23 Clinical Trials for Various Conditions
RATIONALE: Studying samples of tumor tissue from patients with cancer in the laboratory may help doctors learn more about changes that occur in DNA and identify biomarkers related to cancer. PURPOSE: This research study is evaluating a tumor marker for testicular cancer, skin cancer, small intestine cancer, and pancreatic cancer.
RATIONALE: Photodynamic therapy uses a drug that becomes active when it is exposed to a certain kind of light. When the drug is active, tumor cells are killed. This may be an effective treatment against skin cancer. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying the side effects of photodynamic therapy using aminolevulinic acid and to see how well it works in treating patients with skin cancer.
RATIONALE: Gefitinib may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. PEG-interferon alfa-2a may interfere with the growth of tumor cells and slow the growth of skin cancer. Giving gefitinib together with PEG-interferon alfa-2a may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: This phase I/II trial is studying the side effects and best dose of PEG-interferon alfa-2a when given together with gefitinib and to see how well they work in treating patients with unresectable or metastatic skin cancer.
RATIONALE: Testing of skin that has been exposed to artificial sunlight may help in understanding the genetic processes involved in the development of skin cancer. PURPOSE: This trial is studying the effect of solar-simulated ultraviolet radiation on skin with or without sunscreen in healthy adults with skin that burns easily after only slight tanning during sun exposure.
RATIONALE: Biological therapies, such as imiquimod cream, work in different ways to stimulate the immune system and stop tumor cells from growing. PURPOSE: This randomized phase I trial is studying how well imiquimod cream works in treating patients with basal cell skin cancer.
RATIONALE: Celecoxib may be effective in preventing skin cancer by decreasing redness caused by exposure to ultraviolet light and changing potential skin cancer biomarkers. It is not yet known whether celecoxib is more effective than a placebo in preventing skin cancer. PURPOSE: Randomized phase II trial to study the effectiveness of celecoxib in preventing skin cancer in participants exposed to ultraviolet light.
RATIONALE: Chemoprevention therapy is the use of certain drugs to try to prevent the development of cancer. The use of celecoxib may be an effective way to prevent the development of basal cell carcinoma. PURPOSE: Randomized phase II trial to determine the effectiveness of celecoxib in preventing basal cell carcinoma in patients who have basal cell nevus syndrome.
RATIONALE: Chemoprevention therapy is the use of certain drugs to try to prevent the development or recurrence of cancer. Eflornithine with or without triamcinolone may be effective in preventing nonmelanoma skin cancer. PURPOSE: Randomized phase II trial to compare the effectiveness of eflornithine with or without triamcinolone in preventing nonmelanoma skin cancer in patients who have actinic keratosis.
RATIONALE: Photodynamic therapy uses light and drugs that make cancer cells more sensitive to light to kill tumor cells. Photosensitizing drugs such as HPPH are absorbed by cancer cells and, when exposed to light, become active and kill the cancer cells. PURPOSE: Phase I trial to study the effectiveness of photodynamic therapy with HPPH in treating patients who have basal cell skin cancer.
RATIONALE: Green tea extract contains ingredients that may inhibit the growth of actinic keratosis. PURPOSE: Randomized phase II trial to determine the effectiveness of green tea extract in treating patients who have actinic keratosis.
RATIONALE: Chemoprevention therapy is the use of certain drugs to try to prevent the development or recurrence of cancer. The use of acitretin may be an effective way to prevent the recurrence or further development of skin cancer. PURPOSE: Randomized clinical trial to study the effectiveness of acitretin in preventing skin cancers in patients with at least two previously treated skin cancers who have undergone organ transplantation.
RATIONALE: A low-fat, balanced diet may prevent disease progression in patients with nonmelanomatous skin cancer. PURPOSE: Randomized phase II trial to study the effectiveness of a low-fat, balanced diet to prevent disease progression in patients with nonmelanomatous skin cancer.
RATIONALE: Photodynamic therapy uses light and drugs that make cancer cells more sensitive to light to kill tumor cells. Photodynamic therapy using aminolevulinic acid may be effective in treating patients with skin cancer. PURPOSE: This randomized phase II trial is studying how well photodynamic therapy that includes aminolevulinic acid works in treating patients with skin cancer.
RATIONALE: Photodynamic therapy uses light and drugs that make cancer cells more sensitive to light to kill tumor cells. Photodynamic therapy using aminolevulinic acid cream may be effective in treating patients with skin cancer. PURPOSE: This randomized phase II trial is studying how well photodynamic therapy works in treating patients with skin cancer.
RATIONALE: New diagnostic procedures, such as bioelectric field imaging, may help find and diagnose melanoma and other skin cancers. It may also be a less invasive way to check for skin cancer. PURPOSE: This phase I trial is studying bioelectric field imaging in diagnosing melanoma and other skin cancers in patients with skin lesions.
RATIONALE: The LMB-2 immunotoxin can find tumor cells and kill them without harming normal cells. Vaccines made from peptides may help the body build an effective immune response to kill tumor cells. Giving LMB-2 immunotoxin together with vaccine therapy may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well giving LMB-2 immunotoxin together with vaccine therapy works in treating patients with metastatic melanoma that cannot be removed by surgery.
RATIONALE: Computer-based continuing education courses may be effective in improving the skills of primary care doctors to identify skin cancer risk factors, perform skin cancer exams, and counsel patients. They may also improve the skills of primary care doctors to assess and counsel patients on their weight, diet, and physical activity. PURPOSE: This randomized clinical trial is studying how well computer-based continuing education courses work in improving doctors' ability to perform skin cancer or weight control exams and counseling during routine office visits.
RATIONALE: Photodynamic therapy uses a drug that becomes active when it is exposed to a certain kind of light. When the drug is active, tumor cells are killed. Photodynamic therapy using silicon phthalocyanine 4 may be effective against skin cancer. PURPOSE: This phase I trial is studying the side effects and best dose of photodynamic therapy using silicon phthalocyanine 4 in treating participants with actinic keratosis, Bowen's disease, skin cancer, or stage I or stage II mycosis fungoides.
RATIONALE: Chemoprevention therapy is the use of certain drugs to try to prevent the development or recurrence of cancer. Isotretinoin may be effective in preventing the development or recurrence of skin cancer. PURPOSE: Clinical trial to study the effectiveness of isotretinoin in preventing or slowing the growth of skin cancer in patients who have xeroderma pigmentosum or basal cell carcinoma.
RATIONALE: Photodynamic therapy uses light and drugs that make cancer cells more sensitive to light to kill tumor cells. This may be effective treatment for skin cancer and cancer that is metastatic to the skin. PURPOSE: Phase I trial to study the effectiveness of photodynamic therapy in treating patients who have either squamous cell or basal cell carcinoma of the skin or solid tumors metastatic to the skin.
RATIONALE: SU5416 may stop the growth of cancer cells by stopping blood flow to the tumor. PURPOSE: Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of SU5416 in treating patients who have advanced or recurrent cancer of the head and neck.
RATIONALE: Chemoprevention therapy is the use of certain drugs to try to prevent the development or recurrence of cancer. The use of isotretinoin may be an effective way to prevent cancer or stop cancer from growing. Interferon alfa may interfere with the growth of cancer cells. Combining isotretinoin and interferon may be an effective treatment for some recurrent cancers. PURPOSE: Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of interferon alfa plus isotretinoin in treating patients with recurrent cancer.
The goal of this clinical research study is to learn if giving Iressa (Gefitinib or ZD1839) with surgery and/or radiation will help to control squamous cell carcinoma of the skin. The safety of this treatment will also be studied