28 Clinical Trials for Various Conditions
This phase II trial studies the effect of stereotactic radiosurgery and pembrolizumab in treating patients with meningioma that has come back (recurrent). Stereotactic radiosurgery is a type of external radiation therapy that uses special equipment to position the patient and precisely give a single large dose of radiation to a tumor. It is used to treat brain tumors and other brain disorders that cannot be treated by regular surgery. Pembrolizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody. An antibody is a common type of protein made in the body in response to a foreign substance. Antibodies attack foreign substances and protect against infection. Antibodies can also be produced in the laboratory for use in treating patients; an antibody that is made in the lab is also known as a humanized monoclonal antibody. Pembrolizumab is a highly selective humanized monoclonal antibody that is designed to block the action of the receptor PD-1. It has been studied in lab experiments and in other types of cancer. The PD-1 receptor works to keep the immune system from noticing tumor cells. The addition of pembrolizumab to stereotactic radiosurgery may improve the progression free survival of patients with meningioma.
This pilot clinical trial compares gadobutrol with standard of care contrast agents, gadopentetate dimeglumine or gadobenate dimeglumine, before dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE)-magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in diagnosing patients with multiple sclerosis, grade II-IV glioma, or tumors that have spread to the brain. Gadobutrol is a type of contrast agent that may increase DCE-MRI sensitivity for the detection of tumors or other diseases of the central nervous system. It is not yet known whether gadobutrol is more effective than standard of care contrast agents before DCE-MRI in diagnosing patients with multiple sclerosis, grade II-IV glioma, or tumors that have spread to the brain.
This pilot clinical trial studies gallium Ga 68-edotreotide (68Ga-DOTATOC) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) in finding brain tumors in younger patients. Diagnostic procedures, such as gallium Ga 68-edotreotide PET/CT imaging, may help find and diagnose brain tumors.
This clinical trial studies yoga therapy in treating patients with malignant brain tumors. Yoga therapy may improve the quality of life of patients with brain tumors
RATIONALE: Monoclonal antibodies, such as bevacizumab, 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 II trial is studying how well bevacizumab works in treating patients with recurrent or progression meningiomas.
This phase I trial studies the side effects and best dose of gamma-secretase/Notch signalling pathway inhibitor RO4929097 (RO4929097) when given together with temozolomide and radiation therapy in treating patients with newly diagnosed malignant glioma. Enzyme inhibitors, such as gamma-secretase/Notch signalling pathway inhibitor RO4929097, may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as temozolomide, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to kill tumor cells. Giving gamma-secretase/Notch signalling pathway inhibitor RO4929097 together with temozolomide and radiation therapy may kill more tumor cells.
RATIONALE: Specialized radiation therapy, such as proton beam radiation therapy, that delivers a high dose of radiation directly to the tumor may kill more tumor cells and cause less damage to normal tissue. PURPOSE: This phase I/II trial is studying the best way to give proton beam radiation therapy and to see how well it works in treating patients with low grade gliomas.
Bevacizumab may reduce CNS side effects caused by radiation therapy. This randomized phase II trial is studying how well bevacizumab works in reducing CNS side effects in patients who have undergone radiation therapy to the brain for primary brain tumor, meningioma, or head and neck cancer.
This phase I trial is studying the side effects of fluorine F18 EF5 when given during positron emission tomography to find oxygen in tumor cells of patients who are undergoing surgery or biopsy for newly diagnosed brain tumors. Diagnostic procedures using fluorine F 18 EF5 and positron emission tomography to detect tumor hypoxia may help in planning cancer treatment
Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of imatinib mesylate in treating patients who have recurrent meningioma. Imatinib mesylate may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking the enzymes necessary for tumor cell growth
Phase I/II trial to study the effectiveness of erlotinib in treating patients who have recurrent malignant glioma or recurrent or progressive meningioma. Erlotinib may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking the enzymes necessary for tumor cell growth.
RATIONALE: Armodafinil may help relieve fatigue and improve quality of life in patients with cancer receiving radiation therapy to the brain. PURPOSE: This clinical trial is studying how well armodafinil works in treating fatigue caused by radiation therapy in patients with primary brain tumors.
RATIONALE: Sometimes a tumor may not need treatment until it progresses. In this case, observation may be sufficient. Specialized radiation therapy that delivers a high dose of radiation directly to the tumor, such as 3-dimensional conformal radiation therapy and intensity-modulated radiation therapy, may kill more tumor cells and cause less damage to normal tissue. It is not yet known whether observation is more effective than radiation therapy in treating patients with meningioma. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying observation to see how well it works compared with radiation therapy in treating patients with grade I, grade II, or grade III meningioma.
RATIONALE: Temsirolimus may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Studying samples of blood and tumor tissue from patients with cancer in the laboratory may help doctors learn more about how this treatment is used by the body. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of using a microdialysis catheter to see what effect temsirolimus has on various biological substances associated with brain tumors over time.
RATIONALE: Bortezomib may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth and by blocking blood flow to the tumor. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as temozolomide, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Giving bortezomib together with temozolomide may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: This phase I trial is studying the side effects and best dose of bortezomib when given together with temozolomide in treating patients with brain tumors or other solid tumors that have not responded to treatment.
RATIONALE: Learning whether temozolomide changes semen or sperm in patients with brain tumors may help doctors learn about the long-term effects of treatment and plan the best treatment. PURPOSE: This clinical trial is studying changes in semen or sperm caused by temozolomide in patients with newly diagnosed, progressive, or recurrent primary malignant brain tumors.
RATIONALE: Donepezil may help lessen confusion and fatigue and improve mood and quality of life in patients who have undergone radiation therapy for brain tumors. It is not yet known whether donepezil is more effective than a placebo in lessening side effects of radiation therapy in patients with brain tumors. PURPOSE: This randomized phase III trial is studying donepezil to see how well it works in lessening side effects of radiation therapy compared with a placebo in patients who have undergone radiation therapy for brain tumors.
RATIONALE: Imatinib mesylate may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as hydroxyurea, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Giving imatinib mesylate together with hydroxyurea may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well giving imatinib mesylate together with hydroxyurea works in treating patients with recurrent or progressive meningioma.
RATIONALE: Vatalanib may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking blood flow to the tumor and by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well vatalanib works in treating patients with recurrent or progressive meningioma.
RATIONALE: Learning about the side effects of stereotactic radiosurgery in patients with brain tumors or other brain disorders may help doctors plan treatment and help patients live more comfortably. PURPOSE: This clinical trial is studying the acute side effects in patients who are undergoing stereotactic radiosurgery for brain tumors or other brain disorders.
RATIONALE: Methylphenidate may decrease side effects of radiation therapy. It is not yet known if methylphenidate is effective in improving quality of life in patients with primary or metastatic brain tumors. PURPOSE: Randomized phase III trial to determine the effectiveness of methylphenidate in improving quality of life in patients who have brain tumors and are undergoing radiation therapy.
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.
RATIONALE: Photodynamic therapy uses light and photosensitizing drugs to kill tumor cells and may be an effective treatment for refractory brain tumors. PURPOSE: This phase I trial is studying the side effects and best dose of photodynamic therapy using porfimer sodium in treating patients with refractory brain tumors, including astrocytoma, ependymoma, and medulloblastoma.
Approximately 90% of children with malignant brain tumors that have recurred or relapsed after receiving conventional therapy will die of disease. Despite this terrible and frustrating outcome, continued treatment of this population remains fundamental to improving cure rates. Studying this relapsed population will help unearth clues to why conventional therapy fails and how cancers continue to resist modern advances. Moreover, improvements in the treatment of this relapsed population will lead to improvements in upfront therapy and reduce the chance of relapse for all. Novel therapy and, more importantly, novel approaches are sorely needed. This trial proposes a new approach that evaluates rational combination therapies of novel agents based on tumor type and molecular characteristics of these diseases. The investigators hypothesize that the use of two predictably active drugs (a doublet) will increase the chance of clinical efficacy. The purpose of this trial is to perform a limited dose escalation study of multiple doublets to evaluate the safety and tolerability of these combinations followed by a small expansion cohort to detect preliminary efficacy. In addition, a more extensive and robust molecular analysis of all the participant samples will be performed as part of the trial such that we can refine the molecular classification and better inform on potential response to therapy. In this manner the tolerability of combinations can be evaluated on a small but relevant population and the chance of detecting antitumor activity is potentially increased. Furthermore, the goal of the complementary molecular characterization will be to eventually match the therapy with better predictive biomarkers. PRIMARY OBJECTIVES: * To determine the safety and tolerability and estimate the maximum tolerated dose/recommended phase 2 dose (MTD/RP2D) of combination treatment by stratum. * To characterize the pharmacokinetics of combination treatment by stratum. SECONDARY OBJECTIVE: * To estimate the rate and duration of objective response and progression free survival (PFS) by stratum.
RATIONALE: Donepezil and EGb761 may be effective in improving neurocognitive function (such as thinking, attention, concentration, and memory) and may improve quality of life in patients who have undergone radiation therapy to the brain. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well donepezil or EGb761 works in improving neurocognitive function in patients who have undergone radiation therapy for primary brain tumor or brain metastases.
RATIONALE: Thalidomide may stop the growth of cancer by stopping blood flow to the tumor. Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop cancer cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Combining thalidomide with docetaxel may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: Phase I trial to study the effectiveness of combining thalidomide with docetaxel in treating patients who have advanced cancer.
RATIONALE: Cyproheptadine hydrochloride may prevent weight loss caused by cancer or cancer treatment. It is not yet known whether cyproheptadine is more effective than a placebo in preventing weight loss in young patients receiving chemotherapy for cancer. PURPOSE: This randomized phase III trial is studying cyproheptadine hydrochloride to see how well it works in preventing weight loss in young patients receiving chemotherapy for cancer.
RATIONALE: MS-275 may stop the growth of cancer cells by blocking the enzymes necessary for their growth. PURPOSE: This phase I trial is studying the side effects and best dose of MS-275 in treating patients with advanced solid tumors or lymphoma.