Active clinical trials for "Melanoma"

This study is being done to see if an experimental drug called recombinant interleukin-21 (rIL-21) when given to patients with stage 4 malignant melanoma or stage 4 kidney cancer is safe and has any effect on these types of cancers.

The objectives of this study are to compare the anti-tumor activity as measured by Progression Free Survival (PFS) and tolerability of Sorafenib in combination with Paclitaxel and Carboplatin versus Paclitaxel and Carboplatin in combination with placebo in subjects with unresectable Stage III or Stage IV melanoma who progressed after receiving only one prior therapy containing Dacarbazine (DTIC) or Temozolomide (TMZ).

The purpose of this study is to find out what effects (good and/or bad) this new cancer vaccine has on the patient and their cancer, whether it is safe and whether it can help get rid of their cancer (malignant melanoma). We want to check how the patient's immune system reacts, both before and after the vaccine treatment.

RATIONALE: Biological therapies, such as hu14.18-interleukin-2 fusion protein, may stimulate the immune system in different ways and stop tumor cells from growing. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well hu14.18-interleukin-2 fusion protein works in treating patients with advanced melanoma.

This study will test whether an experimental drug called Revlimid (lenalidomide) can reduce tumor size and prolong survival in patients with metastatic melanoma (melanoma that has spread beyond the original tumor site). It will also examine the toxicity and blood effects of Revlimid. Patients 18 years of age and older with stage IV ocular melanoma may be eligible for this study. Candidates are screened with a medical history and physical and examination, blood and urine tests, electrocardiogram, chest x-ray, computed tomography (CT) scan and other imaging scans if needed, such as a bone scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound, or positron emission tomography (PET). Participants are admitted to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Center for 24 hours for their first oral dose of Revlimid. During the hospital stay, blood is drawn before the dose is given and again at 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, 12 and 24 hours after dosing to see how the body handles the drug. If the drug is well tolerated, patients are sent home with a 21-day supply of drug to take once a day for 21 days, then go off drug 7 days. This regimen constitutes one 28-day treatment cycle. Treatment cycles may continue for up to 2 years. Patients keep a daily diary of side effects and have blood drawn once a week. The drug dose may be adjusted according to the laboratory test results. If unacceptable toxicity occurs, treatment may be stopped. Patients who agree to be biopsied undergo this procedure before treatment begins and at the end of treatment cycles 3 and 6. A small area of skin is numbed with medicine and a small piece of tumor is removed with a needle or by a small cut in the tumor. The tissue is examined under a microscope. Patients return to NIH after the first month of treatment and then every 3 months to evaluate their tumors and treatment of side effects. The visits include a physical examination, x-rays and scans to evaluate tumors. Visits are scheduled every 3 months while on treatment; then every 3 months for 2 years afterwards; then every 4 months for 1 year; and as needed after that. Patients will have a brain magnetic resonance imaging scan once a year to watch for new tumor areas.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether vaccination with tumor antigenic peptides and both CpG and Montanide adjuvants can induce an immune response in melanoma patients and to assess the safety of this vaccination.

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as 17-N-allylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well 17-N-allylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin works in treating patients with metastatic malignant melanoma.

This randomized phase II trial is studying vaccine therapy and sargramostim to see how well they work compared to vaccine therapy alone in treating patients who have undergone surgery for stage IIB, stage IIC, stage III, or stage IV melanoma. Vaccines made from peptides may make the body build an immune response to kill tumor cells. Colony-stimulating factors such as sargramostim increase the number of immune cells found in bone marrow or peripheral blood. Combining vaccine therapy with sargramostim may make a stronger immune response.

RATIONALE: Vaccines may make the body build an immune response to kill tumor cells. Colony-stimulating factors such as sargramostim may increase the number of immune cells found in bone marrow or peripheral blood. Combining vaccine therapy with sargramostim may cause a stronger immune response and kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: This randomized phase II trial is studying vaccine therapy and sargramostim to see how well they work compared to vaccine therapy alone in treating patients with stage II B, stage IIC, stage III, or stage IV melanoma.

RATIONALE: Interferon beta may interfere with the growth of tumor cells. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well interferon beta works in treating patients with metastatic cutaneous (skin) melanoma or ocular (eye) melanoma.