ARGONAUT: Stool and Blood Sample Bank for Cancer Patients

September 15, 2026 updated by: Persephone Biosciences

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

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.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Suspended

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
5000

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • United States
    • California
      • Orange, California, United States, 92866
        • Knowledge Research Center
      • San Diego, California, United States, 92121
        • Persephone Biosciences, Inc.
      • San Diego, California, United States, 92103
        • SDG Clinical Research, Inc
    • Florida
      • Miami, Florida, United States, 33142
        • L&A Morales Healthcare, Inc
    • Louisiana
      • Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States, 70809
        • Baton Rouge General Medical Center
      • New Orleans, Louisiana, United States, 70112
        • University Medical Center New Orleans
    • New York
      • New Windsor, New York, United States, 12553
        • Mid-Hudson Medical Research
    • Ohio
      • Cincinnati, Ohio, United States, 45202
        • Kroger Health, The Little Clinic
    • Texas
      • Dallas, Texas, United States, 75235
        • Southwest Family Medicine Associates
      • Houston, Texas, United States, 77089
        • Biopharma Informatic

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

It is anticipated that up to 5000 subjects will be enrolled in this study. It is preferred that enrollment is balanced by sex; however, it is not required. All efforts will be made to provide racial/ethnic balance, with a goal of 20% African American and 10% each of patients with Asian or Hispanic descent.

Description

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

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Observational Models: Cohort
  • Time Perspectives: Prospective

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort

Group / Cohort

A group or subgroup of participants in an observational study that is assessed for biomedical or health outcomes.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
Procedure: Colonoscopy
Standard-of-care colonoscopy for CRC screening

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
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
6-12 months
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.
2-8 years

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
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
6-12 months
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
6-24 months
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.
6-24 months

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Persephone Biosciences

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
July 1, 2022

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
December 31, 2028

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
December 31, 2028

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
November 16, 2020

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
November 16, 2020

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
November 20, 2020

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
September 18, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
September 15, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
September 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • PB-2020-01

Drug and device information, study documents

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

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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