Active clinical trials for "Gastrointestinal Neoplasms"

RATIONALE: Temsirolimus may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as vinorelbine ditartrate, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Giving temsirolimus together with vinorelbine ditartrate may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: This phase I trial is studying the side effects and best dose of giving temsirolimus and vinorelbine ditartrate together in treating patients with unresectable or metastatic solid tumors.

RATIONALE: Biological therapies, such as tumor necrosis factor, may stimulate the immune system in different ways and stop tumor cells from growing. Studying tumor necrosis factor in samples of tumor tissue and healthy tissue from patients with cancer in the laboratory may help doctors learn how tumor necrosis factor works in tumor tissue and healthy tissue. PURPOSE: This clinical trial is studying tumor necrosis factor in patients undergoing surgery for primary cancer or metastatic cancer .

This is a phase 2, randomized, double blind, placebo controlled, multi-center study to estimate the improvement in progression free survival (compared to control subjects) and evaluate the safety and tolerability of AMG 386 in combination with Cisplatin & Capecitabine in the treatment of subjects with Metastatic Gastric, Gastroesophageal Junction, or Distal Esophageal Adenocarcinoma. AMG 386 is a man-made medication that is designed to stop the development of blood vessels in cancer tissues. Cancer tissues rely on the development of new blood vessels, a process called angiogenesis, to obtain a supply of oxygen and nutrients to grow.

RATIONALE: Vorinostat may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as irinotecan, fluorouracil, and leucovorin, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Giving vorinostat together with combination chemotherapy may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: This phase I trial is studying the side effects and best dose of vorinostat when given together with irinotecan, fluorouracil, and leucovorin in treating patients with advanced upper gastrointestinal cancer.

Primary Objective: 1. Assess the clinical activity defined by response rate of irinotecan and cisplatin in untreated patients with metastatic or unresectable high grade neuroendocrine carcinoma of the gastrointestinal tract. Secondary Objective: 1. To assess the safety profile of irinotecan and cisplatin in untreated patients with metastatic or unresectable high grade neuroendocrine carcinoma of the gastrointestinal tract.

This study is for people with advanced cancer of the digestive tract and cancer that cannot be completely removed by surgery. Radiation therapy is commonly used in the treatment of these types of cancer in combination with a chemotherapy drug, called 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). In this study, doctors will administer the standard dose of radiation therapy in combination with an investigational chemotherapy drug, called irinotecan. Irinotecan can decrease the size of tumors and also appears to increase the effectiveness of radiation. The purpose of this study is to determine the highest dose of irinotecan that can be given safely in combination with radiation therapy, and to determine the side effects when these two treatments are given together. Irinotecan is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of colon cancer, but is not approved for cancers of the digestive tract. However, the FDA is allowing its use in this research study.

The objective of this study is to assess the efficacy and toxicity of a 3 weekly regimen containing irinotecan combined with capecitabine in the setting of relapsed or refractory upper gastrointestinal tumours. Patients with locally advanced or metastatic adenocarcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma originating from the oesophagus, oesophagogastric junction or stomach who have previously received chemotherapy and have either failed to respond or who have relapsed within 3 months after an initial response will be eligible for treatment in this study. The response rate, failure-free survival and overall survival of treated patients will be evaluated. Toxicity and quality of life will also be monitored closely.

Picoplatin is a new platinum-based chemotherapy drug that has been studied in a variety of cancers. Phase 1 and 2 studies have demonstrated that picoplatin may be effective in patients whose cancer returns or does not improve after treatment with chemotherapy. In these studies, picoplatin was administered intravenously. A capsule containing picoplatin has been formulated. This study will investigate the activity of the oral capsule in humans. Participants with advanced solid tumors will be enrolled.

Primary Objective: 1. To determine the objective response rate (complete plus partial) to the combination of capecitabine (Xeloda) and oxaliplatin (Eloxatin) (XELOX) in patients with adenocarcinoma of the small bowel and ampulla of Vater. Secondary objectives include determining the toxicity, time-to-treatment failure, and overall survival rates in patients treated with this combination.

This trial is a phase II study in patients with advanced gastrointestinal (GI) malignancies who will be assigned to one of 4 cohorts (normal, mild, moderate and several renal dysfunction) based on their baseline measured creatinine clearance then treated with FOLFOX4. Standard bone marrow and liver function inclusion and exclusion criteria must be met prior to study treatment. FOLFOX4 in the study is given every 2 weeks (1 cycle = 2 weeks) for up to 12 cycles unless there are treatment delays to allow for recovery from toxic effects. Dose modifications are included for protocol specified toxicities. After 12 treatment cycles on study, patients who are having a beneficial disease response may continue to have oxaliplatin supplied off study to continue the treatment regimen until disease progression, prohibitive toxicity or death. Oxaliplatin pharmacokinetic studies (plasma and urine) are planned during cycles 1 and 2 on each patient. Creatinine clearance will be assessed every 2 cycles and disease status will be assessed every 3 cycles of treatment during the study.