Cincinnati (October 20, 2025) – Patients at The Christ Hospital Health Network have shown promising results from a recent cancer clinical trial. The new approach focuses on how immunotherapy is administered to treat advanced colorectal and bile duct cancers.
The study, led by Alexander Starodub, MD, PhD, Medical Director of Oncology Clinical Trials at The Christ Hospital Health Network, looks to develop a more graded immunotherapy approach that helps drive T-cells to fight off cancer cells.
“For more than 30 years, the standard treatment of colorectal cancers has been based on chemotherapy,” said Dr. Starodub. “Approved immunotherapy has not been useful for colorectal cancer outside of a very small percentage of patients. This study is aiming to find new types of immunotherapies that can improve outcomes in patients with advanced colorectal cancers.”
Recently, Dr. Starodub and a team of investigators presented their findings at a medical summit in Barcelona, Spain where he and his team received an award for their work on the clinical trial. The T-cell engagers focus the immune cells to help target the cancer in an individual patient. This trial focused on the 90% of the population where immunotherapy had previously not worked or been approved for.
“We continue to be a regional leader for oncology clinical trials for patients looking for a new approach to battling cancer. Our team advocates for second opinions and with access to these phenomenal clinical trials locally, our patients do not need to leave Cincinnati to participate in cutting-edge clinical research opportunities.”
The Christ Hospital Health Network is recognized as a national leader in clinical research and for best practice standards in patient care. Research and innovation have led to breakthrough medical advances and improved outcomes for nearly 40 years. If you or someone you know is interested to see if they qualify for this clinical trial or others, visit our website here.
About The Christ Hospital Health Network
The Christ Hospital Health Network consists of an acute care hospital located in Mt. Auburn, a remote hospital location in Liberty Township, five ambulatory outpatient centers and dozens of medical offices throughout the region. For more than 135 years, The Christ Hospital has provided compassionate care to those it serves. Made up of more than 1,300 physicians and 7,200 team members, our mission is to improve the health of our community by providing exceptional outcomes in an affordable way. The Network was recognized by U.S. News & World Report as the #1 hospital in the Cincinnati Region and named to Newsweek’s World’s Best Hospitals list in 2025.