Active clinical trials for "Neoplasms"

The study is to test a decision aid that is designed to help patients make decision regarding management of their gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Once the decision aid is constructed we will test and assess the aid on ~100 patients who have GERD to assess effectiveness.

Thanks to the investigators previous study the investigators demonstrated the influence of modifying genes in the phenotypic expression of neurofibromatosis 1 (Hum Mol Genet. 2009; 18 (15) :2768-78). Indeed, analysis of the intra-and inter-family variability performed using the investigators phenotype/genotype database demonstrated a strong genetic component for most clinical features. The investigators results suggest the involvement of genetic factors, not related to the NF1 gene, the modifiers. The objective of this project is to identify the modifiers involved in the variability of clinical expression of NF1. The investigators will focus in particular variants involved in the development and progression of neurofibromas.

Rectal cancer is a frequent but curable malignancy in the Western world. The golden standard in treating these patients consists of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) followed by extensive surgery regardless of tumor response. The main question is whether extensive surgery can be avoided holding in mind that already a significant amount of patients reach a pathological complete response after radiochemotherapy. The goal of this study is dual. First of all, the investigators want to investigate the value of DW-MRI and 18FDG-PET in the assessment of response after neoadjuvant CRT in 100 patients with rectal cancer, to select those patients eligible for less invasive surgery. In the same patient group, the investigators will examine the biomarker potential of molecular characteristics of the tumor in blood and tissue. Using both molecular and radiological findings, the investigators want to predict pathological response after chemoradiotherapy and to select patients who may benefit from treatment adjustments during chemoradiotherapy.

RATIONALE: Gathering information over time about patients' quality-of-life and satisfaction with care may help doctors plan the best treatment and help patients live more comfortably. PURPOSE: This randomized clinical trial is studying quality-of-life assessment in patients with head and neck cancer treated with radiation therapy.

The purpose of this study is to identify different genetic features in hepatocellular carcinoma. It will assist in predicting individual risks of disease progression and would help to clarify pathophysiological mechanisms of HCC.

Efficacy and safety of a supportive treatment with European mistletoe extract Iscador® Qu ("quercus", i.e. from oak tree) in patients with colorectal cancer (Union for International Cancer Control, UICC stages II-IV), in addition to post-operative conventional oncological therapy (radio-, chemo-, targeted therapy) as compared to a parallel group with conventional therapy only. Primary Endpoints: Reduction of adverse effects of conventional therapy; reduction of therapy or disease induced symptoms (both are quality of life parameters and evaluated after 1 year); prolongation of disease free and/or overall survival (DFS, OS) after 5 years. Prospective observational confirmation study of previous retrospective cohort study. As this is a non-interventional cohort study, all therapies and measurements are performed on directive by the treating physician and/or request by the patient only.

The role of surgical resection in the management of Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma (MPM) is still controversial. The selection criterion to perform either Extrapleural Pneumonectomy (EPP) or Pleurectomy/Decortication (P/D) is dependent not only on the cardio-pulmonary status of the patient, tumor stage and intraoperative findings but also on surgeons' decision and philosophy. There are no established guidelines. Radical Pleurectomy (RP) competes against EPP as surgical therapy modality. Both surgical approaches are cytoreductive treatment options. The aim is to remove all gross disease and to achieve macroscopic complete resection. Originally P/D was a palliative option for controlling pleural effusion. But lung-sparing surgery for MPM seems to be an alternative to patients unsuitable or unwilling to undergo EPP in a multimodality therapy concept. Most studies evaluating multimodality therapies for MPM are based on retrospective analyses and their interpretation is difficult because of inhomogeneous patient groups studied. The aim of our study was to analyze the feasibility and results of RP as surgical therapy modality in a standardized trimodality therapy concept.

SEIFEM 2010 study is a prospective, multicenter registry designed to identify and analyze risk factors for developing an invasive fungal infection in patients with newly diagnosed Acute Myeloid Leukemia, with particular interest on pre-hospital risk factors (i.e. those related to normal activities of daily life, such as occupation, location and type of residence, consume of tobacco, alcohol and others).

Our institution performs therapeutic ERCP (Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography ), Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) and Interventional Endoscopy in around 1000 patients a year. Procedures such as biliary and/or pancreatic sphincterotomy, stents placement (metallic or plastic) and removal for revision, cysts and pseudocysts drainage are conducted in patients suffering from pancreatico-biliary disorders, gastrointestinal disorders and esophageal disorders. The investigators would like to assess prospectively the efficacy and safety of these routine procedures to permit identification of technical details about the procedures or other factors which might be associated with outcome or results. Assessment of these details would help us with problem identification and recommendations to improve health outcomes and quality of life in these patients.

RATIONALE: Studying samples of bone marrow and blood from patients with cancer who failed treatment may help doctors learn more about changes that occur in DNA and identify biomarkers related to cancer resistance. It may also help doctors find better ways to treat cancer. PURPOSE: This research trial studies biomarkers in samples from adult patients with acute myeloid leukemia who failed standard-of-care treatment.