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. Infusing chemotherapy to the tumor area only may kill more tumor cells and cause less damage to healthy tissues. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying isolated limb infusion of chemotherapy to see how well it works in treating patients with melanoma or soft tissue sarcoma of the arm or leg that cannot be removed by surgery.

RATIONALE: EF5 may detect the presence of oxygen in tumor cells and help plan effective cancer treatment. PURPOSE: Phase I trial to study the effectiveness of EF5 in detecting the presence of oxygen in tumor cells of patients who are undergoing surgery or biopsy for breast, prostate, or cervical cancer or high grade soft tissue 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: Drugs used in chemotherapy work in different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to damage tumor cells. It is not yet known which chemotherapy regimen combined with radiation therapy and/or surgery is more effective in treating Ewing's sarcoma or primitive neuroectodermal tumor. PURPOSE: Randomized phase III trial to compare the effectiveness of different chemotherapy regimens combined with radiation therapy and/or surgery in treating patients who have Ewing's sarcoma or primitive neuroectodermal tumor.

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 of different doses and dosing regimens of tecogalan sodium (DS-4152) and to establish the MTD at each of the different dosing schedules.

To provide Stealth liposomal doxorubicin hydrochloride ( DOX-SL ) as a therapy for Kaposi's sarcoma patients who have no remaining treatment options other than DOX-SL or patients who have been participating in another DOX-SL protocol and for whom continuation in DOX-SL is medically indicated. Also, to evaluate the safety and efficacy of DOX-SL in patients with Kaposi's sarcoma who have previously received systemic chemotherapy with or without an anthracycline.

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.

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.