View clinical trials related to Gallbladder Cancer.
Filter by:The present clinical trial is a dose comparison of a multi-component active immunotherapy designed to stimulate an immune reaction to specific tumor associated antigens which are highly expressed on a large number of solid cancers.
Cancer of the gallbladder (CaGB) is one of the most common causes of malignant obstructive jaundice. Jaundice is the second most common presentation and occurs in 30-60% of patients with CaGB. It is obstructive in nature and frequently associated with pruritus, which is very disturbing for the patients. The usual mechanism of obstruction is direct infiltration of the bile duct by the tumour. Most patients with CaGB with obstructive jaundice are not amenable to a curative surgical resection and hence effective palliation is the goal of treatment. Although surgical bypass has been the traditional palliative approach, it is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. Non-operative alternatives in the form of percutaneous and endoscopic drainage are available. A few trials have shown that endoscopic drainage is better than percutaneous drainage in patients with lower end bile duct obstruction due to pancreatic and peri-ampullary cancer. However, the scenario is quite different in patients with upper end of bile duct obstruction as occurs due to CaGB. Endoscopic drainage is associated with a higher incidence of cholangitis in patients with a block at the upper end of the bile duct and the success rate varies from 40% to 80%, while percutaneous drainage may be associated with complications such as biliary leak and bleeding. There has been no randomized trial comparing endoscopic and percutaneous drainage in patients with malignant obstruction due to CaGB. The objective of the present study is to carry out a randomized prospective trial comparing percutaneous and endoscopic biliary drainage in patients with CaGB with obstructive jaundice and to assess their quality of life.
The purpose of the study is to determine whether palliative biliary stenting improves the quality of life, of gallblader cancer patients, who present with hilar block and obstructive jaundice.
RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as capecitabine, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Giving capecitabine after surgery may kill any tumor cells that remain after surgery. Sometimes, after surgery, the tumor may not need more treatment until it progresses. In this case, observation may be sufficient. It is not yet known whether capecitabine is more effective than observation in treating biliary tract cancer. PURPOSE: This randomized phase III trial is studying capecitabine to see how well it works compared with observation in treating patients with biliary tract cancer.
Erlotinib and bevacizumab have shown activity individually, as single drugs, or in combination with chemotherapy in upper gastro-intestinal cancers, including esophageal and gastro-esophageal adenocarcinomas, gastric cancer and pancreatic cancer. Biomarkers indicating an important role of EGF and VEGF have been found in these tumors, and in cholangiocarcinomas as well. There is promise that combined treatment with erlotinib and bevacizumab is active and tolerable in a broad range of upper gastro-intestinal cancers, justifying an experimental phase II-study of patients with these diagnoses, refractory or intolerant to standard systemic therapy.
RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as fluorouracil, cisplatin, oxaliplatin, and gemcitabine, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Giving more than one drug (combination chemotherapy) may kill more tumor cells. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to kill tumor cells. It is not yet known whether giving fluorouracil and cisplatin together with radiation therapy is more effective than giving gemcitabine together with oxaliplatin in treating nonmetastatic biliary tract cancer. PURPOSE: This randomized phase II/III trial is studying fluorouracil, cisplatin, and radiation therapy to see how well they work compared to gemcitabine and oxaliplatin in treating patients with nonmetastatic biliary tract cancer that cannot be removed by surgery.
The primary purpose is to compare patency of two different types of biliary metal stents, i.e. covered versus uncovered Nitinella metal stent. Secondary purposes are to determine frequency of complications in the two groups, e.g. cholecystitis, pancreatitis, and cholangitis.
RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as oxaliplatin and gemcitabine, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Erlotinib may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to kill tumor cells. Giving oxaliplatin together with gemcitabine, erlotinib, and radiation therapy may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: This phase I trial is studying the side effects and best dose of oxaliplatin, gemcitabine, and erlotinib when given together with radiation therapy in treating patients with unresectable and/or metastatic pancreatic cancer or biliary tract cancer.
RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as gemcitabine and cisplatin, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Giving more than one drug (combination chemotherapy) may kill more tumor cells. It is not yet known whether gemcitabine is more effective with or without cisplatin in treating cholangiocarcinoma or biliary tract tumors. PURPOSE: This randomized phase III trial is studying gemcitabine and cisplatin to see how well they work compared to gemcitabine alone in treating patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic cholangiocarcinoma or other biliary tract tumors.
In the United States, the incidence of biliary tract cancer and gallbladder cancer has been estimated to be 6,000-8,000 patients per year. Currently, there is no standard therapy for these tumors once the disease has spread and is inoperable. Recent small studies with gemcitabine have shown a positive response rate. The investigators plan to test the combination of gemcitabine with cisplatin for biliary tract and gallbladder cancers.