Active clinical trials for "Mesothelioma, Malignant"

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Combining more than one drug may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of combining gemcitabine and epirubicin in treating patients who have malignant mesothelioma.

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. PURPOSE: Phase I trial to study the effectiveness of decitabine in treating patients who have unresectable lung or esophageal cancer or malignant mesothelioma of the pleura.

Erlotinib may interfere with the growth of tumor cells and slow the growth of the tumor. This phase II trial is studying how well erlotinib works in treating patients with malignant mesothelioma of the lung

This study will test the effectiveness of an experimental treatment for peritoneal cancer involving surgical removal of the tumor, perfusion of the abdomen during surgery with a heated solution of the drug cisplatin, and post-surgery combination chemotherapy in the abdomen with fluorouracil (5-FU) and paclitaxel. Patients with certain peritoneal cancer whose tumors are confined to the abdomen may be eligible for this study. Candidates are screened with a medical history and physical examination, including blood tests, electrocardiogram and possibly bone scan, brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and chest, abdomen and pelvic CT scans. Participants undergo surgery to remove as much tumor as possible. Part of the intestines, pancreas, stomach or the entire spleen may also be removed if they are affected. During surgery, after the tumor has been removed, two catheters (thin plastic tubes) are placed in the abdomen. A chemotherapy solution containing the anti-cancer drug cisplatin heated to a temperature of about 108.6 degrees (10 degrees above normal body temperature) is then delivered into the abdomen through one catheter and drained through another. During treatment, a drug called sodium thiosulfate is given through a vein to reduce the risk of side effects of cisplatin, particularly kidney damage. After 90 minutes of bathing the abdomen with this solution, the drug is rinsed from the abdomen and the catheters removed. Another small catheter is then placed and left inside the abdomen with one end coming out through the skin. Seven to 12 days after the operation, the anti-cancer drugs 5-FU and paclitaxel are given through this catheter. After complete recovery from the surgery, the catheter is removed and the patient is discharged from the hospital. Clinic visits are scheduled for periodic follow-up examination, imaging, and tests 3 and 6 months after surgery and every 6 months for up to 5 years as long as the disease does not worsen. Patients whose disease progresses are taken off the study and referred back to their local physician or referred for alternative care or other research studies. Patients are also asked to assess how this therapy affects their general health and well being. This will require filling out two quality-of-life (QOL) questionnaires before surgery and again at each follow-up visit after surgery. Each questionnaire takes about 15 minutes to complete.

Background: Malignant mesothelioma is a form of cancer that develops on the protective lining that covers the body's internal organs. It most often occurs on the lining of the lungs and chest wall or the lining of the abdomen. There is no known cure for malignant mesothelioma, so researchers are searching for new ways to treat it. Mesothelin is a protein that is found in mesothelioma and other types of cancer cells. An experimental cancer drug called SS1P is designed to attack cells that have mesothelin while leaving healthy cells alone. Researchers want to test how effective SS1P is when it is given with pentostatin and cyclophosphamide. These drugs help suppress the immune system and may make the SS1P more effective. Objectives: - To study the effectiveness of SS1P plus two drugs that suppress the immune system to treat malignant mesothelioma. Eligibility: - Individuals at least 18 years of age who have malignant mesothelioma in the chest or abdomen. Design: Participants will be screened with a physical exam, medical history, and blood tests. They will also have imaging studies. The first treatment cycle will last 30 days. Up to three 21-day cycles of treatment will follow. In the first cycle, participants will have pentostatin on days 1, 5, and 9. They will have cyclophosphamide on days 1 through 12. They will have SS1P on days 10, 12, and 14. On the next three cycles, participants will have pentostatin on day 1.They will have cyclophosphamide on days 1 through 4. They will have SS1P on days 2, 4, and 6. Participants will have frequent blood tests and other studies. They will receive all four cycles of treatment as long as there are no severe side effects. Participants will have regular followup visits as directed by the study doctors.

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a rapidly lethal cancer arising from the parietal pleural mesothelium, and is associated with exposure to asbestos. Once a rare disease, it is increasing in incidence in the UK and is presently more common than cervical cancer. MPM is characterized by local invasion of adjacent structures including the chest wall, mediastinum, diaphragm and pericardium resulting in progressive shortness of breath. Median survival with best supportive care alone is approximately 6-9 months and most cases of mesothelioma present in the advanced setting. Therefore this trial will be looking at whether a new drug, Ganetespib has any improvement on survival for these types of patients.

Combination of gemcitabine-cisplatin was one of the most effective chemotherapy treatment in mesothelioma patients. However, median survival of this patient group was only about 12 months. With intent to find more effective treatment the investigators performed phase II study with gemcitabine in low dose (130-250 mg/m2) in 6-hours (prolonged) infusion in combination with cisplatin in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (Zwitter et al. Anticancer Drugs 2005;16:1129-34). After favourable experience, the investigators decided to explore such regiment in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) as well.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of axitinib, a potent angiogenesis inhibitor, on tissue and clinical outcome in combination with chemotherapy given to patients with mesothelioma

This research will study how to activate the immune system by using gene transfer. Gene transfer involves inserting a specially designed gene into cancer cells. A gene is a part of the genetic code that instructs the cells of our bodies to produce specific compounds (proteins) important for the makeup or function of the cell. The study hypothesis is that repeated doses of SCH 721015 given over a three day interval would result in gene transfer.

The primary objective of this trial is to determine the response rate of single agent zoledronic acid using a composite of criteria including the EORTC modified RECIST criteria and the EORTC tumor response criteria for 18F-FDG PET scans.