116 Clinical Trials for Various Conditions
Post-radiotherapy fragility fractures (caused by weakened bones) are an occasional complication of orthopedic oncology of soft tissue sarcoma patients. Treatment for impending fracture due to radiotherapy does exist in the form of operative stabilization, to prevent the bone from breaking. Without the ability to predict those patients at a higher risk for fracture, indications for treatment are difficult to determine. This study is to determine if there is a correlation between patients undergoing radiotherapy for soft tissue sarcoma and loss of bone density. The study wll evaluate bone loss for short and long term fracture prediction using dual-energy xray, absorptiometry (DEXA \[DXA\]) and computerized tomography scans (CT Scans)
Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is a well-established treatment for patients with metastatic brain tumors. Although SRS has a very high tumor growth control these interventions are associated with adverse radiation effects (ARE) in approximately 15 % of patients. The traditional approach, and still a mainstay, is the administration of a course of high dose anti-inflammatory corticosteroids. Currently there are no other effective oral neuroprotective agents in clinical practice which can improve outcomes of patients with ARE after radiosurgery for brain metastases. Minocycline, an antibiotic with a favorable adverse effect profile and pharmacokinetics, has been shown to have neuroprotective properties in experimental models of a variety of neurological diseases, as well as in human clinical trials. The investigators propose a single arm clinical trial, to evaluate the safety and feasibility of minocycline in improving ARE. This study will recruit 15 patients who will be treated with minocycline (100mg BID) for 3 months. This clinical trial has the potential to prove that minocycline therapy is safe in this patient population. In addition, positive results will provide preliminary evidence for its use in an array of radiosurgical indications.
Invasive cardiac procedures involve procedural guidance with x-rays in the form of fluoroscopy. X-ray exposure poses a potential risk of acute and long-term complications to staff involved in these procedures. Lead shields are placed between the operators (on their left side) and the x-ray source to limit exposure. However as the operator requires direct access to the patient and x-ray scatter occurs, full protection is not possible. Lead gowns, thyroid collars, and leaded glasses are typically worn to protect the body, thyroid, and eyes respectively, but their thickness is limited by their relatively heavy weight. Nevertheless this leaves the brain exposed. Further, interest in the risk of brain cancer in invasive cardiologists has re-emerged after a recent report of left-sided brain cancer in primary operators of interventional cardiology procedures. Lead caps have been tested in the past but the relatively heavyweight of lead has limited wide-spread implementation. The cap typically worn during invasive procedures is lightweight, has no significant x-ray absorption properties, and is worn to help maintain a sterile environment. A novel, lead-free cap, composed mainly of barium sulfate and bismuth oxide, has been developed that has been shown to absorb x-rays while being significantly lighter than lead. The investigators propose using multiple x-ray detectors to test exposure differences between the primary and secondary operators, the left side and right side of the head, and absorption via a lead-free cap.
Some patients who undergo breast cancer treatment with lumpectomy followed by radiation therapy develop significant late skin and soft tissue changes, resulting in a poor cosmetic outcome. The goal of this study is to try to predict severe tissue reactions by using a combination of three of the latest blood tests, one of which we have developed ourselves.
This study will examine the safety and effectiveness of using lithium, which has been used to enhance the effectiveness of high-dose 131I, with a single low dose (30 mCi) of 131I for thyroid ablation in patients with recently diagnosed papillary or follicular thyroid cancer who have had their thyroid gland removed and whose cancer has not spread beyond the thyroid. Participants are randomly assigned to receive lithium capsules or placebo (look-alike capsules with no active ingredient). They follow a low-iodine diet for 2 weeks before starting treatment and are then admitted to the NIH Clinical Center for study and treatment for 11 days, during which they remain on the low-iodine diet. Blood samples are collected almost every day to analyze thyroid hormones, kidney and liver function, lithium concentrations and other tests.
The goal of this randomized treatment study is to formally compare quality of life in patients with at least one pN0 hemi-neck after resection of a squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity treated with a primary radiation therapy versus a secondary targeted radiation therapy approach, to provide a high level of evidence to guide the selection of treatment options.
To estimate the mean and standard deviation (SD) of the post-treatment decreases in the interstitial fluid pressure and hypoxia-specific PET-scan signal from GRID-treated tumors in patients with locally advanced squamous-cell carcinoma of the head and neck. The possible effects of GRID radiotherapy on tumor oxygenation levels and interstitial fluid pressure within the tumors will be measured by assessing the trend and statistical significance of the difference in values for each condition obtained prior to and just after GRID exposure in each subject enrolled in the study. We expect that there may be a trend for increases in tumor oxygenation and decreases in interstitial fluid pressure which would indicate that more accurately timed additional chemotherapy and radiation therapy would improve overall patient outcomes.
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the use of a device that helps coordinate the breathing cycle in the radiation treatment of the breast in order to minimize the radiation dose to the normal structures around the breast.
This study will examine if the administration of prophylactic MucoLox formulation versus sodium bicarbonate mouthwash in subjects with head/neck cancer receiving radiation ± chemotherapy will result in significantly fewer subjects experiencing severe mucositis.
Through improved early detection and treatment, the number of long term breast cancer survivors continues to increase. There are now 2.8 million breast cancer survivors in the U.S. Florida alone adds over 9,000 women to the survivorship pool each year. Most receive radiation treatment (RT) of the affected breast and chest wall to reduce risk of recurrence. Even with advanced radiation techniques for dose conformality to minimize exposure of the highly sensitive lung, 14% of breast cancer patients treated with radiation develop clinical pulmonary toxicity, with 4% overall experiencing high grade clinical toxicity. Early diagnosis and intervention to mitigate lung radiation toxicity is increasingly important for the long term care of these survivors. The investigators' goal is to better identify breast cancer patients at high risk for experiencing severe pulmonary toxicity requiring medical intervention, provide a means to identify toxicity early on, and tailor treatment and/or early intervention on a per-patient basis.
This study will examine whether the experimental drug AdhAQP1 can increase salivary flow in patients whose parotid glands have been exposed to therapeutic radiation for treatment of head and neck cancer. Radiation may damage the parotid glands (salivary glands located under the skin in front of the ear), leading to dry mouth, infections, excessive tooth decay, mouth sores, difficulty swallowing and pain. AdhAQP1 contains the human aquaporin-1 gene, which codes for a protein that works to transport water across cells, and a virus that normally can cause colds in humans, but is modified to render it ineffective. In animal experiments, AdhAQP1 has increased saliva production for a short time. Patients between 18 years of age or older who received radiation treatment for head and neck cancer at least 5 years before enrolling in this study, who have no evidence of recurrent tumor, who have dry mouth and who secrete abnormally low levels of saliva from the parotid glands may be eligible for this study. Candidates are screened with a medical history, physical examination, blood, urine and saliva tests, electrocardiogram (EKG), chest x-ray, MRI exam, gallium scan (a nuclear medicine test to look for inflammation in the salivary glands), technetium pertechnetate scan (a nuclear medicine test to examine salivary gland function), parotid sialogram (x-ray of parotid gland), PET and CT scans to look for signs of tumor and a skin biopsy to collect skin cells for use in immunological tests. Participants have a salt and sugar solution infused through a catheter (plastic tube) into both parotid glands. After 10 minutes, the solution drains into the mouth and is swallowed. Saliva is collected from the parotid glands at 6 and 24 hours after administration of the salt and sugar solution. Ten to 14 days later, patients are admitted to the NIH Clinical Center for up to 4 days for the following tests and procedures: * On the first day, administration, through a catheter, of the study drug AdhAQP1 into one parotid gland. * Monitoring over the next 3 days for changes in patients' ability to produce saliva. This includes medical examinations and several blood, urine and saliva collections. * Technetium scan on day 2. * Gallium scan on day 2. Patients return to NIH for follow-up visits at 1, 2, 4, and 6 weeks after the AdhAQP1 infusion and then 3, 4, 5, 6 and 12 months for a medical examination and blood, urine and saliva collections. Gallium, technetium and MRI scans are repeated at several of the follow-up visits, and sialograms are done at 6 and 12 months. Chest x-ray and EKG are repeated at 4 and 6 months.
To learn more about how you would rate the intensity or severity of your symptoms during or after radiation therapy using questionnaires with different rating scales.
The investigators will identify 10 patients in the department of radiation oncology who will receive standard of-care radiation therapy, and the treating radiation oncologist anticipates a mean left ventricular dose of at least 5 Gy. Patients will be evaluated by CMRI before and within one week of the completion of RT. We will compare the pre- and post-RT CMRI scans to identify changes related to radiation exposure. Our primary endpoint will be changes in myocardial strain. Secondary endpoints will include other CMRI parameters.
A diet consisting of a reduced quantity of the essential amino acid methionine sensitizes cancer cells to radiation therapy and reduces metastasis formation and disease progression in mice. However, to date, dietary restriction of methionine has not been tested in combination with radiation therapy in humans as a strategy to improve patient outcomes.
The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of a lifestyle intervention. The study will examine the Stay on Track program, dietary and activity patterns, body composition, biomarkers and quality of life in breast cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy.
The goal of this study is to measure the effect of radiation therapy on the activity levels of patients. This will be achieved by tracking their activity levels during a treatment course of radiation therapy.
The investigators intend to determine if patients that are already undergoing Hyperbaric Oxygen (HBO) therapy one year post treatment with radiation therapy for head and neck cancer, experience improvement in xerostomia and/or taste alteration. The investigators will enroll a similar demographic one year post treatment with radiation therapy that does not receive HBO therapy. This is a quality of life study.
This study will ascertain the feasibility and effect of Eischens yoga interventions on radiation related fatigue, sexual dysfunction and urinary incontinence in stage I /II prostate cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy with photons and/or protons without prostatectomy. Subjects must be smoke free and have not taken regular yoga classes 6 months prior to enrollment. Subjects will participate in twice weekly yoga sessions for 8 weeks and complete 4 quality of life forms 5 times during study.
The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of radiation therapy following mastectomy on skin and blood vessels and to use information gathered to determine an ideal time for breast reconstruction after radiation.
Background: * Gastrointestinal cancers are among the most commonly diagnosed cancers in the United States. * There are currently no tests to predict how patients with gastrointestinal cancers will respond to radiation therapy or which patients may develop side effects from treatment. * Studies on tumor cells in the stool, urine, or blood from patients may provide valuable information that can be used to develop tests to determine which patients may need more or less aggressive therapy. * Studies of other substances in the stool, urine, or blood from patients may provide valuable information that can be used to develop tests to determine which patients are likely to develop side effects from radiation treatments. Objectives: * To collect blood, urine and stool specimens from patients with gastrointestinal cancers who will undergo radiation therapy. * To study hormone and protein changes in these blood, urine and stool specimens before, during and after radiation treatment in order to develop a way to predict how gastrointestinal cancers will respond to radiation therapy and if patients with these cancers will develop side effects from radiation treatment. Eligibility: -Patients 18 years of age and older with cancer of the gastrointestinal tract (esophagus, stomach, pancreas, rectum) who plan to receive radiotherapy to the site of the cancer on an National Cancer Institute (NCI) protocol Design: Participants undergo the following procedures: * Tumor biopsy: Before any treatment or at the time of surgery if it is the first treatment * Urine collection: Before, during, and after treatment and at follow-up visits. * Stool collection: Before, during, and after treatment and at follow-up visits. * Blood collection: Before, during, and after treatment and at follow-up visits. * Intestinal permeability assessment: Before any treatment, before radiation (if radiation is not the first treatment), 1 month after radiation is completed, and 3 months after radiation is completed. This test determines how the patients intestines are working to absorb sugar and may provide information about side effects from radiation treatments. Patients fast after midnight, then drink a small glass of sugars, and then do a 6-hour urine collection.
This study will analyze the effects of radiation given to children who have tumors of the central nervous system (CNS). Researchers want to learn more about changes in the quality of life that patients may experience as a result of radiation. Patients ages 21 and younger who have a primary CNS tumor and who have not received radiation previously may be eligible for this study. They will have a medical history and physical examination. Collection of blood (about 2-1/2 tablespoons) and urine will be done, as well as a pregnancy test. Patients will complete neuropsychological tests, which provide information about their changes in functioning over time. An expert in psychology will give a number of tests, and the patient's parents or guardian will be asked to complete a questionnaire about the patient's behavior. Also, patients will be given a quality of life questionnaire to complete and vision and hearing tests. The radiation itself is prescribed by patients' doctors and is not part of this study. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) will give researchers information about the tumor and brain, through several scanning sequences . MRI uses a strong magnetic field and radio waves to obtain images of body organs and tissues. Patients will lie on a table that slides into the enclosed tunnel of the scanner. They will need to lie still, and medication may be given to help them to do that. They may be in the scanner for up to 2 hours. As the scanner takes pictures, patients will hear knocking or beeping sounds, and they will wear earplugs to reduce the noise. A contrast agent will be administered, to allow images be seen more clearly. Blood and urine tests will be conducted after the first dose of radiation. MRI scans will be done 2 weeks after patients finish radiation therapy and again at 6 to 8 weeks, 6 months, 12 months, and yearly. Also at those follow-up periods, patients will undergo similar procedures as previously, including blood and urine tests and neuropsychological testing. Patients can remain in this study for 5 years. ...
The primary objective of this study is to use LR imaging to evaluate the effects of adjuvant radiation therapy on reconstructed breasts.
RATIONALE: Diagnostic procedures, such as MRI, may help in learning how well radiation therapy and chemotherapy work in killing tumor cells and allow doctors to plan better treatment. PURPOSE: This clinical trial is studying MRI scans to see how well they evaluate the effects of radiation therapy and chemotherapy in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme or anaplastic glioma.
RATIONALE: Learning about the effects of radiation therapy on the body's muscles, organs, and bones in patients with stage III non-small cell lung cancer may help doctors plan the best treatment. PURPOSE: This clinical trial is studying the effects of radiation therapy on the body in patients with stage III non-small cell lung cancer.
Ionizing radiation efficiently induces chromosomal aberrations (CA) and several studies of CA have now been conducted among small groups of flight crews. However, most of the studies only evaluated the unstable aberrations that reflect recent exposures, but not long-term cumulative cosmic radiation exposure. Chromosome painting by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is a widely used and established cytogenetic method for detecting stable aberrations such as translocations. Thus, FISH can be used for estimating chromosomal damage from cumulative radiation exposure. No large studies of flight crews utilizing FISH have been conducted to date. We propose a study to measure CA using FISH in a group of pilots estimated to have high comic radiation exposure based on flight histories, i.e., those with long duration flying international routes, and a comparison group of university faculty with minimal flying history. These measurements will be used to determine if pilots have elevated frequencies of CA (specifically stable translocations) as compared with the university faculty. In addition, the frequencies of CA will be examined in relation to the cumulative cosmic radiation dose to determine if there is a dose-response relationship. Individual cumulative doses will be calculated from pilot flight histories using a computer program developed by the FAA which estimates cosmic radiation does by accounting for changes in altitude and latitude, and the 11-year solar cycle at the time of the flight. We will collect information on age, lifestyle factors, diet, health history, family cancer history, and medical radiation exposures from personal interview and self-administered dietary questionaire. These factors may affect the CA frequency and so we plan to adjust for them in the statistical analyses. Pilots will be identified based on the Allied Pilots Association roster and faculty from a commercial company that maintains a database of university faculty, including those in the Chicago area. Potential participants will be notified of the study by mail and recruited/screened for eligibility over the telephone. We will compensate participants $100 for their time. A field station will be set up at a medical or health clinic convenient to the participants, where interviews Will be conducted and a peripheral blood sample collected. Participants will be notified of the overall study results and may request their personal CA results at the end of the study. Participants may also choose to have additional blood drawn, however this blood sample will be anonymized so that it cannot be linked back to the participant. Genotypic variants in DNA repair (and possibly other) genes will be evaluated for an effect on CA frequency.
RATIONALE: Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to damage tumor cells, but may cause skin irritation and inflammation. Biafine cream may be effective in lessening side effects caused by radiation therapy. PURPOSE: Randomized phase III trial to determine the effectiveness of Biafine cream in reducing side effects of radiation therapy in patients receiving treatment for head and neck cancer.
The aim of this study is to measure and evaluate the effects of pelvic external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) on lower urinary tract (LUT) function and bone mineralization.
In this research study, we are looking to study the side effects from the use of proton radiation in treating people with low-grade gliomas that are recommended radiation treatment. We expect response of the tumors to be the same with proton radiation as compared to standard 3D conformal radiation therapy, but also expect less side effects from radiation.
RATIONALE: Collecting and storing samples of blood from patients with cancer to study in the laboratory may help doctors learn more about changes that may occur in DNA and identify biomarkers related to cancer. PURPOSE: This laboratory study is looking at the effects of surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and hormone therapy on biomarkers in women with stage I, stage II, stage III breast cancer, or ductal carcinoma in situ that can be removed by surgery.
RATIONALE: Donepezil and vitamin E may be able to decrease side effects caused by radiation therapy given to prevent brain metastases in patients with small cell lung cancer. It is not yet known if donepezil and vitamin E are effective in preventing side effects caused by radiation therapy to the head. PURPOSE: Randomized phase III trial to determine the effectiveness of donepezil and vitamin E in preventing side effects caused by radiation therapy given to prevent brain metastases in patients who have small cell lung cancer.