View clinical trials related to Melanoma.
Filter by:RATIONALE: Monoclonal antibodies can locate tumor cells and either kill them or deliver tumor-killing substances to them without harming normal cells. PURPOSE: Phase I/II trial to determine the effectiveness of monoclonal antibody therapy in treating patients who have primary or metastatic melanoma or brain tumors.
RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Interferon alfa may interfere with the growth of the cancer cells. Interleukin-2 may stimulate a person's white blood cells to kill melanoma cells. It is not yet known which treatment regimen is more effective in treating melanoma. PURPOSE: Randomized phase II trial to compare the effectiveness of two regimens of combination chemotherapy plus interferon alfa and interleukin-2 in treating patients who have metastatic melanoma.
RATIONALE: Biological therapies use different ways to stimulate the immune system and stop tumor cells from growing. Combining biological therapies with indomethacin and cyclophosphamide may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: Phase II trial to compare the effectiveness of indomethacin and biological therapy with or without cyclophosphamide in treating patients who have advanced melanoma that has not responded to previous therapy.
This study will look at genetic changes which occur in the development of male and female breast cancer and other cancer. It will use a new technology called DNA microarray hybridization that looks at a wide array of genes to identify disease-associated patterns in the human genome (complete set of human genes). Numerous studies have linked particular genes to a given disease, but there is very little information on patterns of gene expression (production of proteins from genetic coding) in the entire human genome. Pinpointing genetic abnormalities in disease may help classify different forms of cancer and perhaps lead to new avenues of treatment or prevention. A primary goal of this study will be to create a database of gene expression for human cancers and other disorders that will provide the basis for finding genetic abnormalities in disease. Tumors specimens used in this study will be taken from tissues biopsied from patients with breast, colon cancer, sarcomas or melanoma as part of their routine care. Patients in the study will be among those receiving care at the: Department of Oncology, University Hospital, University of Lund, Sweden (breast cancer); Department of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan (breast cancer); Surgery Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland (melanoma), Johns Hopkins Univ. (colon cancer), Memorial Sloan Kettering (sarcoma). Patients in the study will have a family history taken and will complete a questionnaire. Some patients will be asked to have a blood test. Breast cancer patients will have a mammogram if one has not been done within the last year.
This experiment will test the safety and effectiveness of a treatment for melanoma in which certain lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell) are taken from the patient, grown in the laboratory, and returned after the patient's immune system has been weakened with immune-suppressing drugs. Some patients will also receive interleukin-2 (IL-2), a drug that may enhance the activity of the re-infused lymphocytes. Patients with metastatic melanoma (melanoma whose tumor has spread) who have been treated unsuccessfully with gp100 vaccination may participate in this study. They will undergo apheresis or a tumor biopsy, or both, to collect lymphocytes. In apheresis, whole blood is drawn through a needle in the arm. A machine separates the blood components and removes the white cells. The rest of the blood is returned to the donor through a needle in the other arm. A biopsy is a surgical procedure to remove a small piece of tumor tissue. Several weeks before the lymphocytes are collected, patients will receive injections of growth colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) every day for five days. This drug stimulates white cell production, permitting as many cells as possible to be obtained during collection. The lymphocytes will then be grown in larger numbers in the laboratory. Seven days before the cells are re-infused, the patient is admitted to the hospital and a catheter (small tube) is placed in a large vein in the chest or neck. Two drugs, cyclophosphamide and fludarabine, are given through the tube. These drugs suppress the immune system so that it will not interfere with the work of the reinfused lymphocytes. The lymphocytes are then injected through the catheter over a 30-minute period. After the infusion, patients who receive IL-2 will be given the drug in a high dose over a 15-minute period every eight hours for up to five days. Patients whose condition does not permit high-dose IL-2, such as those with a heart condition or lung problem, may receive a low-dose regimen, with the drug given as a shot under the skin of the thigh or abdomen for five days followed by a 2-day break, continuing for a total of six weeks. These patients receive a higher dose the first week and then half that dose the next five weeks. Blood and tissue samples will be taken before and during the study to evaluate the size of the tumor and assess treatment. If, 3-5 weeks after therapy is completed, the patient's tumor has stabilized or shrunk, the entire treatment, except for chemotherapy, may be repeated two more times.
Patients with metastatic melanoma who are HLA-A201+ will be immunized with a modified peptide from the gp100 molecule that contains a signal sequence designed to improve peptide presentation by antigen presenting cells. This peptide called gp100:ES209-217 (210M) will be administered either alone or in combination with high or low dose IL-2. Patients will be evaluated for clinical response, as well as undergo studies of the immunologic response to the peptide immunization.
This is a study of a melanoma tumor antigen peptide vaccine. Peptides representing HLA-A201 restricted T cell epitopes of the melanoma antigens, MART-1, gp100 and tyrosinase will be administered emulsified in Incomplete Freund's Adjuvant, (IFA) to HLA-A201 patients with melanoma. The study is designed to evaluate the potential therapeutic role, immunologic effects and toxicity of repeated doses of this peptide vaccine administered subcutaneously. Immune reactivity to the peptide epitope will be monitored in all patients by analysis of melanoma-specific T cell precursors prior to and after immunization.
Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a class of membrane bound enzymes that are involved in the degradation of the extracellular matrix. MMP-2 and MMP-9 have been associated with the progression of cancer. It is hypothesized than an imbalance between MMPs and MMP inhibitors allows the destruction of the extracellular matrix and enhances the ability of the tumor cells to grow and metastasize. By inhibiting MMPs, it is thought that angiogenesis and metastasis can be inhibited. This is a phase I study of COL-3, an oral matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor, in patients with refractory metastatic cancer. COL-3 is a chemically modified tetracycline derivative. Patients must have clinically progressive disease documented within 1 month prior to entry to be eligible for treatment. Patients must have also failed therapy of proven efficacy for their disease and have an ECOG performance status of less or equal than 2. Patients must be willing to travel from their home to the NIH for follow-up visits. Patients with brain metastases or primary CNS malignancies are not eligible. Concurrent therapy for their cancer (i.e., radiation therapy, chemotherapy, etc.) will preclude participation. We will be defining the maximum tolerated dose, the toxicity profile, characterizing the pharmacokinetics, and evaluating the effect of COL-3 on several biological endpoints.
Hyperthermic isolated limb perfusion with melphalan alone is administered as a double perfusion schedule. These two isolates limb perfusions with melphalan are treated 3-6 weeks apart. After perfusion is established, the leak rate has been determined to be acceptable, and tissue temperatures are 38 degrees Celsius, then the melphalan is administered by slow injection into an arterial line over approximately 5 minutes. The perfusion with melphalan will then continue for 60 minutes, after which the extremity is flushed out with a total of 3 liters of fluid consisting initially of a saline solution. The dose of melphalan for the second perfusion will be increased. An attempt to resect the residual lesion between 6-12 weeks after the second interval perfusion may be made.
This protocol is to provide follow-up medical/surgical visits for DCS patients who are long term survivors and may not currently be a participant entered on an active research protocol. No investigational treatments or standard treatments will be administered on this protocol.