ARGONAUT: Stool and Blood Sample Bank for Cancer Patients
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04638751 |
Recruitment Status :
Recruiting
First Posted : November 20, 2020
Last Update Posted : January 25, 2023
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ARGONAUT is a longitudinal, prospective, observational study that will enroll up to 5,000 advanced-stage cancer patients of diverse racial backgrounds to collect data used to develop precision microbiome medicines and for the identification of clinically actionable cancer-specific biomarkers to guide therapeutic decisions. Four types of solid tumor cancers will be profiled including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), colorectal cancer (CRC) and pancreatic cancer. Healthy control subjects without a cancer diagnosis will also be studied, comprised of individuals at high risk for CRC and healthy individuals at low risk for CRC. Risk assessment will be based on family history or past neoplastic findings during CRC screening. Data collected from this study will be used to develop the most effective new therapies, via microbiome optimization, all to the benefit of patients and the physicians treating them. Stool and blood samples will be collected longitudinally and analyzed to determine the impact of gut microbiome composition and function on the immune system and efficacy of the treatment.
Currently enrolling the CRC, high risk, and low risk cohorts.
Subjects who meet the entry criteria will provide up to 5 samples each of blood and stool over a 2-year period. Approximately 10%-20% of the subjects will provide colon tissue samples, either from research biopsies during Standard of Care (SOC) screening colonoscopy or retained surgical tissue from colectomy. Electronic health records will be obtained at various times for up to 8 years, to collect tumor imaging results and any other updated medical data, with no additional samples collected. In select cases, stool and blood samples will be collected beyond 2 years.
Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment |
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Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Colorectal Cancer Triple Negative Breast Cancer Pancreas Cancer | Drug: Immunotherapy Drug: Chemotherapy Procedure: CRC surgical resection Procedure: Colonoscopy |
Study Type : | Observational |
Estimated Enrollment : | 5000 participants |
Observational Model: | Cohort |
Time Perspective: | Prospective |
Official Title: | ARGONAUT: Development and Analysis of a Blood and Stool Sample Bank for Cancer Patients, Enabling the Systematic Study of the Effect of Gut Microbiomes on Response to Treatment |
Actual Study Start Date : | July 1, 2022 |
Estimated Primary Completion Date : | December 31, 2024 |
Estimated Study Completion Date : | December 31, 2025 |

Group/Cohort | Intervention/treatment |
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NSCLC
Stage 3 or stage 4 non-small cell lung cancer patients, being administered checkpoint inhibitor therapy for the first time. Dosage form, dosage, frequency and duration will be either standard of care and accessed via normal commissioning arrangements, or will be part of an ethics-approved clinical trial, where co-enrollment into an observational study is permitted.
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Drug: Immunotherapy
Checkpoint inhibitor |
Triple-negative breast cancer
Stage 3 or stage 4 metastatic triple-negative breast cancer patients, being administered any type of treatment that the patient has not experienced before. Dosage form, dosage, frequency and duration will be either standard of care and accessed via normal commissioning arrangements, or will be part of an ethics-approved clinical trial, where co-enrollment into an observational study is permitted.
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Drug: Chemotherapy
Any form of chemotherapy |
Colorectal cancer
Stage 3 or stage 4 colorectal cancer patients, being administered any type of treatment that the patient has not experienced before. Dosage form, dosage, frequency and duration will be either standard of care and accessed via normal commissioning arrangements, or will be part of an ethics-approved clinical trial, where co-enrollment into an observational study is permitted.
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Drug: Immunotherapy
Checkpoint inhibitor Drug: Chemotherapy Any form of chemotherapy Procedure: CRC surgical resection Surgical resection to remove colorectal cancer |
Pancreatic cancer
Stage 3 or stage 4 pancreatic cancer patients, being administered any type of treatment that the patient has not experienced before. Dosage form, dosage, frequency and duration will be either standard of care and accessed via normal commissioning arrangements, or will be part of an ethics-approved clinical trial, where co-enrollment into an observational study is permitted.
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Drug: Immunotherapy
Checkpoint inhibitor Drug: Chemotherapy Any form of chemotherapy |
High risk for colorectal cancer
Subjects undergoing a standard-of-care colonoscopy for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening considered at high risk for CRC due to either 1) one or more first degree relatives with a history of CRC, or 2) a personal history of colorectal cancer, advanced adenoma as defined by USMSTF guidelines on colorectal cancer, or 3 or more non-advanced adenomas in a single screening or surveillance encounter (synchronous).
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Procedure: Colonoscopy
Standard-of-care colonoscopy for CRC screening |
Low risk for colorectal cancer
Subjects undergoing a standard-of-care colonoscopy for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening, who are not considered high risk for CRC based on family history or prior colonoscopy findings.
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Procedure: Colonoscopy
Standard-of-care colonoscopy for CRC screening |
- Determine whether the microbiome composition can predict progression-free survival [ Time Frame: 6-12 months ]Whole genome sequencing and metabolomics will be used to characterize the patient's microbiome, and whether there is any correlation with response to treatment
- Determine whether the microbiome composition can predict risk for colorectal cancer [ Time Frame: 2-8 years ]Whole genome sequencing and metabolomics will be used to characterize the patient's microbiome. High and low risk subjects will be followed for 8 years to determine if any get CRC.
- Identify correlations between microbiome composition and immune markers [ Time Frame: 6-12 months ]CyTOF and cytokine analysis will be performed on the blood samples to characterize the patient's immune phenotype
- Determine whether the microbiome composition can predict overall survival [ Time Frame: 6-24 months ]Survival and tumor progression will be monitored for an extended time beyond sample collection
- Build a library of samples and data for future research [ Time Frame: 6-24 months ]Samples will be stored and data saved in a HIPAA-compliant database. Samples will be linked to patient metadata.
Biospecimen Retention: Samples With DNA

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years and older (Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | Yes |
Sampling Method: | Non-Probability Sample |
Inclusion Criteria:
- Men or women who are ≥ 18 years old with stage III or stage IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), colorectal cancer, triple-negative breast cancer, or pancreatic cancer treated by a particular cancer treatment for the first time, OR healthy subjects undergoing a standard of care colonoscopy
- Subjects able to provide written informed consent
Exclusion Criteria:
- Subjects with known HIV, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, or SARS-CoV2
- Subjects without the mental capacity to complete either a written or online questionnaire, alone or with assistance, or make sound decisions
- Women who are pregnant or who plan on becoming pregnant
- Women who are nursing

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT04638751
Contact: Stephanie Culler, PhD | 858-682-4777 | support@persephonebiome.com | |
Contact: Stephen Van Dien, PhD | 858-682-4777 | support@persephonebiome.com |
United States, California | |
Knowledge Research Center | Recruiting |
Orange, California, United States, 92866 | |
Contact: Vicki Tan 657-247-0087 v.tan@knowledgeresearchcenter.com | |
Principal Investigator: Alaa Abousaif, MD | |
SDG Clinical Research, Inc | Not yet recruiting |
San Diego, California, United States, 92103 | |
Contact: Nancy Giovanetty 619-291-6064 nancy@sdgastro.com | |
Principal Investigator: Andrew Cummins, MD | |
Persephone Biosciences, Inc. | Recruiting |
San Diego, California, United States, 92121 | |
Contact: Stephanie Culler, PhD 858-682-4777 support@persephonebiome.com | |
Contact: Stephen Van Dien, PhD 858-682-4777 support@persephonebiome.com | |
United States, Florida | |
L&A Morales Healthcare, Inc | Recruiting |
Miami, Florida, United States, 33142 | |
Contact: Anya Gutierrez 786-360-1458 agutierrez@moraleshealthcare.com | |
Principal Investigator: Enrique Villa, MD | |
United States, Louisiana | |
Baton Rouge General Medical Center | Recruiting |
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States, 70809 | |
Contact: Jamie Mooney 225-763-4828 jam422@brgeneral.org | |
Principal Investigator: Scott Daugherty, MD | |
United States, New York | |
Mid-Hudson Medical Research | Recruiting |
New Windsor, New York, United States, 12553 | |
Contact: Cassandra Newman 845-674-9398 cnewman@mhmresearch.com | |
Principal Investigator: Sashi K Makam, MD | |
United States, Ohio | |
Kroger Health, The Little Clinic | Not yet recruiting |
Cincinnati, Ohio, United States, 45202 | |
Contact: Chad Wolf 513-748-1825 Chad.wolf@thelittleclinic.com | |
Principal Investigator: Marc Watkins, MD | |
United States, Texas | |
Southwest Family Medicine Associates | Recruiting |
Dallas, Texas, United States, 75235 | |
Contact: Neven Gerges 469-893-1242 neven@southwestfamilymed.com | |
Principal Investigator: Chrisette Dharma, MD | |
Biopharma Informatic | Recruiting |
Houston, Texas, United States, 77089 | |
Contact: Humaira Adnan 315-663-6617 Humaira@biopharmainfo.net | |
Principal Investigator: Irfan Jawed, MD |
Responsible Party: | Persephone Biosciences |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT04638751 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
PB-2020-01 |
First Posted: | November 20, 2020 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | January 25, 2023 |
Last Verified: | January 2023 |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: | Yes |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: | No |
Product Manufactured in and Exported from the U.S.: | No |
microbiome immunotherapy checkpoint inhibitor cancer colonoscopy |
Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms Pancreatic Neoplasms Neoplasms by Site Neoplasms Digestive System Neoplasms Digestive System Diseases Breast Neoplasms Breast Diseases |
Skin Diseases Endocrine Gland Neoplasms Pancreatic Diseases Endocrine System Diseases Immunomodulating Agents Immunologic Factors Physiological Effects of Drugs |