Active clinical trials for "Pancreatic Neoplasms"

Pancreatic cancer is a devastating disease. Previous research shows a correlation between a specific oncogene change (ras-mutation) and enhanced sensitivity to two chemotherapy drugs combined: gemcitabine and etoposide. This Phase II trial will evaluate this drug combination for locally advanced and metastatic pancreatic cancer.

To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of CG8020 and CG2505.

Pancreatic cancer is an aggressive, largely chemo-resistant disease with a poor prognosis. EGFR and VEGF are both overexpressed in pancreatic cancers and thought to contribute to tumour development and progression. The combination of gemcitabine and capecitabine has recently been shown to be effective in advanced pancreatic cancer. The combination of gemcitabine plus erlotinib has also been shown to be effective in advanced pancreatic cancer. The aim of this study is to assess whether combining a chemotherapy doublet (gemcitabine plus capecitabine) and a biologic doublet (erlotinib plus bevacizumab) is a safe and effective way to treat advanced pancreatic cancer by targeting multiple tumour stimulating mechanisms simultaneously.

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as gemcitabine, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Imatinib mesylate may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Giving gemcitabine together with imatinib mesylate may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well giving gemcitabine together with imatinib mesylate works as first-line therapy in treating patients with locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer.

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as cisplatin and fluorouracil, use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Biological therapies such as interferon alfa may interfere with the growth of the tumor cells and slow the growth of cancer. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to damage tumor cells. Combining chemotherapy and interferon alfa with radiation therapy after surgery may kill any remaining tumor cells. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well giving cisplatin, fluorouracil, and interferon alfa together with radiation therapy works in treating patients who have undergone surgery for stage I, stage II, or stage III pancreatic cancer.

RATIONALE: Perifosine may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking the enzymes necessary for tumor cell growth. PURPOSE: Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of perifosine in treating patients who have locally advanced, unresectable, or metastatic pancreatic cancer.

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy such as gemcitabine use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. 3-AP may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking the enzymes necessary for tumor cell growth and may help gemcitabine kill more cancer cells by making them more sensitive to the drug. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well giving gemcitabine together with 3-AP works in treating patients with unresectable or metastatic pancreatic cancer.

RATIONALE: Opioid growth factor may stop the growth of pancreatic cancer by blocking blood flow to the tumor. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well opioid growth factor works in treating patients with advanced pancreatic cancer that cannot be removed by surgery.

This randomized phase III trial is studying gemcitabine and bevacizumab to see how well they work compared to gemcitabine alone in treating patients with locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as gemcitabine, work in different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Monoclonal antibodies such as bevacizumab can locate tumor cells and either kill them or deliver tumor-killing substances to them without harming normal cells. Bevacizumab may also stop the growth of tumor cells by stopping blood flow to the tumor. Combining gemcitabine with bevacizumab may kill more tumor cells. It is not yet known whether gemcitabine is more effective with or without bevacizumab in treating pancreatic cancer.

RATIONALE: Tipifarnib may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking the enzymes necessary for their growth and may make them more sensitive to radiation therapy. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to damage tumor cells. Giving tipifarnib together with radiation therapy may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: This phase I trial is studying the side effects and best dose of tipifarnib when given together with radiation therapy in treating patients with unresectable locally advanced pancreatic cancer.