There are more than 498,563 clinical trials published worldwide with over 60,000 trials that are currently either recruiting or not yet recruiting. Use our filters on this page to find more information on current clinical trials or past clinical trials (free or paid) for study purposes and read about their results.
To determine the safety and effectiveness of combining zidovudine (AZT) and interferon alfa-2a (IFN-A2a) in a treatment for Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) in patients who have AIDS. It is hoped with the present study to define the rate at which the treatment affects the tumors and also to assess any toxic effects of the combination treatment over a period of time. In a recent study, the combination of IFN-A2a and AZT in the treatment of patients with AIDS-associated KS was evaluated and safe doses of both AZT and IFN-A2a were determined. In addition, it appeared that there was a substantial reduction in KS lesions with this therapy. Potential benefits of this combined therapy include resolution of KS lesions, prolonged survival, a decrease in the frequency and severity of opportunistic infections, improvement in CD4 cells, and a decrease in serum p24 antigens.
To provide information about the usefulness and safety of giving injections of ganciclovir (DHPG) for treating peripheral cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis. CMV retinitis is an important sight-threatening opportunistic infection which affects 1 to 2 out of every 10 patients with AIDS. Results from an earlier study suggest that about 80 percent of patients with CMV retinitis will be helped by receiving intravenous doses of DHPG.
To determine the toxicity and effectiveness of adding sargramostim (recombinant granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor; GM-CSF) to a standard chemotherapy drug combination (methotrexate, bleomycin, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and dexamethasone) known as mBACOD in the treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in patients who are infected with HIV. Treatment of patients with AIDS-associated lymphoma is achieving inferior results when compared with outcomes for non-AIDS patients. Treatment with mBACOD has been promising, but the toxicity is very high. Patients treated with mBACOD have very low white blood cell counts. GM-CSF has increased the number of white blood cells in animal studies and preliminary human studies. It is hoped that including GM-CSF among the drugs given to lymphoma patients will prevent or lessen the decrease in white blood cells caused by mBACOD.
To evaluate how the drug dextran sulfate (DS) is absorbed by the stomach and intestines when taken by mouth. To evaluate its effect on blood coagulation. DS has been reported to have anti-HIV activity. However, it is not known how much of the drug is absorbed into the bloodstream and can be used by the body when DS is taken by mouth.
To examine the usefulness and safety of the antiviral drug foscarnet in treating AIDS patients with cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection that is causing sight-threatening inflammation of the retina in one or both eyes (CMV retinitis). Because of the seriousness of sight-threatening CMV retinitis in AIDS patients and a lack of other available treatments for those patients who cannot be treated with ganciclovir (DHPG) (because of its toxic effect on the body's blood-forming cells, because it did not control the disease, or because patient's blood cell or platelet counts are too low to begin with), it is worthwhile to try an immediate trial with foscarnet. AMENDED: ACTG 093 was originally designed as a randomized dose-ranging study of foscarnet maintenance therapy. Patients enrolled between March 17, 1989, and January 1, 1990, received either 60 mg/kg/day or 90/mg/kg day as maintenance therapy following the 2 week induction period. Based on the preliminary results of ACTG 015/915, which studied maintenance doses of foscarnet of 60 mg/kg/day, 90 mg/kg/day and 120 mg/kg/day, the 60-mg/kg/day and 90/mg/kg/day arms of this study have been closed. All patients entering the study beginning January 2, 1990 will receive foscarnet maintenance therapy on a 120/mg/kg/day algorithm following induction.
To determine the following about the use of SC-48334 in patients with AIDS and advanced AIDS related complex (ARC): 1. The largest maximum tolerated dose (MTD); 2. Effectiveness against HIV; 3. Pharmacokinetics - how fast SC-48334 reaches the bloodstream, what concentration is reached, and how long it remains in the patient's blood. SC-48334 is a chemical that prevents the biochemical actions of certain enzymes in the body, and recent studies have shown that it may also prevent the activity of HIV. The study will attempt to show whether SC-48334 can safely and effectively break the cycle of HIV infection in AIDS and advanced ARC by progressively eliminating HIV.
To study the use of acyclovir (ACV) and zidovudine (AZT) in the treatment of cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis in patients with AIDS who would otherwise be treated with ganciclovir (DHPG) alone. CMV retinitis is one of the most common opportunistic infections in patients with AIDS. DHPG is at present the only drug available for widespread compassionate use in the United States. Although most patients respond to treatment with DHPG, the medication does not cure the infection. Most patients will have a relapse and will require retreatment with DHPG. Because of the large relapse rate, most people treated for CMV retinitis are placed on continuous treatment with DHPG. There are two major problems associated with ongoing use of DHPG: 1) The development of a low white blood cell (WBC) count (leukopenia) which is a known side effect of the drug; and 2) the increased risk for leukopenia when DHPG is given together with AZT, the only antiviral drug currently available for the treatment of HIV infection. Therefore, patients cannot take both AZT and DHPG at the same time because the bone marrow toxicity is made much more severe when the drugs are given together. This has resulted in the difficult decision as to whether to forgo potential life-extending therapy with AZT in order to preserve sight. An effective treatment for CMV retinitis is needed that will allow the patient to also take AZT. ACV is presently the drug of choice for severe herpes virus infections. It has been shown to be effective in suppressing severe CMV disease in patients who have received bone marrow transplants.
To define the best doses of sargramostim ( granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor; GM-CSF ), interferon alfa-2b ( IFN-A2b ), and zidovudine ( AZT ) to give together in patients with AIDS-associated Kaposi's sarcoma ( KS ), to learn about the side effects of these drugs when they are given together for 8 weeks, and to find out whether the combination of GM-CSF, IFN-A2b, and AZT has any effect on KS, HIV, or the immune system. Studies show that IFN-A2b can cause KS tumors to shrink or disappear in about 30 percent of patients. IFN-A2b can greatly reduce the growth of the HIV virus in test tube experiments and perhaps in patients. AZT has also been shown to reduce the growth of HIV and show improvements in the immune system with fewer infections. Test tube experiments show that when IFN-A2b and AZT are used together, they reduce the growth of the HIV virus much more effectively than when either drug is used alone. In recent studies of the combination of interferon alpha and AZT in patients with KS, more than 40 percent of the patients showed shrinkage of their tumors, and some showed evidence for suppression of HIV growth in the body. However, the combination of IFN-A2b with AZT often caused a marked lowering of the white blood cell (WBC) count, especially a type of WBC called the granulocyte (or neutrophil) which is important in the body's defense against infection. Recombinant human GM-CSF is a human protein which is produced in bacteria. It has been shown to cause an increase in the WBC count.
To determine the highest tolerated dose of the safety and tolerance of interferon beta (IFN-B) when it is given at the same time as zidovudine (AZT) to patients with early AIDS related Kaposi's sarcoma. In addition, the studies will determine preliminary data on response, immune function, and subcutaneous absorption. IFN-B has demonstrated a dose-dependent ability to suppress the replication of HIV in the test tube. In addition, previous studies have shown AZT to be an effective inhibitor of HIV reverse transcriptase; Phase I and II study benefits of AZT treatment include increased objective clinical improvement, decreased mortality rate, and decreased incidence of opportunistic infections. Long-term AZT use, however, presents possible limitations secondary to intolerance. This study, therefore, will investigate the potential antiviral activities of a combination of IFN-B and AZT to determine the safety and efficacy of such treatment in patients with AIDS related Kaposi's sarcoma. It is believed that combination drug therapy consisting of low doses of each drug will reduce the potential of toxicity, treatment failures, and disease recurrences resulting from drug-resistant virus mutants.
To evaluate the anti-HIV effect of single agent versus combination therapy with zidovudine (AZT) and interferon alfa-2a (IFN-A2a), as measured by p24 protein expression, viral growth and infectivity in patients with symptomatic HIV disease. To assess the safety of low dose schedules of AZT and IFN-A2a, alone and in combination, as measured by neutrophil counts and hepatic transaminase levels. To evaluate the comparative effects of single agent versus combination therapy with AZT and IFN-A2a on CD4 cell counts and skin test reactivity. AZT is known to be an effective treatment for HIV infection. However, patients may develop reactions to AZT when it is administered for long periods of time. Combining AZT with another drug at lower doses might reduce toxicity in patients and prevent the development of drug resistant strains. IFN-A2a can reduce the growth of HIV in test tube experiments and recent studies have shown that when AZT and IFN-A2a are used together they reduce the growth of HIV more effectively than when either drug is used alone. This study will examine the effectiveness and safety of these drugs when they are given together and compare these results with the effectiveness and safety of the drugs when they are used alone.