Gemcitabine in Treating Patients With Metastatic Cancer of Unknown Primary
Carcinoma of Unknown Primary, Pain
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Carcinoma of Unknown Primary focused on measuring adenocarcinoma of unknown primary, newly diagnosed carcinoma of unknown primary, undifferentiated carcinoma of unknown primary, pain
Eligibility Criteria
DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed poorly differentiated carcinoma or adenocarcinoma of unknown primary Diagnosis based on biopsy and conventional imaging, including CT scans of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis with or without positron emission tomography (PET) scans or other specialized tests, performed within the past 4 weeks Must not have any of the following clinical features: Squamous cell carcinoma in the lymph nodes of the neck or inguinal nodes only Women with axillary lymph node metastases only Women with peritoneal carcinomatosis only Well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors Poorly differentiated tumors with midline tumor or elevated human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG)/alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) Men with adenocarcinoma and elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) Measurable disease No symptom emergency at the time of study entry including, but not limited to, the following: Back pain with epidural cord compression Large effusions causing distress Hypercalcemia Bowel obstruction Very painful (worst pain 10/10) solitary bone metastases with impending fracture PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Modified "Physical Well-Being" subscale of the FACT-G score ≥ 6 within the past week Pain-intensity score ≥ 20 mm on the Memorial Pain Assessment Card OR receiving analgesics of ≥ 10 mg per day of oral morphine equivalent within the past week ECOG performance status 1-2 WBC ≥ 3,000/mm³ Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm³ Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception Able to read, understand, and complete the quality of life and symptom questionnaires, and perception of change Able to complete the analgesic diary on a daily basis PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: No prior chemotherapy or radiation therapy
Sites / Locations
- University of Illinois Cancer Center
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center - Chicago Westside Hospital
- Decatur Memorial Hospital Cancer Care Institute
- Hinsdale Hematology Oncology Associates
- Regional Cancer Center at Memorial Medical Center
- Elkhart General Hospital
- Howard Community Hospital
- Center for Cancer Therapy at LaPorte Hospital and Health Services
- CCOP - Northern Indiana CR Consortium
- Memorial Hospital of South Bend
- Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center
- McFarland Clinic, PC
- Borgess Medical Center
- West Michigan Cancer Center
- Bronson Methodist Hospital
- Lakeland Regional Cancer Care Center - St. Joseph
- Fox Chase Virtua Health Cancer Program at Virtua Memorial Hospital Marlton
- Fox Chase Virtua Health Cancer Program at Virtua West Jersey
- Our Lady of Mercy Medical Center Comprehensive Cancer Center
- Mercy Cancer Center at Mercy Medical Center
- Adena Regional Medical Center
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center
- Riverside Methodist Hospital Cancer Care
- CCOP - Columbus
- Grant Medical Center Cancer Care
- Mount Carmel Health - West Hospital
- Doctors Hospital at Ohio Health
- Grady Memorial Hospital
- Fairfield Medical Center
- St. Rita's Medical Center
- Strecker Cancer Center at Marietta Memorial Hospital
- Licking Memorial Cancer Care Program at Licking Memorial Hospital
- Mercy Medical Center
- Community Hospital of Springfield and Clark County
- Mount Carmel St. Ann's Cancer Center
- Genesis - Good Samaritan Hospital
- Gundersen Lutheran Cancer Center at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center