negatively affects physical, emotional, and social function, as well as health related quality of life (HRQOL). Therapeutic virtual reality (VR) has emerged as a promising and evidence-based treatment modality for cancer pain. Users of VR wear a pair of goggles with a close-proximity screen in front of the eyes that creates a sensation of being transported into lifelike, three-dimensional worlds. To date, VR has been limited to short-term clinical trials for cancer pain. Moreover, limited research exists on theory-based VR modalities beyond mere distraction, such as VR that employs acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) with components of biofeedback and mindfulness. To bridge these gaps, this study seeks to: (1) assess the impact of immersive VR on patient-reported outcomes (PROs), including pain, activity metrics, and opioid use among patients with visceral pain from a digestive tract malignancy; (2) assess differences in PROs, activity metrics, and opioid use between skills-based VR therapy vs. distraction VR therapy; and (3) determine patient-level predictors of VR treatment response in visceral cancer pain.
To address these aims, the study will measure PROs and opioid use in 360 patients randomized among 3 groups and follow them for 60 days after enrollment: (1) an enhanced VR group receiving skills-based VR; (2) a distraction-based VR group receiving patient-selected VR videos; and (3) a VR sham control group using a VR headset with 2-D content. The results will inform best practices for the implementation of VR for visceral cancer pain management and guide selection of patient-tailored experiences.

The aim of the study is to find out if the experimental medicine, YF476, can make gastric carcinoids, a rare type of stomach tumour, shrink and disappear. Gastric carcinoids occur mainly in patients with chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG), a condition in which the acid-producing cells in the lining of the stomach can't make acid. Acid production is controlled by gastrin, a hormone (chemical messenger) that's released into the bloodstream. If the stomach can't make acid, blood levels of gastrin rise. High blood levels of gastrin in patients with CAG can cause other cells (ECL cells) in the lining of the stomach to grow and, over the years, to give rise to gastric carcinoids. Gastric carcinoids are usually benign, but they can become malignant. Therefore, patients with CAG and gastric carcinoids have the inside of their stomach checked regularly, by gastroscopy, to see if the gastric carcinoids need removing surgically. A gastroscope is a thin (1 cm), flexible tube at end of which is a mini video camera, which enables the user to inspect the lining of the stomach and a 'snare' to take samples of tissue (biopsies). YF476 (netazepide) is a gastrin receptor antagonist (blocks the effects of gastrin), so it's a potential new medical treatment for gastric carcinoids in patients with CAG. Up to 10 of these patients will take YF476 daily for up to 12 weeks. They'll make up to seven outpatient visits for tests, including checks on the safety of YF476 and up to four gastroscopies. At each gastroscopy, the gastric carcinoids will be measured and biopsies taken for laboratory tests. Patients will take up to 24 weeks to finish the study.