View clinical trials related to Astrocytoma.
Filter by:Biological therapies such as gefitinib may interfere with the growth of the tumor cells and may make the tumor cells more sensitive to radiation therapy. This phase I/II trial is studying how well giving gefitinib together with radiation therapy works in treating children with newly diagnosed glioma.
IL13-PE38QQR is an oncology drug product consisting of IL13 (interleukin-13) and PE38QQR (a bacteria toxin). IL13-PE38QQR is a protein that exhibits cell killing activity against a variety of IL13 receptor-positive tumor cell lines indicating that it may show a therapeutic benefit. In reciprocal competition experiments, the interaction between IL13-PE38QQR and the IL13 receptors was shown to be highly specific for human glioma cells. Prior to treatment, patients will have physical and neurologic exams, MRI to measure the extent of tumor, tumor biopsy, and screening laboratory tests. On Day 1, one or two catheters will be inserted directly into the tumor, after which a CT scan will be used to confirm placement. Each patient will receive one IL13-PE38QQR infusion, and the tumor will be surgically removed on approximately Day 15. In the first group of patients, IL13-PE38QQR will be infused directly into the tumor for 4 days. Depending on effectiveness or side effects of the study drug, the duration will be increased stepwise to a maximum of 7 days in subsequent groups of patients. Once duration of infusion has been determined, the dose of IL13-PE38QQR will be increased stepwise (in separate groups of patients), depending on effectiveness or side effects of the study drug. The activity of the drug against the tumor cells will be judged by examining the removed tumor tissue. Patients will have neurologic exams and MRI scans immediately after the resection and every eight weeks until disease progression is observed.
The objective of this study is to evaluate patients with tumors of the central nervous system (CNS) for eligibility in the National Cancer Institute s research studies. These patients will undergo a series of procedures, usually including a complete medical history and physical examination; laboratory testing of blood, CSF, urine, bone marrow, or other samples; an evaluation of tumor location and size by x-rays, CT (computed tomography) or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans, or nuclear medicine scans; lumbar puncture; electrocardiogram and echocardiogram; and procedures to evaluate the function of specific organs. A bone marrow biopsy is occasionally performed. Research samples may also be collected and stored to avoid having to do a painful test more than once. Tissue specimens collected during this process may be stored and used in future studies. Patients of both genders, any age, and all racial and ethnic groups with tumors of the CNS or a history of a CNS tumor are eligible. Up to 100 people are expected to participate. The physician will discuss the results of these procedures with the patient and his or her family. On the basis of the eligibility screening and the patient s wishes, the patient may then be enrolled in a primary research protocol.
This study will analyze tissue and blood samples from patients with gliomas (a type of brain tumor) to develop a new classification system for these tumors. Tumor classification can help guide treatment, in part by predicting how aggressive a tumor may be. Gliomas are currently classified according to their grade (how quickly they may grow) and the type of cells they are composed of. This system, however, is not always accurate, and sometimes two tumors that appear to be identical under the microscope will have very different growth patterns and responses to treatment. The new classification system is based on tumor genes and proteins, and may be used in the future to better predict a given tumor s behavior and response to therapy. Patients with evidence of a primary brain tumor and patients with a known glioma who will be undergoing surgery to remove the tumor may participate in this study. A sample of tumor tissue removed in the course of a participant s normal clinical care will be used in this study for laboratory analysis of genes and chromosome abnormalities. A small blood sample will also be collected for genetic analysis. In addition, clinical information on patients condition and response to treatment will be collected every 6 months over several years. This information will include findings from physical and neurologic examinations, radiographic findings, and response to therapy, including surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.
In this study an investigational replication-defective, recombinant adenovirus expressing the interferon-beta gene (BG00001) will be directly injected into tumors, in patients with recurrent Grade III and Grade IV Gliomas, in order to deliver the hIFN-beta gene. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the safety and any harmful effects of injection of BG00001 into brain tumors. Also, this study will help determine whether the virus carrying the beta interferon gene will enter brain tumor cells and cause the cancer cells to die. This study will require one hospital admission for the actual procedure of drug administration. All other visits will be conducted on an out-patient basis
Phase I trial to study the effectiveness of erlotinib in treating patients who have metastatic or unresectable solid tumors and liver or kidney dysfunction. Biological therapies such as erlotinib may interfere with the growth of tumor cells and slow the growth of the tumor
This clinical trial will study the safety and effectiveness of an engineered herpes virus, G207, administered directly into the brain of patients with recurrent brain cancer. G207 has been modified from the herpes virus that causes cold sores (called herpes simplex virus type 1 or HSV-1). G207 has been designed so that it should kill tumor cells, but not harm normal brain cells. G207 has been shown to be safe in animal testing completed to date and in previous studies in patients with brain tumors. This is a phase Ib/II study. In the phase Ib portion of the study, patients will receive G207 at a dose that is higher than tested in previous human studies. Patients will initially receive 15% of the assigned dose injected directly into the brain tumor. Approximately two days later, as much of the tumor as possible will be surgically removed, and more G207 will be injected into the brain tumor bed. Patients will be monitored, and medical tests will be done at specific study timepoints. The phase II portion will begin only if there are no safety concerns in the phase Ib portion. The goals of the phase II portion of the study are to determine the safety of G207 and to study patient survival at six months after G207 dosing. In the phase II portion of the study, patients will receive a single dose of G207 at the highest dose determined to be safe in the phase Ib portion of the study. The tumor will be removed, and G207 will be injected into any remaining tumor tissue in the brain tumor bed. Patients will be closely monitored, medical tests will be performed at specific study visits, and survival will be evaluated.
RATIONALE: Biological therapies such as gefitinib may interfere with the growth of tumor cells and slow the growth of CNS tumors. PURPOSE: Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of gefitinib in treating patients who have recurrent or progressive CNS tumors.
IL13-PE38QQR is an oncology drug product consisting of IL13 (interleukin-13) and PE38QQR (a bacteria toxin). IL3-PE38QQR is a protein that exhibits cell killing activity against a variety of IL13 receptor-positive tumor cell lines indicating that it may show a therapeutic benefit. In reciprocal competition experiments, the interaction between IL13-PE38QQR and the IL13 receptors was shown to be highly specific for human glioma cells. IL13-PE38QQR will be infused in two courses of 96 hours each, eight weeks apart, directly into the malignant brain tumors of patients to determine the dose of drug these patients can tolerate. After that, the selected dose will be studied to give an estimate of the response rate, response duration, time to response, and survival after infusing that dose of IL13-PE38QQR into the recurrent malignant glioma.
IL13-PE38QQR is an oncology drug product consisting of IL13 (interleukin-13) and PE38QQR (a bacteria toxin). IL3-PE38QQR is a protein that exhibits cell killing activity against a variety of IL13 receptor-positive tumor cell lines indicating that it may show a therapeutic benefit. In reciprocal competition experiments, the interaction between IL13-PE38QQR and the IL13 receptors was shown to be highly specific for human glioma cells. Patients will receive IL13-PE38QQR via a catheter placed directly into the brain tumor. Tumor recurrence will be confirmed by biopsy. The next day, patients will start a continuous 48-hour infusion of IL13-PE38QQR into the tumor. The dose (concentration) will be increased in the pre-resection infusion until the endpoint is reached (histologic evidence of tumor cytotoxicity or a maximum tolerated dose). Tumor resection will be planned for one week after biopsy, plus or minus 1 day. A histologically-effective concentration (HEC) will be determined using pathologic observations. At the end of resection, three catheters will be placed in brain tissue next to the resection site and assessed within 24 hours using MRI. On the second day after surgery, IL13-PE38QQR infusion will begin and will continue for 4 days. The lowest pre-resection IL13-PE38QQR concentration will be used as the starting dose for post-resection infusions. After an HEC or maximum tolerated dose (MTD) is determined, the pre-resection infusion will no longer be administered. Subsequent patients will have tumor resection and placement of three peri-tumoral catheters at study entry. IL13-PE38QQR will be infused starting on the second day after surgery and continuing for 4 days. Escalation of the post-resection IL13-PE38QQR concentration will be continued until the previously-defined HEC or MTD is reached, after which duration of the post-resection infusion will be increased in one day increments for up to 6 days. If a post-resection MTD is obtained, there will be no increase in duration of infusion. In the final stage of the study, catheters will be placed 2 days after tumor resection, and a 4-day IL13-PE38QQR infusion will begin the day after catheter placement. Patients will be observed clinically and radiographically for toxicity and duration of tumor control.