Active clinical trials for "Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal"

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as ifosfamide, cisplatin, paclitaxel, and vinblastine, work in different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. It is not yet known whether ifosfamide and cisplatin are more effective when combined with paclitaxel or vinblastine in treating germ cell tumors. PURPOSE: This randomized phase III trial is studying paclitaxel, ifosfamide, and cisplatin to see how well they work compared to vinblastine, ifosfamide, and cisplatin in treating men with progressive or recurrent metastatic germ cell tumors.

Imatinib mesylate may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking the enzymes necessary for tumor cell growth. Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of imatinib mesylate in treating patients who have progressive, refractory, or recurrent stage II or stage III testicular cancer or stage II or stage III ovarian cancer following cisplatin-based chemotherapy

This is a multi-center phase II study of brentuximab vedotin in combination with bevacizumab for the treatment of refractory CD-30+ germ cell tumors (GCT) after disease progression on imaging and/or tumor marker progression documented by serially rising alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) or beta human chorionic gonadotropin (bHCG) measured on at least 2 consecutive visits and determined by treating physician to be clinically significant. Patients unable to receive 2nd line of platinum-based chemotherapy due to toxicity or refusal would also be eligible.

Background: - Certain types of cancers, including sarcoma and melanoma, have specific antigens (protein molecules) on their surfaces. Research has shown that producing an immune reaction to these antigens may be able to keep tumors from growing by encouraging the immune system to destroy the tumor cells. By creating a vaccine that contains antigens similar to those found on the cancer cells, researchers hope to cause an immune reaction that targets the cancer cells. However, more research is needed to determine the safety and effectiveness of this type of vaccine treatment. Objectives: - To determine whether a tumor cell vaccine, given to individuals who have had surgery to remove malignant tumors from the chest, can cause an immune reaction that will prevent the tumors from coming back. Eligibility: - Individuals at least 18 years of age who have been diagnosed with cancer that has spread to the lungs, pleura, or mediastinum, and have recently had surgery to remove tumors in the chest. Design: Participants will be screened with a physical examination and medical history, as well as blood tests and imaging studies. Participants will have the option to have leukapheresis to collect white blood cells for studies on how the body is responding to the vaccine. Participants who agree to have this procedure will have it before the start of treatment and after the sixth and eighth vaccines. Seven days before the first vaccine, participants will receive the chemotherapy drugs celecoxib and cyclophosphamide to take twice a day at home. Participants will receive the experimental vaccine as an injection in the thigh or arm, and may receive it in two shots depending on how many cells are in each vaccine. Participants will receive a diary to monitor medication doses and side effects, as well as additional cyclophosphamide and celecoxib to take at home as directed by the study. Participants will have one vaccine every month for 6 months, and will have regular blood tests and imaging studies. After the sixth vaccine, participants who have successfully responded to the treatment will have two additional vaccines given 3 months apart. After the eighth vaccine, participants will have followup visits every 3 months for 1 year and then every 6 months for up to 4 years....

RATIONALE: Giving CpG 7909 after an autologous stem cell transplant may make a stronger immune response and prevent or delay the recurrence of cancer. PURPOSE: This phase I trial is studying the side effects and best dose of CpG 7909 in treating patients who have undergone autologous stem cell transplant.

This study will evaluate the use of ZD1839 in the treatment of subjects with refractory germ cell tumors. Subjects will take ZD1839 for one year in the absence of excessive toxicity or decision to withdraw.

The purpose of this study is to find out if the combination of an mTOR inhibitor (sirolimus) with an EGFR inhibitor (erlotinib) is effective at treating relapsed or refractory germ cell tumors, and to find out what the side-effects of this regimen are.

The goal of this clinical research study is to learn if Sutent® (sunitinib malate, SU011248) can control the disease in patients with germ cell tumors that are resistant to earlier treatment.

Study Objectives: Primary objective The primary objective of this study is to investigate the combination of cisplatin/gemcitabine/paclitaxel, with respect to complete remission in patients with germ cell tumours previously treated with BEP. Secondary Objectives Overall survival Progression free survival Response rates (RECIST) Duration of response To investigate the safety of paclitaxel, gemcitabine and cisplatin in patients previously treated with BEP

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Combining chemotherapy with peripheral stem cell transplantation may allow patients to tolerate higher doses of chemotherapy and kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of combination chemotherapy and peripheral stem cell transplantation in treating patients who have germ cell tumors that have not responded to previous chemotherapy.