Active clinical trials for "Neoplasms"

The goal of this research study is to learn about the social and emotional factors that may affect the quality of life of patients with cancer of the eye or eye area who have had their facial appearance changed due to an orbital exenteration.

Significant evidence has shown that radiation therapy for patients with nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) can cause swallowing abnormality. Based on our prior cross-sectional study for 184 NPC patients from 1995 to 1999, the findings of videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) revealed continuous deterioration of swallowing function of these patients even many years after radiation. We conducted a prospective study to evaluate the longitudinal change of swallowing function based on VFSS before, one month, one year and two years after completing radiation therapy. The amount of saliva was measured at the same time of VFSS study to test the relationship of decreased amount of saliva and swallowing function. Comparison of serial VFSS studies in NPC patients (n=84) and normal volunteers (n=38) were obtained. We assume that this study may reveal a complete understanding of changing swallowing patterns in the course of radiation therapy of patients with NPC. From this study, NPC patients can understand their own swallowing function. Therefore, the information may enable for earlier intervention of swallowing training or correction to avoid morbidity of radiation therapy in this patient group.

An ovarian cancer cell line (OVTW-59) derived from an ovarian endometrioid carcinoma was established and its sublines, labeled as P0, P1, P2, P3, and P4 with increasing invasion abilities were selected from transwell invasion chambers.Using cDNA microarray and verified with quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, we have identified IGFBP-3 as an invasion-suppressor gene. We plan to study the role of IGFBP-3 in ovarian cancer invasion.

This study will 1) identify characteristics of bone marrow mast cells in patients with unexplained anaphylaxis and flushing or with mastocytosis and 2) determine whether mastocytosis might be the underlying cause of unexplained anaphylaxis in some patients with this condition. Anaphylaxis is a hypersensitivity reaction in which patients may have flushing, hives, stuffy nose, red itchy eyes, difficulty breathing, swelling of the tongue, throat, palms and soles, abdominal cramping, lightheadedness, decreased blood pressure, and loss of consciousness. Although allergens are a common cause of anaphylactic episodes, no cause can be identified in up to 50 percent of patients who have recurrent events. Mastocytosis is a disease of excessive mast cells in tissues such as skin and bone marrow. These cells can release chemicals that result in itching, blisters, flushing, bone pain, and abdominal pain. Patients 18 years of age and older who have episodes of anaphylaxis or flushing with no apparent cause or who have mastocytosis may be eligible for this study. Participants will have a medical history and physical examination; blood tests to identify genetic changes that are important in the growth, development, and functioning of human mast cells; and bone marrow aspiration and biopsy. For the bone marrow procedure, the skin over the hipbone and the outer surface of the bone itself are numbed with local anesthesia. Then, a special needle is inserted into the hipbone and about 1 tablespoon of bone marrow is drawn into a syringe. Another needle is inserted into the same area to collect a small piece of the bone marrow. Additional procedures may include allergen testing, urinalysis, and 24-hour urine collection. Participants will return to NIH for reassessment of disease status in 12 to 18 months. The follow-up evaluation will include a history and physical examination, blood tests, possible repeat bone marrow and aspiration in patients whose clinical signs or symptoms change significantly, and other tests as clinically indicated. First-degree relatives (parents, children, siblings) may be enrolled in limited instances to provide a blood sample for genetic analysis related to mast cell development and function for comparison with that of patients when they have similar symptoms.

To prospectively collect serum and DNA samples from subjects with pancreatic cancer, pancreatitis, liver disease, and from healthy and at-risk volunteers in order to identify novel biomarkers for early diagnosis, differential diagnosis, stage, natural history of the disease, response to treatment, and to identify novel targets for therapeutic interventions. In particular:

There has been considerable international /national interest in the GEM-P regimen for treatment of patients with relapsed/refractory lymphoma. Currently, there is no accepted standard therapy for these patients. Since the publication of our experience with this regimen (Study with CCR ethics number 1857 closed to recruitment in July 2003:Ng M, Waters J, Cunningham D et al, Br J Cancer 2005;92:1352-7), we have treated relapsed/refractory lymphoma patients with this regimen and would like to undertake a retrospective review of a sub-group of these patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Patients treated with GEM-P with or without Rituximab prior to March 2005 for refractory/relapsed DLBCL will be included in the analysis. Accrual of eligible patients currently under follow-up will be performed in clinic at the time of next appointment. All patients accrued will give informed consent for retrospective case note review, after discussion with a study investigator and after receiving a study information sheet. All eligible patients identified from the pharmacy database, and will be consented at the time of the next clinic appointment, if they are agreeable for the retrospective case note review.

This study will learn more about the beliefs of family members of African American patients with lung cancer and whether these beliefs are associated with their interest in genetic testing for disease risk and willingness to participate in genetics research. Lung cancer is the second most common form of cancer and the leading cause of cancer deaths for men and women in the United States. Like most cancers, there are racial and ethnic disparities (gaps) in lung cancer cases and deaths. The age-adjusted rates for blacks and whites (years 2000 to 2003) was 76.9 per 100,000 and 66.0 per 100,000, respectively. Mortality rates were 62.5 per 100,000 for blacks and 55.3 per 100,000 for whites. Cigarette smoking is the most preventable cause of lung cancer. Findings are that African Americans begin smoking at older ages and smoke fewer cigarettes per day than Caucasian Americans do. Yet the severity of lung cancer is greater for African Americans. Behavioral, social, environmental, and genetic factors may explain the differences. Participants (subjects) ages 18 to 55 who are family of patients with lung cancer who self-identify as African Americans may be eligible for this study. Washington, D.C., researchers plan to recruit 115 lung cancer patients and 200 family members-100 current smokers and 100 who never smoked. Lung cancer patients, who must have been born in the United States, will be recruited from those who are receiving care at the Washington Cancer Institute at the Washington Hospital Center. They will be asked to list relatives and friends they consider to be as close as family. Patients will be asked permission for researchers to contact those people. Family members will receive a letter telling them that unless they decline to participate, they will be contacted by a telephone interviewer. The survey will feature questions to evaluate family members' explanations for the causes of lung cancer, as well as their reactions to possible reasons for the disparity in lung cancer between African Americans and Caucasian Americans. Subjects will be asked about perceived personal risk, worry about developing lung cancer, smoking history, motivation to quit smoking, feelings about the lung cancer patient's diagnosis, racial identify, experience with racial discrimination, pros and cons of genetic testing, and interest in genetic testing. The survey will take up to 20 minutes to complete. This study may or may not have a direct benefit for those who participate. However, lung cancer patients and their families will be offered a free self-help guide to stop smoking. They will be referred to local smoking cessation programs. Knowledge gained from the study may be used to design smoking cessation methods and research studies related to genetics for minority populations.

In vivo confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) offers the possibility to non-invasively investigate skin lesions at nearly histologic resolution. A recent study showed a high sensitivity (97.6%) and specificity (88.15%) for the discrimination of clinical clear cut melanocytic lesions. CSLM provides horizontal images and can be seen as missing link between dermoscopy and histopathology. For a more accurate diagnosis of dermoscopically difficult to diagnose melanocytic skin lesions in the grey zone between nevus and melanoma, the knowledge of CLSM features of benign nevi seems to be essential. We investigated 30 flat benign nevi with different dermoscopic patterns (10 reticular, 10 globular, 10 homogeneous) nevi. CLSM images were assessed in terms of cytomorphologic and architectural criteria. Different dermoscopic patterns of benign nevi are reflected in different architectural features in CLSM.

Patients with newly diagnosed lung cancer may have hypofunction of the adrenal cortex either from tumour metastasis or other mechanisms. Since lung cancer patient may have to undergo stressful investigation and treatments, undetected hypofunction of the adrenal cortex may be hazardous. Knowledge of the size of the problem may help determine whether routine check is warranted.

This study is designed to identify the cells of the immune system that cause skin disease such as psoriasis and mycosis fungoides. Blood samples from many patients will be compared in hopes of finding common cells and molecules responsible for skin diseases. Results of this study will increase our knowledge about immune mediated skin disease.