Rapid Autopsy and Procurement of Cancer Tissue
Background: \- Individuals with cancer of the lung, chest cavity, ovary, or bladder, as well as patients who have been treated with adoptive cell therapy unfortunately commonly succumb to their disease. Some agree to donate their bodies to cancer research that may help the medical community better understand these diseases. Studies of cancer tumor tissue obtained soon after death may be used to answer questions about the origins, progression, and treatment of cancer. Researchers want to conduct a study that involves planned collection of cancer tumor tissue shortly after death. To do so, they will arrange to provide inpatient hospice care for people with lung cancer, ovarian cancer, bladder cancer, or patients who have been treated with adoptive cell therapy. \<TAB\> Objectives: \- To collect cancer tissue biopsy samples as soon as possible after death. Eligibility: \- Individuals who have cancer of the lung, chest cavity, ovary, or bladder, or those who have been treated with adoptive cell therapy and are planning to receive end-of-life hospice care are eligible to participate. Design: * Participants will agree to receive inpatient hospice care at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center. Full details on end-of-life care preference will be acknowledged. * An autopsy will be performed at the clinical center within 3 hours of death. Tumor tissue will be collected from the primary site of cancer and from any areas of the body to which the cancer has spread. * Participants will not receive further cancer treatments as part of this study. This is a tissue collection study only.
Ask AI to explain this studyKey things to know
This describes the study’s primary purpose.
The study team can explain what participation involves.
These are broad labels—not an eligibility decision.
Checked against the public recordLast updated May 5, 2026 · Source: ClinicalTrials.gov
Ask the study team to confirm whether enrollment is open.
Observational
Locations may change over time.
Study sponsor
What this study is about
- Purpose
- Not specified
- Study type
- Observational
- Phase
- Not applicable
- Sponsor
- National Cancer Institute (NCI)
- Interventions being studied
- Not specified
How this study is categorized
These labels come from structured fields and exact terms in the public record.
Who may be able to participate
The sponsor separates these requirements into two groups. You do not need to interpret them alone—use them to guide a conversation with the study team.
- Patients must have histologically or cytologically confirmed metastatic NSCLC, SCLC, EPCC, pNET, thymic epithelial tumor (thymoma, thymic carcinoma) or mesothelioma confirmed by the NCI Laboratory of Pathology. Patients with bladder cancer (including urothelial carcinoma and other rare bladder or kidney histology), ovarian cancer, epithelial cancers (breast, colorectal, pancreatic, stomach and biliary cancers) and malignancies previously treated with an ACT are also eligible.
- Age \>= 18 years.
- Incurable disease or terminal diagnosis.
- Patients or legally authorized representative (LAR) must sign an informed consent indicating that they are aware of the investigational nature of this study.
- Patients must provide valid written designation of an assigned Durable Power of Attorney (DPA). If one is not available, an LAR must be assigned.
- Patients and their legal next of kin must agree to a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order and agree to Consent for Autopsy as part of the end-of-life care plan.
- Women known to be pregnant (known positive pregnancy test, although such testing is not required for enrollment) are excluded.
- Known HIV-positive patients will be excluded (although HIV testing is not required for enrollment) because of the potential for contamination of tissue.
Important: This is the sponsor’s public criteria, not a determination of eligibility. The study team must review your individual situation.
U.S. locations
- National Institutes of Health Clinical CenterBethesda, Maryland
Source and freshness
Processed from ClinicalTrials.gov. Last public update: May 5, 2026. Always confirm current availability with the study team.