Active clinical trials for "Carcinoma"

Non-melanocytic skin cancers are the most common type of cancer worldwide. In the development of this cancer type, environmental factors such as UV and smoking are emphasized. Epigenetics are genetic conditions that develop due to environmental factors and can be inherited. Epigenetic modifications such as DNA methylation play an integral role in carcinogenesis, cancer progression and metastasis. The TGF-/ SMAD4 pathway plays a tumor suppressive role in cancer pathogenesis. Epigenetic changes in this pathway also lead to a decrease in expression level, leading to different types of cancer. However, there is no study showing the epigenetic relationship between non-melanocytic skin cancer and SMAD4 methylation. In this study we planned, it was aimed to show the change in SMAD4 methylation and SMAD4 RNA expression level in cancerous tissue. In addition, it is planned to measure the SMAD4 protein positivity rate in non-melanocytic cancers as an immunohistochemical marker. In this context, 60 patients who applied to Trakya University Dermatology and Venereal Diseases Outpatient Clinic and diagnosed with non-melanocytic skin cancer clinically and dermoscopically will be included in the study. Tissue materials obtained from both cancerous and intact skin of the patients will be examined in Trakya University Medical Biophysics and Medicine Pathology laboratories through various steps. Our project is the first study to be conducted on this subject in terms of handling all non-melanocytic skin cancers, using human tissue and having a large sample. In addition, with the data to be obtained; We think that better clarification of the role of SMAD4 in non-melanocytic cancers and the use of SMAD4 as both a prognostic factor and an immunohistochemical marker in future studies will prevent this study. Again, we anticipate that different treatment modalities will be developed and different functional studies can be designed through this pathway.

Metastasis is the main cause of death in cancer patients and often epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is advocated as the basic mechanism. Recently Fang and colleagues described an EMT-independent process of metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC): endothelium covers small cluster of tumor cells allowing tumor dissemination. This process of angiogenesis, named VETC (vessels that encapsulate tumor clusters) in HCC literature, has been described under different names in other cancer types. Furthermore, the investigators confirmed the negative impact of VETC on patients' prognosis on a large multicenter cohort of HCCs. Moreover, Fang et al demonstrated that patients affected by VETC-positive HCC benefit more from sorafenib therapy. Interestingly, this type of angiogenesis was also found in renal cell carcinoma, adrenal gland pheochromocytoma, thyroid follicular carcinoma and alveolar soft part sarcoma (ASPS) and associated to prognosis. Moreover, the distinction between benign and malignant neoplasms of the adrenal gland is a complex matter, being the established criteria still lacking a strong reproducibility. Several tyrosine kinase inhibitors are available for different cancer types; among them, HCC, RCC, ASPS, and TC may benefit from the so-called antiangiogenic tyrosine kinase inhibitors (aTKI) (such as sunitinib, sorafenib, pazopanib). A general (histotype-independent) validation of the prognostic role of VETC is missing. Moreover, inhibitors of tyrosine-kinase vascular endothelial growth factor receptors (VEGFR-TKI), represent an effective treatment for different cancer types, but predictive markers are still needed. In addition, novel systemic immunotherapy agents are being approved in many cancer types, as alternative to angiogenesis inhibitors. A broader frame including metastatic mechanisms, tumor microenvironment (TME, i.e. angiogenesis and immune infiltrate) and treatment response could answer to several needs currently unmet. Bayesian networks and causal models can be employed to effectively draw conclusions from retrospective data. The aim of the present study is to investigate in patients with RCC and adrenal carcinoma (AC) the VETC-expression on tumor tissue, correlating the results with clinical data, patients characteristics, and outcome.

The primary purpose of this study is to explore the association of high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and radiotherapy(RT)-induced toxicity in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. In each patient, hsCRP levels in the pre- and post-RT plasma samples will be measured according to the schedule we set.

Renal transplant patients have on average 3-5 times more risk of developing cancer than the general population. This rate can be increased up to 10 to 15 times in some type of cancer like kidney cancer. Among the identified risk factors, immunosuppressants and, in particular, calcineurin inhibitors (ciclosporin and tacrolimus) play a major role in increasing cancers apart from their depressant effects on the immune system. Calcineurin inhibitors (CCN) are the basis of immunosuppressive therapy in renal transplantation. Several mechanisms have been implicated to explain their pro-oncogenic properties. One related to an increase in VEGF expression seems particularly interesting in the study of renal cell carcinoma in the transplanted patient. Indeed, the physiopathology of kidney cancer has clearly been associated with an increase in the production of VEGF. Furthermore, some polymorphisms of the gene encoding VEGF have already been associated with the survival of patients with renal carcinoma and the circulating level of VEGF in the general population. The search for an association between the polymorphisms of the VEGF gene and renal carcinoma in renal transplant patients could thus identify patients whose risk of renal cell carcinoma (cRCC) post-transplantation is increased. If the involvement of certain polymorphisms in the development of cRCC was confirmed in this population, their research before the introduction of the immunosuppressive treatment would make it possible to direct the choice of treatment towards molecules without pro-oncogenic property in the Patients such as mTOR protein inhibitors (sirolimus, everolimus). This research project is therefore in line with the desire to move towards a more "personalized" medicine that could be beneficial for the patient.

The goal of this laboratory research study is to learn about symptoms and activity levels of patients with OPSCC that receive IMPT or TORS.

The purpose of the study is to evaluate the ability and efficacy of using a polarization-enhanced reflectance and fluorescence imaging device, PERFIS, (see the Device Brochure) for demarcation of nonmelanoma skin cancer margins prior to surgery. PERFIS is a harmless and non-invasive device that has been used to image biological tissue both in vitro and in vivo. In this study it will be used to image nonmelanoma skin cancer lesions prior to surgery. The use of PERFIS will not affect patient care or treatment decisions in any way. No extra tissue will be used for imaging.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Despite the recent advances in the treatment of HCC, the prognosis of HCC is still poor even after curative treatment. Performance status has shown to be associated with long-term survival and prognosis in patients with HCC, and it is one of the important factors in the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) staging system. Recently, the researches on health-related quality of life (HRQL) of cancer patients have been progressed. The most widely used surveys to assess HRQL of cancer patients are Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Generic (FACT-G) and European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) quality of life questionnaire (QLQ)-C30. Since those two are mainly about cancers in general, HCC specific surveys were developed. The FACT-Hep questionnaire has 45-items specifically focusing on patients with hepatobiliary cancers. EORTC QLQ-hepatocellular carcinoma 18 (HCC 18) is an 18-item questionnaire designed to be used along with the EORTC QLQ-C30 for patients with HCC. An 18-item National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN)-FACT Hepatobiliary-Pancreatic Symptom Index (NFHSI-18) is a specific questionnaire for advanced hepatobiliary and pancreatic cancers. However, there is no consensus whether it would be appropriate to adopt HRQL as a prognostic variable in HCC staging system. Moreover, there is limited information available about the impact of patients' HRQL on long-term outcome in patients with HCC. Thus, in this study, the researchers will investigate whether HRQL can be an important factor in HCC staging system by testing the reliability and clinical validity of FACT-Hep, EORTC QLQ-HCC18, and NFHSI-18. Second, the investigators will evaluate the relation of HRQL with treatment efficacy, recurrence and survival outcome. Lastly, the investigators will suggest the suitable questionnaire module for patients with HCC.

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.

Persistent replication of HBV (47-55%) is frequently found in patients with HCC, which in turn leads to deterioration of liver reserve. Moreover, a large proportion of HCC patients who underwent curative therapy died from progressive liver decompensation rather than recurrence of cancer. It had been proved that anti-viral therapy for hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related HCC patients could reduce the rate of tumor recurrence after surgical resection. This is a prospective study to evaluate the efficacy of ETV therapy in chronic hepatitis B patients after receiving RFA therapy for HCC.

Patients undergoing Y90 radioembolization to will be followed prospectively with CT volumetry to determine post-Y90 rate of liver hypertrophy.