View clinical trials related to Nerve Sheath Neoplasms.
Filter by:Plexiform neurofibromas (PN) represent one of the most significant complications of NF1. They are a significant cause of morbidity in neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) by causing pain, impaired function, and disfigurement. They may become life-threatening through mechanical compression of vital organs such as the trachea, great vessels, or spinal cord, and may significantly interfere with normal function when located in the extremities or orbit. The only effective therapy for PN is total surgical excision. However, due to local infiltration of normal tissue, gross total resection is usually not feasible, and often PN are completely unresectable due to their location, size, and multiplicity. To date, other therapeutic modalities, including radiotherapy and chemotherapy, have not shown efficacy in PN. In the present study, local photodynamic therapy will be investigated. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) utilizes a drug, called a photosensitizer or photosensitizing agent, and a particular type of light. When photosensitizers are exposed to a specific wavelength of light, they produce a form of oxygen that kills nearby cells. PDT is expected to result in treatment response with shrinkage of tumor. The main purpose of the study is to determine the maximum amount of light that can be safely used with LS11 for PDT in children with plexiform neurofibromas.
The purpose of this research study is to determine if ranibizumab can prevent the growth of neurofibromas. We will also be collecting extra blood and serum samples to help us learn more about NF1. Ranibizumab is a drug that affects the development of blood vessels that feed tumors. It targets a substance in the body called VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor). VEGF helps tumors to grow and survive by supporting the growth of blood vessels that bring nutrients to the tumor. VEGF is made by cancerous tumors and also by non-cancerous tumors such as neurofibromas.
Treatment Overview This phase II study will evaluate the activity of sirolimus in children and adults with NF1 and inoperable plexiform neurofibromas that have the potential to cause significant morbidity. The following disease strata will be studied: Stratum 1: Progressive plexiform neurofibroma(s) that have the potential to cause significant morbidity. The endpoint will be time to tumor progression based on volumetric tumor measurements. Stratum 2: Plexiform neurofibromas without documented radiographic progression at trial entry. The endpoint will be radiographic response. As of May 2009, Stratum 2 was closed to enrollment. Stratum 1 is active.
This study will examine the response rate and the 6-month progression-free survival rates of subjects with advanced sarcoma treated with dasatinib.
This study assesses the safety and efficacy of imatinib mesylate treatment of patients with malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors
This study is for slow growing tumors called plexiform neurofibromas (PNF) which are a relatively common problem in people with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). These tumors are benign but as they grow, they can become disfiguring as well as disabling or even life threatening. They often cause pain, difficulty using arms or legs because of spinal cord compression, and/or nerve damage. At present, the only available therapy for plexiform neurofibromas is to try to surgically remove as much of the tumor as is possible. Because these tumors grow into the surrounding areas, total surgical resection is often impossible. Most tumors will re-grow after surgery if the entire tumor cannot be removed. To date, other treatments including chemotherapy and radiotherapy have not been able to shrink these tumors. Interferon is a drug that is used for different types of tumors as well as for hepatitis. It has been used in the treatment of plexiform neurofibromas (PNF) with some subjects showing improvement in symptoms and/or a decrease in the size of the tumor. Most subjects had no further growth of their tumor while on the PEG-Intron. The drug used in this study is PEG (pegylated)-Intron. PEG-Intron is a long acting form of interferon which keeps the drug from being broken down in the body for a longer period of time and potentially could be more effective than the short-acting interferon. PEG-Intron has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of Hepatitis C. The goals of this study are: 1. To determine how your child's plexiform neurofibroma responds to PEG-Intron when given weekly. 2. To determine the side effects of PEG-Intron when given weekly to participants with plexiform neurofibromas. 3. To evaluate a new method of measuring changes in the size of tumors called volume analysis. This method measures the entire volume of a tumor in three dimensions. The standard method of measuring tumors uses only the length and/or width of the tumor. By studying the different ways of measuring tumors the investigators hope to be able to determine which method is the most accurate and useful.
This phase II trial is studying how well AZD2171 works in treating patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 and plexiform neurofibroma and/or neurofibroma near the spine. AZD2171 may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth and by blocking blood flow to the tumor.
RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as doxorubicin, ifosfamide, and etoposide, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to kill tumor cells. Giving combination chemotherapy with or without radiation therapy before surgery may make the tumor smaller and reduce the amount of normal tissue that needs to be removed. Giving combination chemotherapy after surgery may kill any tumor cells that remain after surgery. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well combination chemotherapy works in treating patients with stage III or stage IV malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors.
Background: Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1) is an autosomal dominant, progressive genetic disorder characterized by diverse clinical manifestations. Patients with NF1 have an increased risk of developing tumors of the central and peripheral nervous system including plexiform neurofibromas, which are benign nerve sheath tumors that may cause severe morbidity and possible mortality. The histopathology of these tumors suggests that events connected with formation of fibroblasts might constitute a point of molecular vulnerability. Gene profile analysis demonstrates overexpression of fibroblast growth factor, epidermal growth factor, and platelet-derived growth factor in plexiform neurofibromas in patients with NF1. Pirfenidone is a novel antifibrotic agent that inhibits these and other growth factors. Clinical experience in adults has demonstrated that pirfenidone is effective in a variety of fibrosing conditions and pirfenidone is presently under study in a phase II trial for adults with progressive plexiform neurofibromas. A phase I trial of pirfenidone in children and young adults with NF1 and plexiform neurofibromas was completed, and has established the phase II dose (the dose resulting in a mean drug exposure [AUC] not more than 1 standard deviation below the mean drug exposure [AUC] in adults who received pirfenidone at the dose level demonstrating activity in fibrosing conditions). Pirfenidone has been well tolerated. Objectives: To determine whether pirfenidone increases the time to disease progression based on volumetric measurements in children and young adults with NF1 and growing plexiform neurofibromas. To define the objective response rate to pirfenidone in NF1-related plexiform neurofibromas. To describe and define the toxicities of pirfenidone. Eligibility: Individuals (greater than or equal to 3 years to less than or equal to 21 years of age) with a clinical diagnosis of NF1 and inoperable, measurable, and progressive plexiform neurofibromas that have the potential to cause substantial morbidity. Design: The phase II dose will be used in a single stage, single arm phase II trial The natural history of the growth of plexiform neurofibromas is unknown. For this reason, time to disease progression on the placebo arm of an ongoing National Cancer Institute (NCI) Pediatric Oncology Branch (POB) placebo-controlled, double-blind, cross-over phase II trial of the farnesyltransferase inhibitor R115777 for children and young adults with NF1 and progressive plexiform neurofibromas. Funding source - Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Office of Orphan Products Development (OOPD)
RATIONALE: Erlotinib may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking the enzymes necessary for tumor cell growth. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well erlotinib works in treating patients with unresectable or metastatic malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor.