Active clinical trials for "Neuroblastoma"

RATIONALE: Beclomethasone may be an effective treatment for graft-versus-host disease. PURPOSE: Phase I/II trial to study the effectiveness of beclomethasone in treating patients who have graft-versus-host disease of the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, or colon.

Allogeneic stem cell transplantation has been explored for patients with high risk neuroblastoma. Results have been mixed, with only small series and case reports. Recent reports, however, especially with haploidentical transplantation have been more encouraging. Eradication of neuroblastoma may be mediated by both components of the innate immune system (natural killer cells) and through the adaptive immune system via T-cell cytotoxicity and the development of a humoral response to tumor specific antigens and minor histocompatibility antigens. To overcome restrictions created by unavailability of Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) matched donors, stem cell grafts from haploidentical related donors have been explored. Historically, the use of full haplotype mismatched family member donors has been limited by the development of severe graft-versus-host disease and the high rate of graft failure. Graft failure can now be overcome by increasing immunosuppression and increasing the number of transplanted stem cells. The most effective means of graft versus host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis is T cell depletion of the donor marrow. A 3-4 log depletion will reduce the risk of developing significant GVHD to less than 10%. Methods to mobilize stem cells from the bone marrow into the peripheral blood and collect these stem cells by apheresis now increase the availability of stem cells by a magnitude. Selection devices have been developed that will prepare extremely pure populations of these CD34 cells with upwards of 5 logs depletion of contaminating T cells. The CliniMACS CD34 Reagent System is a medical device designed to select CD34+ hematopoietic cells from heterogeneous hematologic cell populations. The investigators intend to provide mismatched related hematopoietic stem cell transplantation to up to 10 patients with relapsed refractory neuroblastoma. Harnessing the potential for innate and adaptive immune responses through allogeneic Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) may provide cure for some patients with this tumor.

Aromatherapy has anecdotally been reported to decrease nausea and vomiting, decrease anxiety and increase quality of life in cancer patients. Therefore, the proposed study aims to assess the effectiveness of aromatherapy versus placebo on nausea, vomiting, anxiety and quality of life among pediatric oncology patients receiving emetogenic chemotherapy.

RATIONALE: Alemtuzumab and glucocorticoids, such as prednisone or methylprednisolone, may be an effective treatment for acute graft-versus-host disease caused by a donor stem cell transplant. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well giving alemtuzumab together with glucocorticoids works in treating newly diagnosed acute graft-versus-host disease in patients who have undergone donor stem cell transplant.

RATIONALE: Alemtuzumab, tacrolimus, and methylprednisolone may be an effective treatment for graft-versus-host disease caused by a donor stem cell transplant. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well giving alemtuzumab together with tacrolimus and methylprednisolone works in treating acute graft-versus-host disease in patients who have undergone donor stem cell transplant.

RATIONALE: A Web site for stem cell transplant health information and support may be effective in helping parents improve their health-related knowledge, skills, and quality of life, which may also improve their children's quality of life. PURPOSE: This randomized phase III trial is studying a Web-based stem cell transplant support system to see how well it works compared with standard care in families of young patients undergoing a stem cell transplant.

RATIONALE: Traumeel® S (a mouth rinse) may be effective in preventing or decreasing the severity of oral mucositis caused by chemotherapy in young patients who are undergoing stem cell transplantation. PURPOSE: This randomized clinical trial is studying how well Traumeel® S works in preventing or treating mucositis in young patients who are receiving chemotherapy with or without total-body irradiation before undergoing stem cell transplantation.

RATIONALE: Electroacupuncture may help to reduce or prevent delayed nausea and vomiting in patients treated with chemotherapy. PURPOSE: This randomized clinical trial is studying the effectiveness of electroacupuncture in treating delayed nausea and vomiting in patients who are receiving chemotherapy for newly diagnosed childhood sarcoma, neuroblastoma, nasopharyngeal cancer, germ cell tumors, or Hodgkin lymphoma.

The purpose of this study is to determine if FDA approved food safety guidelines are equivalent to a low bacterial diet (the neutropenic diet) with respect to the acquisition of infections during neutropenia in a sample of pediatric cancer patients.

RATIONALE: Ethanol-lock treatment may help prevent central venous catheter infections in patients with high-risk neuroblastoma. PURPOSE: This phase I trial is studying the side effects of ethanol-lock treatment in preventing central venous catheter infections in patients with high-risk neuroblastoma.