Active clinical trials for "Neoplasms"

Background: The evaluation for hypercortisolism includes an overnight 1mg dexamethasone (DXM) suppression test. An important shortcoming is the diagnostic specificity of only 80%, which is likely due to inter-individual differences in gut absorption or metabolism of DXM. Study hypothesis: The investigators hypothesize that serum-DXM measurements will increase the diagnostic accuracy of the overnight DXM-test in the work-up of hypercortisolism. Aims: The primary aim of this prospective study is to evaluate if serum-DXM measured simultaneously with serum-cortisol in morning samples could increase the diagnostic accuracy this diagnostic test. There are several secondary aims. One is to estimate the prevalence and causes of unusual DXM absorption or metabolism. The investigators will also evaluate the feasibility and diagnostic accuracy of salivary DXM. Moreover, the diagnostic accuracy of midnight salivary cortisol and cortisone, and urinary cortisol, will be evaluated and compared. Design: Levels of DXM in morning serum following an overnight DXM-test will be analyzed in patients under evaluation for hypercortisolism (including incidentalomas). A cut-off level to identify inadequate DXM concentrations in serum to suppress endogenous cortisol production will be established based on the negative tests. This cut-off level will then be applied in a retrospective analysis of the diagnostic accuracy of DXM-tests. This prospective study has a blinded design as the DXM measurements are disclosed after the end of the trial.

Primary Hepatocellular Carcinoma (PHC) is one of the most common malignant tumors in the world. In men is the fifth most frequently diagnosed cancer worldwide but the second most frequent cause of cancer death. In women, it is the seventh most commonly diagnosed cancer and the sixth leading cause of cancer death. An estimated 748,300 new liver cancer cases and 695,900 cancer deaths occurred worldwide in 2008. Half of these cases and deaths were estimated to occur in China. Surgical resection and liver transplantation can be curative treatment options, but less than 20% of PHC patients are candidates for surgery. The prognosis of patients with unresectable PHC is poor; if left untreated, the median survival is less than 6 months. Since transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) was introduced as a palliative treatment in patients with unresectable HCC, it has become one of the most common forms of interventional therapy. However, the possibility of treatment-related complication may offset the survival benefit, especially by the worsening of liver functions.TACE increases several parameters of hepatic cytolysis and decreases the metabolic activity of the liver. Such a deterioration of liver function due to ischemia following TACE may result in liver failure, or even death. TACE also may have an adverse effect on the kidney. Radiographic contrast medium is used to obtain the hepatogram before TACE. It has been shown that the use of contrast medium increases the risk of renal failure, especially the low-osmolar contrast media. The aim of this trials was to compare the change of liver and renal function after TACE for HCC of iso-osmolar contrast media with that of low-osmolar contrast media.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of reduced-intensity conditioning allogeneic HCT followed by prophylactic dose-escalating DLIs in patients with higher risk MDS.

The study includes the recruitment of patients with advanced renal cells carcinoma and hepatocarcinoma in treatment with sorafenib. Multicenter cohort study. It is a prospective observational study.

REGIME is comparing two treatments, with Darbepoetin Alpha (DA) and Filgrastim (Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor, G-CSF), to the standard treatment for Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS). After giving Informed Consent patients will undergo a number of tests to confirm eligibility. Once eligibility is confirmed patients will be randomly assigned to one of the three treatments group: A: Darbepoetin Alpha (DA), B: Darbepoetin Alpha and Filgrastim (DA+G-CSF), C: Blood transfusion only. Patients will be required to attend the clinic once a month for 24 weeks. After 24 weeks if a patient has reacted favorably to the treatment they may continue on the treatment regime up to 52 weeks. After week 24 all patients will be required to attend the clinic twice more, at week 36 and 52. Patients will be followed for a further 5 years to record loss of response, transformation to Acute Myeloid Leukaemia and/or Refractory Anemia with Excess Blasts and death.

Up to 60% of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer can be treated with one of monoclonal antibodies targeted against epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). This treatment is associated with a specific spectrum of toxicity: acne-like rash from limited up to erythema, often with severe pruritus, sometimes combined with other types of skin toxicities (hair and nail changes). Previously in STEPP study investigators shown that pre-emptive treatment with oral doxycycline (200 mg daily), topical steroids and sun blockers reduces the number of more severe skin side effects of panitumumab. The study is designed to described the profile of skin toxicity of EGFR blocking drugs combined with low-dose doxycycline (100 mg daily) used in the pre-emptive manner.

The aim of this study was to compare debulking surgery and cytoreductive surgery in patients with Pseudomyxoma Peritonei with respect to efficacy and safety.

Background: in patients with multiple myeloma there is a raised level of a protein, named M-protein. This M-protein is normally used to monitor disease status and evaluate response to treatment, as a decrease in M-protein is taken as evidence of therapeutic efficacy. However, the M-protein has a long half life in serum, approximately three weeks, which tend to be a practical problem, since the investigators can first determine hereafter if the treatment is effective. A new assay has the possibility only to measure part of this protein, namely "the light chains", which also is measured in a blood sample. The half life of these light chains is much shorter, namely 2-6 hours. In theory, this means a more rapid measure of the effect of a given treatment, thereby being able to determine earlier if the treatment should continue or changed to another strategy. Purpose: the purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinical value of the use of the serum free light chain (sFLC) assay in comparison to the M-protein in monitoring patients under treatment for multiple myeloma. Method: the investigators measure sFLC in patients receiving there 1st treatment, either at the time of diagnosis or in the relapse setting. sFLC is measured on a regular basis, and the results are compared to the M-protein.

Primary endpoint(s): To determine the relationship between the drug distribution and angiogenesis in head and neck cancer patients. Secondary endpoint(s): To expand the safety database of [F-18]RGD-K5 and to correlate the parameters from the image study to clinical treatment response and prognosis.

Specialized columnar epithelium (SCE) is considered as pathognomonic for Barrett's esophagus. Chromoendoscopy after local acetic acid application enables recognition of the mucosal surface architecture. The new available EPKi processor (Pentax, Japan) enables HD+ resolution above HDTV standard. Aim of the study is to test the efficacy of HD+ endoscopy in conjunction with i-Scan or acetic acid to diagnose Barrett's esophagus. The primary endpoint of the current prospective study is to investigate the diagnostic yield of virtual chromoendoscopy using the i scan function as compared to acetic acid chromoendoscopy and 4-quadrant biopsies. Patients with visible columnar lined lower esophagus (CLE) are included. After standardized PPI therapy (14 days; standard dosage) patients were randomized at a 1:1 ratio to undergo either chromoendoscopy in conjunction with acetic acid application or i-Scan. Biopsies are taken in a targeted fashion using acetic acid or i scan and afterwards 4-quadrant biopsies are taken.