Active clinical trials for "Melanoma"

RATIONALE: Surgery may be effective therapy in treating patients with metastatic melanoma. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well surgery works in treating patients with metastatic melanoma.

RATIONALE: Interferon alfa may interfere with the growth of the cancer cells. It is not yet known whether interferon alfa following surgery is more effective than surgery alone in treating patients with melanoma. PURPOSE: Randomized phase III trial to compare the effectiveness of interferon alfa with no further therapy following surgery in treating patients with stage II, stage III, or recurrent melanoma.

RATIONALE: Vaccines made from peptides that are found on melanoma cells may make the body build an immune response and kill melanoma cells. Combining vaccine therapy with immune adjuvants, such as GM-CSF, Montanide ISA-51, or QS21, may be a more effective treatment for advanced melanoma. PURPOSE: Randomized phase II trial to study the effectiveness of gp 100-tyrosinase peptide vaccine with one of the immune adjuvants GM-CSF, Montanide ISA-51, or QS21 in treating patients who have stage III or stage IV melanoma.

RATIONALE: Vaccines may make the body build an immune response to kill tumor cells. PURPOSE: This phase I trial is studying the side effects and best dose of vaccine therapy in treating patients with stage III or stage IV melanoma.

The purpose of this study is to determine what side effects CP 870,893 may cause when given with an immune stimulant called Oncovir poly IC:LC along with a melanoma vaccine. The CP 870,893, the Oncovir poly IC:LC and the melanoma vaccine are investigational drugs that have not been combined in patients before, and that have not been approved for sale by the Food and Drug Administration. The Oncovir poly IC:LC is intended to stimulate the body's immune system.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and maximum tolerated dose of TAK-733 in patients with advanced, nonhematologic tumors. The expansion stage of the study will evaluate evidence of antitumor activity of TAK-733 in patients with advanced metastatic melanoma.

RATIONALE: Studying samples of blood, tumor tissue, and skin in the laboratory from patients with melanoma receiving hydroxychloroquine may help doctors understand the effect of hydroxychloroquine on biomarkers. PURPOSE: This early phase I trial is studying hydroxychloroquine in patients with stage III or stage IV melanoma that can be removed by surgery.

Background: GC1008 is a genetically engineered antibody designed to block the activity of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta). Although TGF-beta has some normal and beneficial effects in the body, it is often over-produced in malignant melanoma tumors, and it can help the melanoma grow and spread. Part 1 of this study enrolled 22 subjects with malignant melanoma or kidney cancer to determine the highest safe dose of GC1008, which was found to be 15 mg/kg. Three of 22 patients with malignant melanoma in Part 1 of the study developed skin problems, but it is not known if these problems were related to the administration of GC1008. Objectives: -To determine the frequency of adverse skin side effects of GC1008 in patients with malignant melanoma. Eligibility: -Patients 18 years of age and older with malignant melanoma for whom previous treatment was not successful. Design: GC1008 is given intravenously (through a vein) at a dose of 15 mg/kg or 10 mg/kg for four doses on study days 0, 28, 42 and 56 (one treatment cycle). Patients whose cancer responds to GC1008 may receive one or two additional treatment cycles of four doses given every two weeks. Physical exam and vital signs on study days 1, 14, 28, 42, 56, 84 and 140. Vitals signs on study days 0, 14, 28, 42, 56, 84 and 140. Frequent blood sample collections for routine safety tests, measurement of blood levels of GC1008, analysis for antibodies against GC1008 and for research studies. CT or MRI scan, bone scan and PET CT scan before treatment and on study day 84 and 140. Biopsy of apparently normal skin before treatment and again on day 84. Review of medicines and well being on study days 0, 14, 28, 42, 56, 84, 112 and 140. Follow-up visits every 3 months for up 2 years for patients who have not received additional treatment for their cancer. Evaluations include physical exam, CT or MRI scan, PET CT scan, blood tests and possibly tumor biopsies.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate how effective imatinib (Gleevec) is in treating acral/lentiginous and mucosal melanoma which has spread to other parts of the body in patients who's disease carries a c-kit mutation. Imatinib is a protein-kinase inhibitor. It is believed that imatinib may be effective in blocking signals on certain cancer cells which allow the malignant cells to multiply and spread.

This Phase I clinical trial is studying the side effects and best dose of ABT-888 when given together with Temozolomide (chemotherapy) in treating patients with solid tumors, including metastatic melanoma (MM), BRCA deficient breast, ovarian, primary peritoneal, or fallopian tube cancer, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).