Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, October 16, 2026
Allegheny Health Network (AHN) Cancer Center has launched RANDY’S Trial, a clinical research study designed to explore whether existing medications can improve surgical treatment options for patients with appendiceal cancer and other peritoneal cancers. The study, formally titled Repurposed And Naturally-Derived Drugs for the Treatment of Fibrosis in Peritoneal Carcinomatosis, is supported by philanthropic funding from The Randy & Stephanie Meyer Spread Goodness Fund. The initiative aims to address a significant challenge in abdominal cancer treatment: fibrosis, or dense scar tissue that can surround tumors and attach to nearby healthy organs. This tissue can complicate cancer-removal surgery and prevent some patients from becoming eligible for potentially beneficial surgical procedures. By investigating whether established medicines can alter or remodel fibrosis, AHN researchers hope to identify approaches that could expand treatment possibilities for patients with these difficult-to-treat cancers. The study also reflects how community-supported funding can help advance clinical research in rare and complex diseases.
Clinical Trial Targets Fibrosis That Complicates Cancer Surgery
Fibrosis is a major surgical challenge in appendiceal and other peritoneal cancers because dense scar tissue can obscure the boundaries between healthy tissue and cancerous growths. It may also bind tumors to nearby organs and tissues, increasing the complexity and risks of cytoreductive surgery, a procedure intended to remove visible cancer from the abdominal cavity. In some cases, fibrosis can conceal cancer cells or make complete tumor removal more difficult, potentially limiting surgical options for patients. The RANDY’S Trial will evaluate whether existing medications can help break down or remodel this scar tissue before surgery. Researchers hope that modifying fibrosis could make more patients eligible for surgical intervention and help clinicians manage these challenging malignancies more effectively. However, the approach remains investigational, and the study must establish whether the proposed strategy is safe and effective before any clinical benefit can be confirmed.
Drug Repurposing May Offer a New Research Approach
The study builds on the concept of drug repurposing, which involves investigating medicines already approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for uses beyond their original indications. Instead of developing entirely new compounds from the beginning, researchers will evaluate whether established medications may influence the biological processes involved in fibrosis surrounding peritoneal tumors. This strategy could provide a more direct route to investigating potential treatment approaches, although new indications still require appropriate clinical evidence and regulatory consideration. Patrick Wagner, MD, a surgical oncologist at AHN Cancer Center, is the principal investigator, leading a multidisciplinary team specializing in peritoneal malignancies. The research could contribute to a better understanding of how scar tissue affects cancer surgery and whether pharmacological intervention can improve surgical eligibility. As the trial begins enrolling patients, its findings will be important for determining whether this approach warrants further investigation and could eventually complement existing treatment strategies for selected patients with advanced abdominal cancers.
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Community Funding Supports Cancer Research Innovation
Community philanthropy has played a central role in bringing RANDY’S Trial into clinical research. Funding was raised through the annual La Sera d’Oro Gala, organized to support the Bartlett Cancer Research Fund. The 2025 event raised $44,000, helping make the study possible. The trial honors the memory of Lieutenant Randy Meyer II, a Pittsburgh firefighter who lived with a rare form of appendix cancer for more than a decade. Following his death, his wife, Stephanie Meyer, continued their shared commitment to helping others through the Spread Goodness Fund. The initiative demonstrates how charitable contributions can support scientific investigations that may otherwise face funding challenges, particularly in rare cancers. As patient enrollment begins, AHN researchers aim to generate evidence that could inform future approaches to fibrosis associated with peritoneal malignancies. The study’s results will determine whether the strategy can advance toward broader clinical evaluation and potentially improve options for patients whose cancers make surgery difficult.
Source: Allegheny Health Network press release
