Active clinical trials for "Melanoma"

This phase I trial is studying the side effects and best dose of decitabine in treating patients with advanced solid tumors that have not responded to previous treatment. Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die

RATIONALE: Imatinib mesylate may interfere with the growth of tumor cells and may be an effective treatment for metastatic melanoma. PURPOSE: Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of imatinib mesylate in treating patients who have metastatic melanoma.

RATIONALE: Vaccines made from a peptide may make the body build an immune response and kill tumor cells. PURPOSE: Randomized phase II trial to study the effectiveness of vaccine therapy in treating patients who have metastatic cancer.

RATIONALE: Vaccines made from white blood cells treated with antigens may make the body build an immune response to kill melanoma cells. Interleukin-2 may stimulate a person's white blood cells to kill tumor cells. Combining vaccine therapy with interleukin-2 may kill more melanoma cells. PURPOSE: This phase I/II trial is studying the side effects and how well giving vaccine therapy and interleukin-2 works compared to vaccine therapy alone in treating patients with metastatic melanoma that has not responded to previous therapy.

RATIONALE: Vaccines made from a person's cancer cells may make the body build an immune response to kill tumor cells. PURPOSE: Phase I/II trial to study the effectiveness of vaccine therapy in treating patients who have stage IV or recurrent melanoma.

RATIONALE: Radiolabeled drugs such as yttrium Y 90 SMT 487 can locate tumor cells and deliver tumor-killing substances to them without harming normal cells. PURPOSE: Phase I trial to study the effectiveness of yttrium Y 90 SMT 487 in treating patients who have refractory or recurrent cancer.

RATIONALE: Vaccines made from peptides may make the body build an immune response to kill tumor cells. Monoclonal antibodies can locate tumor cells and either kill them or deliver tumor-killing substances to them without harming normal cells. Combining vaccine therapy with a monoclonal antibody may cause a stronger immune response and kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of combining vaccine therapy with monoclonal antibody therapy in treating patients who have stage IV melanoma.

RATIONALE: Vaccines may make the body build an immune response to kill tumor cells. Interleukin-2 may stimulate a person's white blood cells to kill tumor cells. Combining vaccine therapy with interleukin-2 may be an effective treatment for metastatic melanoma. PURPOSE: Randomized phase II trial to compare the effectiveness of vaccine therapy plus interleukin-2 to that of vaccine therapy alone in treating patients who have metastatic melanoma that has not responded to previous treatment.

RATIONALE: Photodynamic therapy uses light and drugs that make cancer cells more sensitive to light to kill tumor cells. Photodynamic therapy may be effective in treating melanoma. PURPOSE: Phase I/II trial to study the effectiveness of photodynamic therapy in treating patients who have stage III or stage IV melanoma.

RATIONALE: Interferon alfa may interfere with the growth of cancer cells and slow the growth of the tumor. Thalidomide may stop the growth of cancer by stopping blood flow to the tumor. Combining interferon alfa with thalidomide may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of combining interferon alfa with thalidomide in treating patients who have stage IV melanoma.