Active clinical trials for "Neuroblastoma"

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as temozolomide, 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 temozolomide works in treating patients with high-risk relapsed or refractory neuroblastoma.

RATIONALE: Talabostat may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as temozolomide and carboplatin, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Giving talabostat together with temozolomide or carboplatin may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: This phase I trial is studying the side effects and best dose of talabostat when given together with temozolomide or carboplatin in treating young patients with relapsed or refractory brain tumors or other solid tumors.

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as fenretinide LXS, 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 I trial is studying the side effects and best dose of fenretinide LXS in treating patients with recurrent, refractory, or persistent 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. Colony-stimulating factors, such as sargramostim, may increase the number of immune cells found in bone marrow or peripheral blood. Combining monoclonal antibody 3F8 with sargramostim may cause a stronger immune response and kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of combining monoclonal antibody 3F8 with sargramostim in treating patients who have neuroblastoma.

Life-threatening thrombocytopenia (low platelet count) and neutropenia (low white blood count) remain the major dose-limiting toxicities following chemotherapy treatment for cancer. The only remedy for thrombocytopenia at present is platelet transfusion, which is effective in preventing life-threatening hemorrhage, but may lead to other complications. Preclinical studies and studies in adults have shown recombinant human thrombopoietin (rhTPO) to be effective in stimulating platelet production. The initial phase of this trial will evaluate the safety of rhTPO use immediately after chemotherapy with ifosfamide, carboplatin, and etoposide in children with solid tumors and lymphomas. The second phase of the study will evaluate the effectiveness of rhTPO in decreasing the duration of low platelet count after chemotherapy.

RATIONALE: Biological therapies such as beta-glucan use different ways to stimulate the immune system and stop cancer cells from growing. Monoclonal antibodies can locate tumor cells and either kill them or deliver tumor-killing substances to them without harming normal cells. Combining beta-glucan and monoclonal antibody may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: Phase I trial to study the effectiveness of combining beta-glucan and monoclonal antibody in treating patients who have metastatic neuroblastoma.

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 different combination chemotherapy regimens 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: This phase I trial is studying the side effects and best dose of ixabepilone in treating young patients with relapsed or refractory solid tumors or leukemia.

Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of imatinib mesylate in treating patients who have relapsed or refractory solid tumors of childhood. Imatinib mesylate may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking the enzymes necessary for their growth.

Phase I trial to study the effectiveness of fenretinide in treating children who have solid tumors that have not responded to standard therapy. Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die.