Active clinical trials for "Neuroblastoma"

RATIONALE: Monoclonal antibodies, such as monoclonal antibody 3F8, can locate tumor cells and either kill them or deliver tumor-killing substances to them without harming normal cells. Beta-glucan, isotretinoin, and sargramostim may increase the effectiveness of monoclonal antibody 3F8 by making tumor cells more sensitive to the monoclonal antibody. Combining different types of biological therapy may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well giving beta-glucan, isotretinoin, and sargramostim together with monoclonal antibody 3F8 works in treating patients with neuroblastoma that has not responded to previous treatment.

RATIONALE: Biological therapies such as hu14.18-interleukin-2 fusion protein work in different ways to stimulate the immune system and stop tumor cells from growing. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well hu14.18-interleukin-2 fusion protein works in treating young patients with recurrent or refractory neuroblastoma.

RATIONALE: Sometimes neuroblastoma will regress without treatment, but sometimes additional treatment may be necessary. Giving more than one chemotherapy drug after surgery to remove the tumor may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: Phase II trial to study combination chemotherapy or observation following surgery in treating infants with neuroblastoma.

This research study is designed to determine the safety and dosage of special cells that may make a patients own immune system fight the cancer. To do this we will put two special genes into cancer cells taken from the patients body. The genes we put in make the cancer cells produce lymphotactin, a natural substance that attracts immune system cells to the cancer, and IL-2 a natural substance that may help the immune system kill cancer cells. Some of these cells will then be put back in the patient's body. Studies of cancers in animals and in cancer cells that are grown in laboratories suggest that substances like lymphotactin and IL-2 help the body kill cancer cells. A treatment similar to this has been used in ten children previously and similar treatments are being used in adults with other cancers. The purpose of this study is to learn the side effects and safe 'dosage' of these special cells.

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 or bone marrow transplantation may allow the doctor to give higher doses of chemotherapy drugs and kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of combination chemotherapy given before surgery followed by peripheral stem cell or bone marrow transplantation in treating infants who have newly diagnosed neuroblastoma.

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. PURPOSE: Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of arsenic trioxide in treating children who have advanced neuroblastoma or other solid tumors.

RATIONALE: Peripheral stem cell transplantation may be able to replace immune cells that were destroyed by chemotherapy used to kill tumor cells. 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 the doctor to give higher doses of chemotherapy drugs and kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: This phase I trial is studying the side effects and best dose of cyclophosphamide when given together with combination chemotherapy and a peripheral stem cell transplant in treating patients with malignant solid tumors.

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 the doctor to give higher doses of chemotherapy drugs and kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: This randomized phase III trial is studying peripheral stem cell transplantation with treated peripheral stem cells following combination chemotherapy to see how well it works compared to peripheral stem cell transplantation with untreated peripheral stem cells following combination chemotherapy in treating patients with neuroblastoma.

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to damage tumor cells. Chemotherapy combined with radiation therapy may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of temozolomide followed by radiation therapy in treating children who have newly diagnosed malignant central nervous system tumors.

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy work in different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Giving the drugs in different ways may kill more tumor cells. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to damage tumor cells. Peripheral stem cell or bone marrow transplantation may be able to replace immune cells that were destroyed by chemotherapy or radiation therapy. PURPOSE: This phase I trial is studying the side effects and best dose of combination chemotherapy when given before stem cell transplant and radiation therapy in treating patients with neuroblastoma that has not responded to previous treatments.