Active clinical trials for "Hamartoma Syndrome, Multiple"

Colon polyposis (the presence of multiple colon polyps) is very common with Cowden syndrome, as over 60% of patients have 50 or more polyps. In a previous clinical trial, some participants had reduction in the number of colon polyps with the use of the medication sirolimus for a very short time period. This study is investigating sirolimus and its effect on the number of colon polyps in patients with Cowden syndrome and polyposis over a 1 year period.

The goal of this study is to examine the safety and treatment effects of sirolimus for targeting social communication deficits in people with genetic disorders associated with PTEN germline mutations, which are often referred to as PTEN Harmartoma Tumor Syndrome (PHTS). The mechanism of sirolimus in the body has shown promise for helping to improve social communication skills in case reports of people with PHTS. Everolimus, a closely related compound, also showed benefits in social communication skills in a previous pilot trial in people with PHTS. This is a 6 month double-blind trial followed by at 6 month open label extension trial.

The objective of this protocol is to develop an institution-wide liquid biopsy protocol that will establish a common process for collecting blood and corresponding archived tumor specimens for future research studies at the University Health Network's Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. Circulating cell-free nucleic acids (cfNA), including cell-free DNA (cfDNA) and cell-free RNA (cfRNA), are non-invasive, real-time biomarkers that can provide diagnostic and prognostic information before cancer diagnosis, during cancer treatment, and at disease progression. Cancer research scientists and clinicians at the Princess Margaret are interested in incorporating the collection of peripheral blood samples ("liquid biopsies") into research protocols as a means of non-invasively assessing tumor progression and response to treatment at multiple time points during a patient's course of disease.

The purpose of this study is to determine cross-sectional and longitudinal medical, behavioral, and cognitive differences between PTEN ASD and other groups, as well as to identify cognitive, neural systems, and molecular biomarkers specific to PTEN ASD. In addition, this study will be creating and maintaining a biorepository and linked phenotypic database for PTEN ASD.

The purpose of this study is to develop a survey completed by parents, caregivers, or other informants that evaluates several important domains of functioning relevant to individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder and people with genetic syndromes. Participation in this research will include assisting the research team in the development of the survey measures.

NOTE: This is a research study and is not meant to be a substitute for clinical genetic testing. Families may never receive results from the study or may receive results many years from the time they enroll. If you are interested in clinical testing please consider seeing a local genetic counselor or other genetics professional. If you have already had clinical genetic testing and meet eligibility criteria for this study as shown in the Eligibility Section, you may enroll regardless of the results of your clinical genetic testing. While it is well recognized that hereditary factors contribute to the development of a subset of human cancers, the cause for many cancers remains unknown. The application of next generation sequencing (NGS) technologies has expanded knowledge in the field of hereditary cancer predisposition. Currently, more than 100 cancer predisposing genes have been identified, and it is now estimated that approximately 10% of all cancer patients have an underlying genetic predisposition. The purpose of this protocol is to identify novel cancer predisposing genes and/or genetic variants. For this study, the investigators will establish a Data Registry linked to a Repository of biological samples. Health information, blood samples and occasionally leftover tumor samples will be collected from individuals with familial cancer. The investigators will use NGS approaches to find changes in genes that may be important in the development of familial cancer. The information gained from this study may provide new and better ways to diagnose and care for people with hereditary cancer. PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: Establish a registry of families with clustering of cancer in which clinical data are linked to a repository of cryopreserved blood cells, germline DNA, and tumor tissues from the proband and other family members. SECONDARY OBJECTIVE: Identify novel cancer predisposing genes and/or genetic variants in families with clustering of cancer for which the underlying genetic basis is unknown.

This is a phase I/II clinical research study with BGT226, an inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase (PI3K). The study consists of a Phase I dose escalation part followed by a safety expansion part and a Phase II expansion part. Once the MTD has been defined, the safety expansion and efficacy expansion parts of the trial will be opened for enrollment. Phase I safety expansion part will enroll advanced solid tumors. Phase II expansion part will enroll advanced breast cancer. An effort will be made to enrich the trial population with Cowden Syndrome patients with advanced solid malignancies.

Phosphatase and TENsin homolog (PTEN) gene germline mutations are associated with a spectrum of clinical manifestations characterized by neurocognitive deficits, intellectual disability, autism symptomatology, skin lesions, macrocephaly, hamartomatous overgrowth of tissues, and an increased risk of cancers. Investigators are conducting research to evaluate the potential safety and efficacy of RAD001 (everolimus) in this patient population, and the potential neurocognitive benefits from treatment with RAD001 or placebo for a six month period. The investigators hope this trial will lead to a better understanding of PTEN and to new forms of treatment that may benefit children and adults with PTEN in the future.

Background: People with phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) hamartomatous tumor syndromes (PHTS) have a mutation in one of their genes called PTEN that can lead to benign tumors called hamartomas throughout the body. This puts them at increased risk for breast, thyroid and endometrial cancer. People with a PTEN mutation have increased activity of proteins such as protein kinase B (AKT) and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), which may be responsible for tumor growth and their increased risk of these cancers. Experiments show that a drug called sirolimus, which is used to prevent the immune system from rejecting transplanted organs, can inhibit cancer cell growth by blocking the mTOR protein. Objectives: To test the ability of sirolimus to decrease the activity of proteins that are regulated by mTOR in both benign and cancerous tumor tissue. Eligibility: People 18 years of age and older with Cowden syndrome or other PHTS. Design: Sirolimus treatment. Patients take sirolimus once a day in 28-day treatment cycles. Patients who do not have cancer take the drug for a total of two cycles (56 days) unless they develop unacceptable side effects. Those who have cancer may continue sirolimus beyond cycle 2 until their disease worsens or they develop unacceptable side effects. Evaluations. Patients come to the clinic for a history and physical examination on day 1 of every treatment cycle, then every month for the first two months off therapy, and then at 6 and 12 months. In addition, they have the following procedures: Positron emission tomography (PET) scan and neuropsychological testing before starting treatment. Clinical photography (photographic documentation of skin lesions) before starting treatment. Patients who do not have cancer have repeat photography at 2 and 8 weeks and then, if the lesions shrink or go away while on therapy, again every month for the first 2 months off sirolimus, then at 6 months and 1 year. Patients who have cancer and continue treatment beyond 8 weeks have repeat photography every 8 weeks while on the study. Digital dermoscopy (skin lesion examination using a high resolution camera). This is done at the same intervals as clinical photography. Multiple biopsies of the skin and lower intestine, and possibly the tumor in patients with cancer, before starting treatment, at 2 weeks of treatment and at 8 weeks of treatment. Blood and urine tests every week while on treatment for the first two cycles, then every 4 weeks for patients who continue treatment beyond two cycles. Imaging studies, such as computerized tomography (CT), ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with cancer before starting treatment and again every two cycles to monitor the tumor size and location.

This is a first-in-human, phase I/Ib clinical research study with BEZ235, an inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase (PI3K). The study consists of a dose escalation part followed by a safety dose expansion part: Dose escalation part (advanced solid tumors, including patients with breast cancer being treated with trastuzumab): Patients receive oral BEZ235 once daily on days 1-28 of the first course. Courses will repeat every 28 days in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Cohorts of at least 3 patients receive escalating doses of BEZ235, as single agent or in combination with trastuzumab, until the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) is determined. The MTD is defined as the dose expected to produce during the first course of treatment dose-limiting toxicity in 33% of patients. Once the MTD has been defined, the safety expansion parts of the trial will be opened for enrollment. Safety dose expansion part (advanced solid tumors, including patients with breast cancer being treated with trastuzumab): Patients will be treated with BEZ235, as single agent or in combination with trastuzumab, given at the MTD, once daily. Treatment of patients will continue until disease progression or occurrence of unacceptable side effects.