Active clinical trials for "Sarcoma"

1.1 To determine the recommended phase II dose for gemcitabine in combination with a fixed dose of docetaxel and bevacizumab. 1.2 To determine the efficacy of the combination of gemcitabine, docetaxel, and bevacizumab in patients with soft tissue sarcoma 1.3 To determine the toxicity profile of the combination of gemcitabine, docetaxel, and bevacizumab in patients with soft tissue sarcoma

RATIONALE: Hyperthermia therapy kills tumor cells by heating them to several degrees above body temperature. Using MRI to measure heat may help to determine the effectiveness of hyperthermia therapy. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to damage tumor cells. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as ifosfamide and doxorubicin, work in different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Combining hyperthermia with radiation therapy and chemotherapy before surgery may kill more tumor cells and shrink the tumor so that it can be removed. PURPOSE: This phase I/II trial is studying the side effects of hyperthermia when given together with radiation therapy and optional chemotherapy and to see how well they work in treating patients who are undergoing surgery for soft tissue sarcoma of the limbs.

RATIONALE: Monoclonal antibodies, such as trastuzumab, can block tumor growth in different ways. Some block the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Others find tumor cells and help kill them or carry tumor-killing substances to them. Trastuzumab may also stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well trastuzumab works in treating patients with locally advanced or metastatic synovial sarcoma.

The purpose of this study is to explore how this cancer is affected by a new medication, cetuximab. Cetuximab is directed towards a protein called EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor), that is found in some types of cancer. Studies have shown that this drug can be beneficial in patients with colon cancer and has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for this purpose. The researchers are conducting a study to see if it is beneficial in patients with sarcoma.

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 exatecan mesylate in treating patients who have relapsed or refractory Ewing's sarcoma or peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumor or desmoplastic small round cell tumor.

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as ABT-751, work in different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. PURPOSE: This phase I trial is studying the side effects of ABT-751 in treating young patients with refractory solid tumors.

The goal of this clinical research study is to learn if treatment with the drug liposomal vincristine can shrink or slow the growth of the patient's cancer. The safety of this drug will also be studied.

In this study, patients who have been diagnosed with gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) will be randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to receive imatinib (Gleevec) either for 12 or for 36 months following surgery. The study participants are required to have a histologically verified GIST with a high risk of GIST recurrence despite complete removal of all macroscopic GIST tissue at surgery. The high/very high risk of recurrence is defined as one of the following: 1) the largest tumor diameter is over 10 cm; 2) the mitosis count is high (over 10 mitoses per 50 high power microscope fields, HPFs); 3) the largest tumor diameter over 5 cm and the mitosis count is over 5/50 HPFs; 4) tumor spillage has taken place into the abdominal cavity at the time of surgery or following spontaneous tumor rupture. All study participants will receive imatinib 400 mg/day orally, but the duration of imatinib administration will be determined randomly (either for 12 or for 36 months). The study participants will be followed up using blood tests and computed tomography (or MRI) of the abdomen. The computed tomography examinations will be performed at 6 month intervals for a median of 5 years. A total of 280 patients will be entered into the study. The study hypothesis is that adjuvant imatinib may prevent some of the GIST recurrences, and that there may be a difference in the rate of GIST recurrence between the two groups.

RATIONALE: SU5416 may stop the growth of Kaposi's sarcoma by stopping blood flow to the tumor. PURPOSE: Phase I trial to study the effectiveness of SU5416 in treating patients who have AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma.

RATIONALE: Biological therapies such as hu14.18-interleukin-2 fusion protein use different ways to stimulate the immune system and stop cancer cells from growing. PURPOSE: Phase I trial to study the effectiveness of hu14.18-interleukin-2 fusion protein in treating children who have refractory or recurrent neuroblastoma or other tumors.