View clinical trials related to Neoplasms.
Filter by:This study will identify how personal beliefs, values and family experiences affect a person's decision as to whether or not to be tested for changes in a gene called BRCA1 or BRCA2. Changes in these genes are associated with a significantly increased risk of breast and ovarian cancer in women, a slightly higher risk of prostate cancer in men, and a slightly higher risk of colon cancer in both men and women. Families enrolled in the National Cancer Institute's familial cancer research project who also participated in a telephone survey (protocol 78-C-0039) regarding their level of interest in BRCA1/2 testing results may be eligible for this study. All participants will complete a 20- to 30-minute questionnaire assessing knowledge, risk perception and personality traits, and will participate in an education session to review the following: - Information about their individual cancer risk, based on family history - Potential benefits and risks (medical, psychological and social) of BRCA1/2 testing, both for those who test positive and those who test negative - Overview of DNA testing (what is done and how accurate it may or may not be) - Medical management options for those at increased risk for breast and ovarian cancer - Environmental cancer risk factors - Instruction in breast self-examination Participants will then be asked whether or not they want to undergo BRCA1/2 testing Those who want to be tested will be divided into two groups to compare counseling methods (client-centered vs. counselor-driven counseling). A small blood sample (2 to 3 tablespoons) will be drawn for genetic analysis. Test results will be provided in person at a second visit-this may take 6 months or more. A follow-up telephone call 2 weeks after receipt of the test results will address participants' questions and provide support. During a third visit, scheduled 6 months after receipt of the test results, participants will complete questionnaires evaluating mood, attitude, self-esteem, family interactions, cancer screening practices, and other factors. Finally, 1 year after receipt of the test results, participants will be contacted by telephone and asked about their feelings about the test and its outcome. Individuals who choose not to have gene testing will not participate in any in-person sessions after the initial visit. They will be followed with no more than two telephone interviews to assess their feelings and attitudes related to their decision not to be tested. Individuals may reconsider and change their mind at any time regarding their decision-whether to be tested or not. The results of the study will help experts devise the most effective methods of educating and counseling people at high risk for having an altered BRCA1/2 gene.
The purpose of this study is to determine the clinical toxicities associated with administering sequential dFdC as a one hour infusion followed by a continuous infusion of FUdR over 24 hours with low dose oral LV weekly for three weeks out of four.
This is a dosage escalation study to estimate the maximum tolerated dose of staurosporine analogue UCN-01. Groups of 3 to 6 patients receive a 72-hours intravenous continuous infusions of UCN-01 from day 1 to day 4 of each cycle the first cycle only, and over 36-hours on subsequent cycles. The side effects are allowed to disappear for up to 28 days. This cycle is repeated after evaluations and follow-ups, which are every 4 weeks, as long as the patient benefits.
The ability of chemotherapy to cure cancer, including breast cancer, has been limited by drug resistant residual tumor cells remaining after chemotherapy that generally result in relapse. Additional therapeutic strategies to eradicate these residual tumor cells are needed. The augmentation of specific anti-tumor immune responses, such as those mediated by T-cells, might represent such an additional strategy for the control or elimination of residual tumor cells. This approach might be especially effective if T-cell mediated responses were enhanced during both the period of T-cell repopulation that follows acute T-cell depletion and in the setting of minimal residual tumor burden present after dose intensive chemotherapy. Such chemotherapy is known to result in severe T-cell depletion. This pilot study has been designed to examine the feasibility of combining dose intensive chemotherapy with interventions aimed at the reconstitution of T-cell immunity. Metastatic or adjuvant breast cancer patients who have received dose intensive chemotherapy will subsequently receive a combination of autologous chemotherapy-naive T-cells, a patient-specific tumor antigen vaccine, and recombinant human interleukin-2. These interventions will be assessed for their ability to modulate T-cell number, T-cell function, and T-cell specificity during the period of T-cell repopulation. Such modulation may result in the effective reconstitution of generalized T-cell immunity with the generation of vaccine-specific anti-tumor T-cell responses.
Radiotherapy plus Single-Agent Chemotherapy/Radiosensitization. Involved-field irradiation using 4-15 MV photons; plus Gemcitabine, NSC-613327.
Tumors of the spine can be described as primary, meaning that the tumor originated from cells normally found in the spine, or metastatic, cells from another area of the body that have spread to the spine. Metastatic tumors are more common than primary tumors. Tumors of the spine can press against the spinal cord and interfere with information traveling down from the brain to the nerves of the spinal cord. As a result, patients with spinal tumors can suffer from loss of movement and sensation within areas of the body below the tumor. In addition, tumors of the spine are typically painful conditions. Presently, the treatment of choice for spinal tumors is radiation therapy. However, many tumors of the spine become resistant to radiation therapy. In addition, because the spinal cord is often so close to the tumor it can be damaged by the radiation. Absolute (100%) ethanol is commonly known as "alcohol". It is the same kind of alcohol found in alcoholic beverages. When pure alcohol is injected directly into a tumor it can destroy cells and blood vessels. Because of this feature, researchers would like to test the effectiveness of alcohol in treating patients with spinal tumors. Researchers believe that intratumoral ethanol injection is a treatment worth studying more closely because it is minimally invasive, has been proven to be an effective treatment for other types of metastatic tumors, can be used repeatedly, and does not interfere with other treatments such as surgery. In addition to testing the effectiveness of intratumoral ethanol injection, this study will attempt to determine the causes of pain associated with spinal tumors.
The objective of this trial is to determine the maximum tolerated dose and the toxicities of paclitaxel given as a short hour infusion in children with refractory malignancy.
The purpose of this study is to identify affected individuals in families with prostate cancer and to use this information to identify genetic markers closely-linked to the disease gene.
Diseases of mineral metabolism such as familial multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (FMEN1), familial hypocaliuric hypercalcemia (FHH), familial hyperparathyroidism (FH), and pseudohypoparathyroidism (PHP) are known as hereditary abnormalities. Meaning these conditions are passed from parents to their children through genes. These specific conditions result in abnormal levels of calcium in the blood. This study was designed to help researchers understand more about the genes that are responsible for these disorders. By learning more about the genetic process involved in hereditary abnormalities, new tests and treatments can be developed. Subjects for this study will be members of families that have had relatives diagnosed with a disease of mineral metabolism. Participants will be asked to give blood samples for DNA extraction. DNA is the part of cells that carries genetic information. The DNA will be analyzed and the results given to the subjects. Genetic counseling will be provided to subjects to aid in interpreting their results....
Thymidylate synthase (TS), an enzyme which acts by utilizing 5,10-CH(2)FH(4) in the reductive methylation of deoxyuridylate (dUMP), is required for the de novo synthesis of thymidylate and is a potential chemotherapeutic target. ZD1694 is a new quinazolone folate analog that directly inhibits TS. This phase I trial and pharmacokinetic study will describe and define the toxicities, determine the MTD, and describe the plasma pharmacokinetics of ZD1694 in pediatric patients with refractory cancer. The starting dose for this trial will be 2.0 mg/m(2) administered as a 15 minute IV infusion every 21 days.