View clinical trials related to Merkel Cell Carcinoma.
Filter by:Patients with melanoma, some other rare skin cancers, and some cancers of the penis and scrotum can have their cancer spread to the lymph nodes in the upper part of the leg, called the groin. Medically, this area is called the inguinal area. At present, for melanomas and skin cancers this type of spread is usually found with a special test called a "sentinel lymph node biopsy". This procedure can find spread of even a few cells in a single lymph node—allowing the treating doctor to find the spread very early. Treatment for patients with skin cancer in the lymph nodes in this area is to remove all of the lymph nodes in this area. In patients with cancers of the penis and scrotum who do hot have any evidence of cancer having spread either by physical examination or by radiology tests, the lymph nodes in this area are removed to check and see if there is cancer in them. This is called staging. At present, the standard way to remove all of the lymph nodes in the groin is by a large incision, approximately 8-10 inches in length. For patients who have this operation, there is a very high incidence of infection after surgery: as many as 50% as patients can have a problem after surgery. These infections range from a low grade skin infection needing oral antibiotics to deep infections requiring the wound to be opened and occasionally needing readmission to the hospital and antibiotics given via the vein. With the advent of new technology and new equipment, the ability to perform this procedure through small incisions away from the groin and further down the leg has become possible. This procedure has never been performed routinely nor compared side by side to the standard open approach. The investigators propose to perform this protocol in two phases. The investigators have performed procedures in 20 groins to this point and have confirmed the number of lymph nodes and visually verified that the procedure is identical to the open procedure. The investigators performed these procedures in order to insure that the investigators were offering an equivalent option regardless of which procedure the patient is randomized to. The study will involve the randomization of patients undergoing the procedure. The investigators will randomize the next 110 patients in a 2:1 fashion (two people will get the videoscopic procedure for every one who gets the open procedure) until 73 patients are included in the video arm and 37 in the open arm. Outcomes including recurrence rate, duration of drain requirements, and incidence of lymphedema will be followed. Patients will be followed using standard of care processes, including regular office visits, physical exams, and radiographic imaging, when indicated. Patients will be followed for 5 years.
This phase II trial studies the effectiveness of ImmunoPulse IL-12® in treating patients with Merkel cell cancer. ImmunoPulse IL-12® is the combination of intratumoral interleukin-12 gene (also known as tavokinogene telseplasmid [tavo]) and in vivo electroporation-mediated plasmid deoxyribonucleic acid [DNA] vaccine therapy (tavo-EP) administered using the OncoSec Medical System (OMS). Placing the gene for interleukin-12 into Merkel cells may help the mount an effective anti-tumor immune response to kill tumor cells.
A Phase II Study designed to evaluate the efficacy of Chemo-Radiotherapy in achieving loco-regional control in patients with Merkel Cell Carcinoma (MCC) of the skin. Patients will undergo PET scans to assist in staging and planning the patient's treatment as well as assessing response at the conclusion of treatment.
This will be a study where all patients will undergo a two-step procedure: Step 1 - Physicians examine the problem area of skin ONLY and record result. Step 2 - Physicians perform TBSE and record result. Eventual lesions suggestive of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers will be recorded after step 1 or step 2 examination and will be finally biopsied and histopathologically diagnosed. Exceptions to biopsy may include patients with multiple non-melanoma skin cancers (e.g. actinic keratoses or basal cell carcinomas). Each center will be provided with an electronic data sheet for patients record, or alternatively, with a paper record form. Endpoints of the study are new parameters concerning the standard of care for skin cancer screening. We expect to conclude that TBSE enables clinicians discovering an increased number of skin cancers thus resulting in earlier detection.
This study is to compare the ability of optical biopsy. Research can use light enters the skin, collected, analyzed by the computer, and a picture created for the pathologist to conventional histologic examination compare with the pathologist looking at the piece of tissue through a microscope makes the diagnosis.
RATIONALE: Monoclonal antibodies, such as BB-10901, can block tumor growth in different ways. Some block the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Others find tumor cells and help kill them or carry tumor-killing substances to them. PURPOSE: This phase I trial is studying the side effects and best dose of BB-10901 in treating patients with relapsed or refractory solid tumors.
RATIONALE: Antineoplastons are naturally-occurring substances that may also be made in the laboratory. Antineoplastons may inhibit the growth of cancer cells. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well antineoplaston therapy works in treating patients with neuroendocrine tumor that is metastatic or unlikely to respond to surgery or radiation therapy.