Active clinical trials for "Melanoma"

The purpose of this study is to determine whether an outpatient combination of lovastatin and low-to-moderate dose interferon is effective in the treatment of patients with malignant melanoma.

The purpose of this research study is to use two different drugs to find where melanoma might spread and to remove these tissues. We believe that tumor cells from the melanoma first move through the lymphatic system (a system of clear fluid that moves around the body and carries white blood cells, much like the blood system) to a lymph node in an orderly way. If we can identify the first lymph nodes to receive a tumor cell, this can be removed and examined. We currently use one drug, called "technetium-99m sulfur colloid" which can detect about 90% of the first lymph nodes that the tumor cells would move to. Technetium-99m is a radioactive compound and can be detected through the skin by a special instrument that reads radioactivity. As part of this research, we would like to use a second drug called "fluorescein" (Fluorescite®) to see if it will identify the same lymph nodes or additional ones and examine these. This drug is fluorescent and can be detected even through the skin using a blue light. This drug is approved by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) to for injection in the vein as a diagnostic aid and has been safely used in people for many years. In this study, we will be injecting it under the skin, which is a different use from how it is currently approved by the FDA. In the past another drug has been used, called "isosulfan blue" (Lymphazurin®), but availability of this drug is currently limited, and it has higher risks associated with it. This study is being conducted by Dr. Robert Andtbacka, Dr. Dirk Noyes, Dr. James McGreevy and at University of Utah. This study is a Phase I/II and is done to find out if the drug can be used safely when given under the skin and if it will work for this purpose.

RATIONALE: Diagnostic procedures, such as positron emission tomography and computed tomography scan (done before and after cellular adoptive immunotherapy), may help doctors predict a patient's response to treatment and help plan the best treatment. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well positron emission tomography and computed tomography scan predicts response in patients with metastatic melanoma or kidney cancer who are undergoing cellular adoptive immunotherapy on a Surgery Branch clinical trial.

RATIONALE: Monoclonal antibodies, such as ipilimumab, can block tumor growth in different ways. Some block the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Others find tumor cells and help kill them or carry tumor-killing substances to them. Vaccines made from gp100 peptides may help the body build an effective immune response to kill tumor cells. Giving ipilimumab together with vaccine therapy may be an effective treatment for melanoma. PURPOSE: This randomized phase II trial is studying ipilimumab and vaccine therapy to see how well they work compared to ipilimumab alone in treating patients with previously treated stage IV melanoma.

RATIONALE: Buthionine sulfoximine may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as melphalan, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Sometimes when chemotherapy is given, it does not stop the growth of tumor cells. The tumor is said to be resistant to chemotherapy. Giving buthionine sulfoximine together with chemotherapy may reduce drug resistance and allow the tumor cells to be killed. PURPOSE: This phase I trial is studying the side effects and best dose of melphalan when given as an isolated limb infusion together with buthionine sulfoximine in treating patients with persistent or recurrent stage III malignant melanoma.

This randomized phase III trial is studying high dose interferon alfa to see how well it works compared to observation only in treating patients with stage II or stage III melanoma that has been completely removed by surgery.

The use of lovastatin may slow disease progression in patients at high risk of melanoma. It is not yet known whether lovastatin is more effective than a placebo in treating patients at high risk of melanoma. This randomized phase II trial studies how well giving lovastatin or placebo works in treating patients at high risk of melanoma.

A prospective feasibility trial initially including 10 patients to investigate if Neurofilament light protein can be detected in peripheral blood in patients undergoing Isolated Limb Perfusion with chemotherapeutic agents. This biomarker could act as predictive biomarker for neurotoxicity after isolated limb perfusion.

This research study is studying different immunotherapy regimens as a possible treatment for stage III or IV resectable melanoma.

Approximately 50 ABA+ subjects with resectable, Stage III (IIIB, IIIC, or IIID) melanoma will be included in the study and randomized in a 3:2 ratio to neoadjuvant treatment with Imprime PGG plus pembrolizumab vs. pembrolizumab monotherapy. A baseline, reference biopsy and a PET/CT scan will be obtained prior to commencing 3 cycles (9 weeks) of neoadjuvant treatment with either regimen. During Week 5, subjects will provide another biopsy to assess treatment effects on the tumor and its microenvironment. At the completion of neoadjuvant treatment and before surgery, subjects will undergo another PET/CT scan to assess radiological and metabolic response compared to baseline.