Active clinical trials for "Melanoma"

Background: - Researchers have developed an experimental cancer treatment called cell therapy. White blood cells called lymphocytes are taken from a tumor, grown in large numbers in the lab, and then given back to the patient. Interleukin-15, given to the patient after the cells (now called Young tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes of Young TIL cells) are replaced, helps the cells to grow and boosts the immune system. This process changes your normal cells into cells that are able to recognize your tumor has been studied in the lab. These cells can destroy tumor cells in the test tube, but scientists want to see if they work inside the body. Objectives: -To test the effectiveness of lymphocytes drawn from tumor cells combined with interleukin-15 in treating metastatic melanoma. Eligibility: Patients must be 18 - 66 years of age and have a diagnosis of metastatic melanoma. They will have heart and lung function tests, lab tests, and imaging procedures. Patients may not have conditions such as active systemic infections, blood clotting disorders, or other active major medical illnesses. Patients may not be pregnant or nursing.

The goal of the Phase I part of this clinical research study is to find the highest tolerable dose of the drug Yervoy (ipilimumab) that can be given with the drugs Temodar (temozolomide), Intron-A (interferon alfa-2b), Proleukin (aldesleukin, IL-2), and Platinol (cisplatin) to patients with metastatic melanoma. The safety of this combination will also be studied in Phase I. The goal of Phase II is to learn if this combination can help to control metastatic melanoma. Note: The study was closed following Phase I enrollment. Ipilimumab, interferon alfa-2b, and aldesleukin are designed to block the activity of cells that decrease the immune system's ability to fight cancer. Temozolomide is designed to stop cancer cells from making new DNA (the genetic material of cells). This may stop the cancer cells from dividing into new cells. Cisplatin is designed to poison the cancer cells, which may cause them to die.

The goal of the Phase I portion of this study is to find the highest tolerable dose of TPI 287 that can be given in combination with Temodar (temozolomide) to patients with metastatic melanoma. The goal of the Phase II portion of this study is to learn if TPI 287, given in combination with temozolomide, can control metastatic melanoma. The safety of this combination will also be studied. NOTE: Study stopped before progressing to Phase II portion.

The main objective of this study is to evaluate the clinical and biologic toxicity of cell therapy by adoptive transfer of TIL in combination with intra-tumoral injections of Ad-INFg.

Background: - Studies of melanoma tumor samples have shown that tumor cells from approximately 20 percent of melanoma patients contain a specific mutation of a gene involved in making a protein called ERBB4, and that changes in this gene have been associated with cancer. Lapatinib, a drug that is currently approved for the treatment of breast cancer, has been shown in the laboratory to significantly slow the growth of melanoma cells that contain this specific ERBB4 gene mutation. Researchers are interested in determining whether lapatinib can be effective against melanoma in individuals who have the ERBB4 mutation. Objectives: - To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of lapatinib as a treatment for melanoma with ERBB4 mutation that has not responded to standard therapy. Eligibility: - Individuals at least 18 years of age who have stage 4 melanoma that has not responded to standard therapy. Design: Participants will be screened with a full physical examination and medical history, as well as tests of tumor tissue taken from previous surgeries or biopsies or from a new biopsy that will be conducted before the start of the study. Test results to determine eligibility will be available within about 2 weeks. Participants will take four lapatinib tablets daily (two in the morning, 1 hour before or after breakfast and two in the evening, 1 hour before or after dinner) during every 28-day cycle of treatment. Participants will keep a medication diary to record tablets taken and any side effects from the medication. After the first 2 weeks, and every 2 to 4 weeks afterward for the first 12 weeks, participants will have clinic visits with blood samples and other tests to determine if lapatinib is causing their disease to shrink or be controlled. If the disease has not progressed, participants will continue to receive a new lapatinib supply every 28 days for up to 2 years (27 cycles), and will continue to have regular clinic visits to monitor the progress of treatment. When tumor tissue is easily accessible and can be easily biopsied, researchers will collect two additional biopsies, one after 2 weeks of treatment and one after 12 weeks of treatment....

The purpose of this study is to find out what effects, good and/or bad, vemurafenib has on the patient and the melanoma. Specifically, the investigators want to know how well vemurafenib shrinks melanoma. The investigators also want to find out how well vemurafenib can improve how well the patient functions.

The purpose of this clinical trial is to evaluate the benefit of the immunotherapeutic product GSK 2132231A in preventing disease relapse when given to melanoma patients, after surgical removal of their tumor. This Protocol Posting has been updated following Amendments 1 of the Protocol, March 2010. The impacted sections are outcome measures and entry criteria.

Obatoclax Mesylate (GMX1777) is a water-soluble, intravenously-administered pro-drug of GMX1778. GMX1777 is rapidly converted to GMX1778 in vivo. GMX1778 has potent anti-tumor activity against a variety of cell lines and models from different tumor origins.

This study has been designed to evaluate the side effects of Gleevec when given in combination with Temzolomide; and to learn more about how these drugs work in the body and whether this combination is useful in treating patients with melanoma.

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as pentamidine, 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 pentamidine works in treating patients with relapsed or refractory melanoma.