Active clinical trials for "Liver Neoplasms"

A minority of patients with colorectal liver metastases and hepatobiliary cancer (primary liver cancer) are candidates for surgery, but there are no curative treatment options for these patients. Their median survival time is 3 to 12 months. Stereotactic radiation (SRT) (highly conformal radiotherapy (CRT)) is a treatment option for these patients with unresectable liver cancer, now possible due to improvements in our ability to localize and immobilize liver tumors and an improved understanding of the partial liver volume tolerance to radiation. SRT should permit liver tumors to be treated to tumorcidal doses while sparing the uninvolved liver, decreasing the risk of treatment related normal tissue toxicity. With such conformal radiation, it is possible to deliver radiation in fewer fractions than traditionally required, which should be more convenient for patients. In this study, CRT will be delivered during shallow breathing or breath hold to minimize organ motion due to breathing, decreasing the volume of normal liver that must be irradiated.

This phase II trial is to see if bevacizumab works in treating patients who have unresectable nonmetastatic liver cancer that has not spread to the main portal vein. Monoclonal antibodies, such as bevacizumab, can block cancer growth in different ways. Some block the ability of cancer cells to grow and spread. Others find cancer cells and help kill them or deliver cancer-killing substances to them.

Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of erlotinib in treating patients who have unresectable liver, bile duct, or gallbladder cancer. Biological therapies such as erlotinib may interfere with the growth of cancer cells and slow the growth of the tumor.

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as ABT-751, work in different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. PURPOSE: This phase I trial is studying the side effects of ABT-751 in treating young patients with refractory solid tumors.

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy such as epirubicin use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Thalidomide may stop the growth of hepatocellular (liver) cancer by stopping blood flow to the tumor. Combining epirubicin with thalidomide may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of combining epirubicin with thalidomide in treating patients who have unresectable or metastatic liver cancer.

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy such as gemcitabine work in different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Pemetrexed disodium may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking the enzymes necessary for tumor cell growth. Combining gemcitabine with pemetrexed disodium may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: This phase I/II trial is studying the side effects and best dose of gemcitabine when given together with pemetrexed disodium to see how well it works in treating patients with unresectable or metastatic biliary tract or gallbladder cancer.

Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of gefitinib in treating patients who have advanced unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer). Gefitinib may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking the enzymes necessary for their growth

RATIONALE: Vaccines made from a person's white blood cells that have been treated in the laboratory may make the body build an immune response to kill tumor cells. PURPOSE: Phase I trial to study the effectiveness of vaccine therapy in treating patients who have advanced or metastatic cancer.

RATIONALE: Vaccines made from a peptide may make the body build an immune response to kill tumor cells. Combining vaccine therapy with interleukin-2 and/or sargramostim may be a more effective treatment for solid tumors. PURPOSE: Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of vaccine therapy plus interleukin-2 and/or sargramostim in treating adults who have metastatic solid tumors.

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Combining more than one drug may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: Phase I trial to study the effectiveness of combining gemcitabine, fluorouracil, and leucovorin in treating patients with recurrent, refractory, or metastatic solid tumors or lymphomas.