View clinical trials related to Pediatric Cancers.
Filter by:Despite relevant clinical and/or familial presentations suggesting a hereditary predisposition (early-onset, multiple primary tumors, familial aggregation), targeted genomic analysis based on the phenotype are often non contributive. As somatic cancer genes are limited, the hypothesis is that the targeted next-generation sequencing of 200 genes, selected for their implications in cancers may contribute to the understanding of many selected patients' presentation by the identification of germline deleterious mutations, and may identified phenotype overlapping and/or mosaicisms. The focus will be put on early-onset breast, ovarian, colorectal cancer or pediatric cancers and multiple primary tumors.
Background: - Gene therapy involves changing the genes inside the body s cells to stop disease. It is very closely regulated. People who have had this therapy may have problems months or even years later. Researchers do not know the long-term side effects, so they want to study people who have had the therapy. They want the study to continue over the next 15 years. Objective: - To study over time the negative side effects from genetically engineered cellular therapy. This will be studied in people who have been in Pediatric Oncology Branch (POB) gene therapy trials. Eligibility: - People who are currently or were previously in a research study with gene therapy in the National Cancer Institute POB. Design: - Participants blood will be tested right before they get the genetically changed cells. They will get the cells as part of another study. - For the next year, they will come back to the clinic or see their doctor at home at least every 3 months. They will answer questions about their health and blood will be drawn. - For the next 5 years, they will go to the clinic or see their own doctor once a year. They will have physical exam and blood will be drawn. - For 10 years after that, they will be asked every year for health information. - Participants will keep their contact information up to date with researchers. They may be phoned for more health information. - If the participant was under 18 years old when given the gene therapy and turns 18 during this follow-up, they will be asked to sign a new consent form when they turn 18.
BACKGROUND: - Despite progress, some children and young adults with solid tumors still experience poor survival. - Activated NK cells potently kill autologous pediatric solid tumors, and clinical grade procedures are available to generate large numbers of activated NK cells for adoptive cell therapy. OBJECTIVES: - Primary objectives are: 1) to assess the feasibility of harvesting and expanding activated NK cells to meet escalating dose goals in Cohort A, 2) to assess the toxicity of infusing escalating doses of activated NK cells following lymphodepleting chemotherapy without rhIL15 (cohort A), and 3) to assess the toxicity of infusing NK activated cells with escalating doses of rhIL15 (cohort B) in pediatric patients with refractory malignant solid tumors. - Secondary objectives are: 1) to identify biologically active doses of activated autologous NK cells plus or minus rhIL15 by monitoring changes in NK cell number, phenotype and function, 2) to assess pharmacokinetics and immunogenicity of rhIL15 in a pediatric population, and 3) assess antitumor effects and changes in FDG-PET following administration of activated NK cells to lymphopenic hosts plus or minus rhIL15. 4) to evaluate saftey and efficacy of subsequent cycles of autologous NK cell infusions in patients in cohort A who received benefit from the first NK cell infusion. ELIGIBILITY: - Patients in Cohort A: 2-29 years with with refractory pediatric malignant solid tumors, Patients in Cohort B: 2-25 years with refractory pediatric malignant solid tumors. - Adequate performance status and organ function, recovered from toxic effects of prior therapy, no requirement for systemic corticosteroids and no history of allogeneic stem cell transplantation. DESIGN: - All patients receive pre-NK lymphodepleting chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide. - Cohort A receives escalating doses of activated autologous NK cells to identify feasibility of generating cells and tolerability, and potentially identify an MTD. - A1: 1x10(6) NK cells/kg - A2: 1 x 10(7) NK cells/kg - A3: 1 x 10(8) NK cells/kg - If feasibility and acceptable toxicity is demonstrated for all doses in Cohort A, patients enrolled on cohort B will receive activated autologous NK cells plus escalating doses of rhIL15 using the following schema: - B1: 1 x 10(7) NK cells/kg + rhIL15 0.25 mcg/kg/d IV x 10 - B2: 1 x 10(7) NK cells/kg + rhIL15 0.5 mcg/kg/d IV x 10 - B3: 1 x 10(7) NK cells/kg + rhIL15 1 mcg/kg/d IV x 10 - B4: 1 x 10(7) NK cells/kg + rhIL15 2 mcg/kg/d IV x 10 - Three patients will be enrolled at each dose level, with the dose level expanded to 6 if dose-limiting toxicity occurs. An expanded group of 12 patients will be treated at the highest tolerable dose level. DLT toxicity monitoring will continue for 21 days after the NK infusion, or 14 days after the last rhIL15 dose in Cohort B (whichever is later).
The goal of this clinical research study is to learn if the combination of Avastin (bevacizumab) and Tykerb (lapatinib) can help to control ependymoma in pediatric patients. The safety of this drug combination will also be studied.
The purpose of this study is to determine how parents of children with cancer rate a parent-delivered massage therapy educational program for usability and satisfaction, and if massage therapy, provided by parents to their child with cancer, reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression in the child, and parenting stress in the parent.
The goal of this study is to learn about the communication, decision-making, symptom management, emotional adjustment, and spiritual needs of parents and pediatric patients treated at the Children's Cancer Hospital at M. D. Anderson (MCACC). Primary Objectives: 1. Determine the palliative care service needs of pediatric cancer patients and their parents, including communication, decision-making, symptom management, emotional and spiritual support when receiving treatment for early cancer, treatment for advanced disease, and treatment in the end-of-life period. 2. Identify intra-group differences in the categories listed in Objective 1 for pediatric cancer patients receiving treatment (a) for early cancer, (b) for advanced disease, and (c) at end-of-life. Secondary Objectives: 1. Inform the development of a Pediatric Palliative Care Program at the Children's Cancer Hospital at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center (MCACC or MDACC) based on identified needs as determined by primary study aims 1 and 2.
The goal of this clinical research study is to find out if long-term survivors of childhood head or neck cancer, who received radiation therapy as part of the overall treatment plan, are at increased risk of thickening or blockage of the carotid arteries (the major blood vessels in the neck). Researchers also want to find out if other medical conditions, such as high blood sugar, high blood cholesterol, or history of tobacco use may contribute to the thickening or blockage of the carotid arteries.
This protocol is not an independent research study, but rather a means to aggregate Children's Cancer Group protocols that are closed to patient entry for the purpose of collecting current status information on those patients treated under those protocols.
Ganoderma lucidum (Lingzhi) is a Traditional Chinese Medicine which is widely used as a means to 'strengthen immunity' among patients with cancers. However, there is no published randomized controlled clinical trial on its efficacy and safety despite the many in vitro studies on its anti-viral, anti-oxidative, anti-tumour, radioprotective, hepato-protective and immunomodulatory effects. This study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel clinical trial that investigated the benefits and safety of Ganoderma lucidum (Lingzhi) in treating children with cancers. Patients were randomized to receive identical capsules of either Lingzhi or placebo for six months. The primary outcome was the general Paediatric Quality of Life score. Secondary outcomes included immune functions, infection-related morbidities, complete blood counts and serum biochemistry, and overall and event-free survival.
Primary Objectives: 1. To examine illness-related factors (i.e., severity of illness, quality of life rating) as predictors or correlates of child adjustment to pediatric cancer. 2. To examine illness-related factors (i.e., severity of illness, quality of life rating) as predictors of school reintegration (i.e., school attendance) in children with pediatric cancer. 3. To examine a within-parent factor (i.e., parental stress) as a predictor or correlate of child adjustment to pediatric cancer. 4. To examine a within-parent factor (i.e., parental stress) as a predictor or correlate of school reintegration (i.e., school attendance). Secondary Objectives: 1. To examine a second within-parent factor (i.e., parental perception of child vulnerability) as a predictor or correlate of child adjustment to pediatric cancer. 2. To examine a second within-parent factor (i.e., parental perception of child vulnerability) as a predictor or correlate of school reintegration (i.e., school attendance) in children with pediatric cancer. 3. To develop a statistical model by which relative contributions of each predictor variable (i.e., severity of illness, quality of life, parental stress, parental perception of child vulnerability), as well as their interrelatedness, can be understood in relation to child adjustment. Exploration of each variable's contribution will affect the schematic organization of the model. 4. To examine demographic variables as covariates in the primary analyses. The variables include: child's age, gender, grade, ethnicity, diagnosis, time since diagnosis, type and duration of treatment, and time since school reintegration.