Active clinical trials for "Lung Neoplasms"

The purpose of the study is to measure tumor response rates for three schedules of Alimta(LY231514) in combination with gemcitabine in patients with locally advanced or metastatic non small cell lung cancer who have received no prior chemotherapy regimen.

Background: Previously we have demonstrated induction of tumor antigen and tumor suppressor gene expression in lung cancer cells following exposure to the DNA demethylating agent, Decitabine (DAC). We have also demonstrated that DAC mediated target gene expression and apoptosis can be significantly enhanced in cancer cells by subsequent exposure to the histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor Depsipeptide FK228 (DP). Furthermore, we have demonstrated that following DAC, or DAC/DP exposure, cancer cells can be recognized by cytolytic T cells specific for the cancer testis antigen, NY-FSO-1. This Phase I study will evaluate gene induction in thoracic oncology patients mediated by sequential DAC/DP treatment with or without the selective COX-2 inhibitor, celecoxib. Objectives: Evaluation of the pharmacokinetics and toxicity of continuous 72-hour intravenous Decitabine (DAC) infusion followed by 4-hour intravenous infusion of Depsipeptide FK228 (DP) with or without oral celecoxib in patients with unresectable cancers involving the lungs or pleura. Analysis of NY-ESO-1, p16 and p21 expression in cancer specimens before and after sequential Decitabine/Depsipeptide treatment. Analysis of serologic response to NY-ESO-1 before and after sequential drug treatment. Analysis of apoptosis in tumor biopsies before and after sequential Decitabine/Depsipeptide treatment. Refinement of laser capture microdissection and micro-array techniques for analysis of gene expression profiles in tumor tissues. Eligibility: Patients with histologically or cytologically proven primary small cell or non-small cell lung cancers, advanced esophageal cancers, pleural mesotheliomas, or non-thoracic cancers with metastases to the lungs or pleura. Patients must be 18 years or older with an ECOG performance status of 0-2 and have adequate pulmonary reserve evidenced by FEV1 and DLCO greater than the 30% predicted, and less than 50 mm Hg and p02 greater than 60 mm Hg on room air ABG. Patients must have a platelet count greater than 100.000. an ANC equal to or greater than 1500 without transfusion or cytokine support, a normal PT, and adequate hepatic function as evidenced by a total bilirubin of less than 1.5 x upper limits of normal. Serum creatinine less than or equal to 1.6 mg/ml or the creatinine clearance must be greater than 70 ml/min/1.73m(2). Design: Patients with inoperable malignancies involving lungs or pleura will receive two cycles of 72-hour intravenous infusion of Decitabine followed by 4-hour Depsipeptide infusion using a Phase I study design. Decitabine will be administered by continuous infusion on days 1-4, and patient cohorts will receive escalating doses of Depsipeptide administered on day 4 and day 10 of a 34 day cycle. Once the MTD and toxicities for sequential DAC/DP have been identified, additional cohorts of 6 lung cancer patients and 6 mesothelioma patients will receive sequential DAC/DP administered at the MTD as outlined above with celecoxib (400mg bid) administered on days 4-34 of each treatment cycle, as a means to enhance target cell apoptosis and facilitate anti-tumor immune recognition/response. Pharmacokinetics, systemic toxicity, and response to therapy will be recorded. Tumor biopsies will be obtained prior to, and after therapy to evaluate expression of NY-ESO-1 tumor antigen, as well as p16 and p21 tumor suppressor genes, which are known to be modulated by chromatin structure. Additional analysis will be undertaken to evaluate the extent of apoptosis in tumor tissues, and to determine if immune recognition of NY-ESO-1 can be demonstrated following sequential DAC?DP +/- celecoxib treatment. As the exact set of comparisons and analyses to be performed will be determined following completion of the trial and will be based on limited numbers of patients, the analyses will be considered exploratory and hypothesis generating rather than definitive. A total of 40 patients will be enrolled.

This study is for patients who have Stage IIIb or Stage IV NSCLC and have never had chemotherapy before for their disease. The first phase of the study recently completed and for the second phase of the study patients are randomly assigned to receive either paclitaxel and carboplatin or paclitaxel and carboplatin and study drug (STA 4783). Treatment will be every 3 weeks for 6 cycles.

The purpose of this research study is to evaluate the effects of yoga (including breathing exercises) on the quality of life in patients, diagnosed and undergoing standard treatments for non-small cell lung cancer.

This is a study funded by the National Institute of Health. The rationale for the need of this research is the lack of any well proven risk-reducing intervention that may decrease the morbidity of lung cancer resection in patients with COPD or that may improve their quality of life trajectory, a meaningful outcome in the overall disease progression. The proposed intervention is unique as it combines exercise and behavioral interventions that were pilot tested in a randomized single-blinded controlled design in the proposed population and proved feasible and potentially effective. The aim is to test the effect of the proposed rehabilitation on length of stay, pulmonary complications and quality of life trajectory.

The objective of this project is to compare the effect of two widely implemented cancer diets, differing drastically in macronutrient content, on biomarkers of inflammation, compared to a control diet. Diet A will be a low-carbohydrate, high-fat ketogenic-type diet with an emphasis on whole foods. By limiting carbohydrate, the diet will have an extremely low glycemic load, thereby minimizing diurnal glucose and insulin excursions. Diet B will be a low-fat, high-carbohydrate whole foods plant-based diet. It will include only fiber-rich, low-glycemic index sources of carbohydrates and largely eliminate animal protein, which will minimize rapid spikes in blood glucose and insulin and the production of IGF-1. This diet is also hypothesized to improve glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity, which should further help minimize diurnal glycemic and insulinemic excursions. Both diets will be compared to a control diet based on the 2015 USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans (Diet C) in patients suffering from advanced lung cancer as they are completing medical therapy. The overarching hypothesis motivating this work is that a nutrient dense diet that minimizes known factors involved in tumor growth and progression may improve the effectiveness of therapy. Our specific hypothesis is that participants following either of the experimental diets, A or B, will experience a reduction in biomarkers of insulin resistance and chronic inflammation, both of which are known risk factors for progression in lung cancer, and a greater median time to progression compared to those on the control diet (Diet C).

The purpose of this study is to conduct a pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) evaluating the feasibility and potential effectiveness of a remotely supervised exercise program (REM) in promoting adherence to an exercise prescription before and during chemoradiation.

The goal of this research study is to learn the opinion of patients and their caregiving about a couple-based Hatha Yoga program during treatment for cancer. Researchers also want to learn the effect of this program on lung function, distress, and quality of life.

This is a pilot study to test the hypothesis that biofeedback-mediated stress management (BFSM) training can be used to reduce distress and enhance quality of life in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Most patients with advanced NSCLC have significant physical symptoms, but even those who do not have physical symptoms have high levels of anxiety and depression.

Pazopanib is a new cancer drug that works by limiting the growth of new blood vessels in tumours. About half of patients who take pazopanib develop high blood pressure (hypertension). This side effect can make patients have to reduce or stop their cancer treatment, and can cause other health problems. The aim of this study is to find out exactly how the drug causes high blood pressure.