Active clinical trials for "Sarcoma"

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Drugs such as SU5416 may stop the growth of cancer by stopping blood flow to the tumor. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to damage tumor cells. Giving chemotherapy, SU5416, and radiation therapy before and after surgery may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: Phase I/II trial to study the effectiveness of chemotherapy, SU5416, radiation therapy, and surgery in treating patients who have soft tissue sarcoma.

RATIONALE: Radioactive drugs, such as holmium Ho 166 DOTMP, may carry radiation directly to cancer cells and not harm normal cells. Peripheral stem cell transplantation may be able to replace stem cells that were destroyed by the radioactive drug. PURPOSE: This Phase I/II trial is studying the effectiveness of holmium Ho 166 DOTMP followed by peripheral stem cell transplantation in treating patients who have metastatic Ewing's sarcoma or rhabdomyosarcoma that has spread to the bone.

RATIONALE: Thalidomide may stop the growth of gynecologic sarcomas by stopping blood flow to the tumor. PURPOSE: Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of thalidomide in treating patients who have recurrent or persistent gynecologic sarcomas.

This study will test the safety and effectiveness of genetically altered T lymphocytes (white blood cells of the immune system) in reducing viral load in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The lymphocytes will have two genes inserted into them; a laboratory-manufactured anti-HIV gene designed to inhibit HIV reproduction (either the RevTD or Rev-TD-antiTAR gene), and a "marker" gene that will show whether or not the inserted genes have gotten into the cells. Identical twin pairs 18 years of age and older- one of whom is HIV-positive (infected with the human immunodeficiency virus) and the other HIV-negative (not infected) may be eligible for this study. All participants will have a complete medical history and physical examination, blood tests and a tetanus booster shot, if indicated. The non HIV-infected twin will then undergo lymphapheresis to collect lymphocytes. In this procedure, whole blood is collected through a needle placed in an arm vein. The blood circulates through a machine that separates it into its components. The lymphocytes are then removed, and the red cells and plasma are returned to the donor, either through the same needle or through a second needle placed in the other arm. The donor cells are grown in the laboratory for a few days, and then the new genes are inserted into them. The genetically altered cells are grown in the laboratory for several days until their numbers increase approximately a thousand-fold. They are then infused intravenously (through a vein) into the infected twin. These procedures-lymphapheresis, gene modification and infusion-will be repeated at approximately 2-month intervals up to four times. Each lymphocyte infusion takes about 60 minutes. The patient's vital signs (temperature, pulse, blood pressure and breathing) are monitored frequently during the infusion and hourly for 4 hours after the infusion. Blood samples are taken the day of the infusion, 3 days later, and then weekly to monitor the gene-modified cells, immune status, viral activity, and other factors. These tests may be done less often as the study progresses and more is learned about the safety of the infusions. The infusions are done on an outpatient basis unless side effects require that they be done in the hospital with post-infusion monitoring for at least 24 hours. Patients will be followed for long-term effects of treatment monthly for the first 3 months, once a month for the next 9 months and yearly from then on. This study will contribute information about the use and side effects of gene therapy in HIV infection that may lead to new treatment strategies. A potential direct benefit to HIV-infected individuals participating in this study is reduced viral load; in laboratory studies, the RevTD and Rev-TD-antiTAR genes have inhibited HIV spread in the test tube. However, this is an early phase of study, and the likelihood of receiving this benefit is unknown.

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of liposomal doxorubicin hydrochloride ( DOX-SL ) alone or in combination with bleomycin and vincristine in the long-term treatment of AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma. To determine whether the 3-drug combination enhances progression-free survival and quality of life. Liposomal formulations of chemotherapeutic agents increase drug accumulation in tumors, which permits disease palliation at relatively low doses and thus decreases some of the dose-limiting toxicity. Multi-agent therapy is considered to be more effective than single-agent therapy; therefore, DOX-SL will be combined with bleomycin and vincristine.

The rationale for conducting this study lies in the premise that if indeed the reason for a limited response of Kaposi's sarcoma lesions and other advanced malignancies to chemotherapy is attributable to a high expression of P-glycoprotein, then, by inhibiting this pump, tumor kill would be enhanced and response rates as well as duration of responses would also increase. Doxil is chosen since recent studies have shown that it is superior to combination chemotherapy with ABV or BV. Doxil is also known to be active in other malignancies such as breast and ovarian cancer (34,35). PSC 833 is chosen since it has been found to reverse P-gp in vitro and in vivo, is non-immunosuppressive, and has been shown in recent Phase 1 studies to be well tolerated. There are yet no human studies reported on Doxil pharmacokinetics when combined with MDR modulators. Preclinical data shows that pharmacokinetics of Doxil, unlike free doxorubicin, is minimally affected by the addition of PSC 833 (36). Enhanced tumor toxicity was observed when PSC 833 was combined with Doxil. Since doxorubicin, the active agent in Doxil, is metabolized by the same cytochrome P450, interactions between these 2 agents may have very significant clinical implications. The purpose of this study is to assess the toxicity and determine the maximum tolerated dose of Doxil when combined with PSC 833 in the treatment of AIDS-KS and other advanced malignancies.

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 vinorelbine in treating children with recurrent or refractory cancer.

RATIONALE: Monoclonal antibodies can locate tumor cells and either kill them or deliver tumor-killing substances to them without harming normal cells. PURPOSE: Phase I trial to study the effectiveness of monoclonal antibody therapy in treating patients who have leptomeningeal metastases.

RATIONALE: Monoclonal antibodies can locate tumor cells and either kill them or deliver tumor-killing substances to them without harming normal cells. Combining monoclonal antibody A1G4 with BCG may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: Phase I trial to study the effectiveness of monoclonal antibody A1G4 plus BCG in treating patients with cancer.

Troglitazone may help liposarcoma cells develop into normal cells. This was a single arm, open-label study with a two-stage design to evaluate troglitazone in patients with liposarcoma stratified by histologic subtype.