Active clinical trials for "Neoplasms"

RATIONALE: Gathering information about genetic and environmental factors from patients with lung cancer and their partners and first-degree relatives may help doctors learn more about the disease. PURPOSE: This clinical trial is looking at the patterns, causes, and control of disease in patients with lung cancer in the North Trent (England) region.

Liver damage as a consequnce of ischemia (I) and reperfusion (R) is known to harm the liver and could hence be a critical factor of the postoperative outcome of patients undergoing liver surgery. In order to protect the liver from ischemic damage following interventions such as the Pringle Maneuver, preconditioning has been successfully applied in various animal models as well as in humans. Since ischemia inevitably leads to cell hypoxia and subsequnet release of endogenuous metabolites, the investigators hypothesize that instead of brief periods of ischemia, the exogenuous infusion of purine analogues may also protect against subsequent prolonged periods of ischemia. Moreover, after reperfusion, the antiinflamamtory action of purine ananlogue infusion can further attenuated liver damage.

The use of intraoperative ultrasound (IOUS) allows us to perform new conservative hepatectomies. The investigators previously reported the systematic subsegmentectomy by IOUS-guided finger compression for segments 2-3, which is currently applied for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)on cirrhosis. The investigators herein describe a novel technique, which consists in the systematic right posterior sectionectomy by IOUS-guided finger compression.

Early interim-PET after two courses of chemotherapy is a powerful outcome predictor in advanced-stage Hodgkin Lymphoma (HL) patients treated with adriamycin (doxorubicin), bleomycin, vinblastine and dacarbazine (ABVD). Two-year Progression Free Survival of PET-2 positive patients is only 12%, but the optimal treatment for this patient subset is still unknown. From January 2006 GITIL (Gruppo Italiano Terapie Innovative nei Linfomi) suggested an early intensification of chemotherapy with BEACOPP [Bleomycin, Etoposide, Adriamycin (doxorubicin), Cyclophosphamide, Oncovin (vincristine), Procarbazine, and Prednisone](4 escalated + 4 baseline cycles) for all the HL patients with a positive PET-2 after 2 ABVD courses. The investigators retrospectively recorded and analyzed these data in order to evaluate if this strategy could be of benefit for this subset of patients.

The purpose of the present study is to develop a biological prognostic index in patients with Binet stage A Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) who do not necessitate therapy according to NCI guidelines and to prospectively validate the proposed score system based on the absence/presence of 1, 2 or 3 unfavorable prognostic markers such as cluster of differentiation 38 (CD38) expression, Zap-70 expression and immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region (IgVH) configuration.

Imaging of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) relies on conventional morphological methods and on somatostatin receptor scintigraphy (SRS). SRS is effective for carcinoid tumors, and for most pancreatic islet-cell tumors, but may fail to detect some tumors. Furthermore, this technique may require repeated imaging over 24-48 hours. Introduction of newer somatostatin analogs such as DOTANOC improves lesion detection. In addition, labeling with Ga68 and use of PET/CT improves the pharmacokinetics of the tracer resulting in better tumor visualization, and an easier procedure with imaging over only 1-2 hours. In this study, we propose to use Ga68-DOTANOC PET for imaging of various NETs, comparing the imaging data to those of anatomical and other functional modalities, and to histopathology, when available.

Background: Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) is the most common malignancy in children. It accounts for 25% of all childhood cancers. Peak incidence occurs between 2 to 5 years of age. Modern treatment regimens have improved cure rates from virtually zero (in the 1950's) to current overall survival rates of approximately 80%.The high survival rates have introduced us to novel medical problems as a consequences of the different treatment regimens. No single treatment modality exists today but rather several treatment protocols are accepted worldwide. As such, the population of the childhood ALL survivors differ in their toxic exposure: cranial & spinal radiotherapy, intrathecal and/or systemic chemotherapy and bone marrow transplantation .As the survival rates grow, there are more young adult ALL survivors worldwide susceptible to these late effects of treatment. Numerous reports have pointed out that this particular group is at increased risk to develop cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes (MS). The metabolic syndrome, i.e hypertension, dyslipidemia, impaired glucose metabolism and obesity, occurs at a younger age than the general population. Adipocytokines, mediators secreted by adipose tissue, play an important role in the regulation of carbohydrates and lipid metabolism.Changes in serum adipokine levels precede the clinical symptoms. We aim to identify and assess prevalence of the MS in ALL survivors. We aim to characterize the population at risk to develop DM and CVD prior to overt clinical disease. Characterization will be done by measuring serum adipocytokines and inflammatory cytokine profiles .Biochemical characterization of the group at risk will enable us to intervene in the preventive stage in the future.

The goal of this research study is to learn more about how women feel about an ovarian cancer screening program that involves getting a blood test to measure CA 125 levels. This includes finding out about women's quality of life and whether they are concerned or worried about their risk of developing cancer. This study also seeks to find out whether elevated CA 125 levels affect participants in terms of cancer worries or concerns.

Gestational trophoblastic disease comprises a spectrum of diseases with different propensity for local invasion and metastasis, that is, partial and complete hydatidiform mole, choriocarcinoma, and placental site trophoblastic tumor.All trophoblastic tumors produce hCG, and monitoring of therapy is largely based on the determination of hCG in serum. The conformational change of tumor markers during antineoplastic chemotherapy for cancer and its clinical meaning has only been rarely studied. In this study, we will try to understand the conformational change of the tumor marker (hCG) during chemotherapy.

This study examines the best way to teach genetics to family medicine residents. First year family medicine residents at the University of Toronto will be taught basic clinical genetics as well as a specific disease in genetics via 3 different educational methods. All participants will undergo an oral examination and written knowledge test 3 months after this education. Results between groups will be compared, and the best way to teach genetics to residents determined.