Psoriasis clinical trials at UC Davis

This phase Ib trial studies the side effects of nivolumab and to see how well it works alone and in combination with other treatments, such as ipilimumab, cabozantinib, platinum containing therapy, and fluoropyrimidine, in treating patients with autoimmune disorders and cancer that has spread from where it first started (primary site) to nearby tissue, lymph nodes, or distant parts of the body (advanced), to other places in the body (metastatic) or cannot removed by surgery (unresectable). Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as nivolumab and ipilimumab, may help the body's immune system attack the cancer, and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Cabozantinib blocks certain proteins, which may help keep tumor cells from growing. It may also prevent the growth of new blood vessels that tumors need to grow. Cabozantinib is a type of tyrosine kinase inhibitor and a type of angiogenesis inhibitor. Chemotherapy drugs, such as platinum containing therapies and fluoropyrimidine, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading. Giving nivolumab alone and in combination with other treatments, including ipilimumab, cabozantinib, platinum containing therapy, or fluoropyrimidine, may be safe, tolerable, and/or effective in treating patients with autoimmune disorders and advanced, metastatic, or unresectable cancer.

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the skin and joints in 2-3 % of people in the United States. This inflammation of the skin, joints, and blood vessels in patients with psoriasis has been measured by older PET Scan technology but with limitations. With the new EXPLORER PET scanner technology, the investigators are testing to see if the EXPLORER is better than previous PET scanners and improve our ability to assess inflammation in patients. Also, it is known that the typical Western Diet - high in saturated fats, added sugars, and low in fiber - contributes to obesity and inflammation worldwide. There is evidence in animals that these signs of inflammation are reversible within 4 weeks when changed to a more balanced diet. Thus, this study aims to assess whether there are detectable decreases in inflammation of the skin and body of psoriasis patients who usually eat a Western Diet on an EXPLORER PET scan following 6 weeks of a more balanced diet.