Active clinical trials for "Neuroblastoma"

RATIONALE: Studying samples of tumor tissue from patients with cancer in the laboratory may help doctors identify and learn more about biomarkers related to cancer. PURPOSE: This research study is studying biomarkers in young patients with neuroblastoma.

This research trial is studying how Ch14.18 acts in the body of younger patients with high-risk neuroblastoma. Studying samples of blood from patients with cancer receiving Ch14.18 may help doctors learn more about how this drug is used by the body to develop better ways to give the drug to potentially improve its effectiveness and lessen its side effects.

The study is designed to study the safety and effectiveness of 123I-MIBG as a diagnostic imaging agent in evaluating patients with known or suspected neuroendocrine tumors.

RATIONALE: Studying protein expression in samples of tumor tissue from patients with cancer in the laboratory may help doctors learn more about changes that occur in DNA and identify biomarkers related to cancer. It may also help doctors find better ways to treat neuroblastoma. PURPOSE: This laboratory studying is looking at protein expression in tumor tissue samples from patients with neuroblastoma.

RATIONALE: Collecting and storing samples of blood, urine, and tissue from patients undergoing a donor stem cell transplant to test in the laboratory may help the study of graft-versus-host disease in the future. PURPOSE: This research study is collecting and storing tissue and DNA samples from patients undergoing a donor stem cell transplant.

This natural history study is collecting health information about infants with adrenal masses found on prenatal and/or neonatal imaging. Gathering information over time from imaging and laboratory tests of infants with adrenal masses may help doctors learn more about the disease and plan the best treatment.

RATIONALE: Polyvinylpyrrolidone-sodium hyaluronate gel may lessen the pain of oral mucositis, or mouth sores, in patients undergoing treatment for cancer. PURPOSE: This clinical trial is studying how well polyvinylpyrrolidone-sodium hyaluronate gel works in reducing pain from oral mucositis in young patients with cancer.

RATIONALE: Observation is closely monitoring a patient's condition and not giving treatment until symptoms appear or change. Observation may help doctors see how effective surgery is in treating neuroblastoma. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well surgery alone works in treating young patients with localized neuroblastoma.

Background: Malignant tumors may lead to a catabolic state with loss of muscle and adipose tissue. The full picture of catabolism is termed cachexia and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality of cancer patients. Although the full picture is rarely observed up to 50% of children with cancer suffer from significant malnourishment. Additionally to tumor-induced catabolism, side-effects of chemotherapy may be problematic for the patients. In this regard up to 60% of children suffer from gastrointestinal mucositis presenting with nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation and abdominal pain. In the worst case, mucositis may lead to bacterial translocation with life-threatening inflammatory response. Clinically this may require a reduction of the dosage or the number of chemotherapy cycles resulting in reduced effectivity. Up to now the therapy of mucositis is only symptomatic. Recent research of the applicant has shown a significant reduction of Lactobacilli in mice with neuroblastoma (a malignant childhood tumor). The dysbiosis was associated with catabolism, increased gut permeability and inflammation. Astonishingly, chemotherapy alone also leads to a significant reduction of Lactobacilli compared to sham mice, which may be linked to the development of mucositis clinically. Overall, the intestinal microbiome seems to play an essential role in the development of tumor-associated catabolism and chemotherapy-induced mucositis. Aim: The aim of this project is to determine if the changes in the intestinal microbiome observed in mice can also be seen in children with neuroblastoma. Methods: One part of the study will include 10 children with neuroblastoma (inclusion after verification of the diagnosis) and 10 healthy controls. The fecal microbiome will be determined by 16S-ribosomal deoxyribonucleic acid (rDNA) pyrosequencing. Volatile organic compounds in the breath will be sampled and measured by Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectroscopy. A basic science human work package will address the question if there are differences. In the second part serial investigations in children with neuroblastoma will assess whether or not these patients show alterations of the intestinal microbiome under chemotherapy.

RATIONALE: Light-emitting diode (LED) therapy may be able to prevent mucositis of the mouth. PURPOSE: Randomized phase II trial to determine the effectiveness of LED therapy in preventing mucositis of the mouth in children who are receiving chemotherapy with or without radiation therapy before donor bone marrow transplantation.