Active clinical trials for "Von Hippel-Lindau Disease"

This study will investigate the frequency, clinical phenotype, management and molecular genetic defects of heritable kidney cancer syndromes. Families with kidney cancer with known or suspected genetic basis will be enrolled. Affected individuals or individuals suspected of having a germline kidney cancer will undergo periodic clinical assessment and genetic analyses for the purpose of: 1) definition and characterization of phenotype, 2) determination of the natural history of the disorder, and 3) genotype/phenotype correlation. Genetic linkage studies may be performed in situations in which the genetic basis of the disorder has not been elucidated. This research will have a significant impact on the overall management of heritable kidney cancer syndromes patients and family members who are at risk for heritable kidney cancer syndromes. The study will ultimately facilitate the development of novel screening, prevention and treatment strategies for these individuals with the syndrome. In addition this study could have impact on the management of patients with personal and/or family history of heritable kidney cancer syndromes.

MyVHL is a multi-patient database which helps researchers identify patterns across VHL patients. MyVHL provides you -and researchers -with more complete information about VHL, like how your lifestyle, medications, and other factors impact the disease and quality of life. These insights help you better understand the condition and help researchers know where to focus their efforts. Due to its rarity, there is less understanding of VHL and the factors that may have an impact. The data individuals provide in MyVHL helps researchers identify and uncover factors that may increase risk, inhibit or slow tumor growth, or lead to an effective cure.

To collect information from patients with vHL disease. Information collected will include data on the status of the disease, any surgeries or therapies patients have received for vHL disease, and quality of life.

Background: - To understand diseases of the retina and the eye, information is needed about people with and without such diseases. Researchers want to study these people and follow them over time. They also want to study body tissues and blood to understand the nature of eye disease. Studying genes, cells, and tissues may help them understand why some people get eye problems and others do not, or why some people respond to treatment while others do not. Researchers want to collect physical samples and personal data to develop a National Eye Institute database. Objectives: - To collect health information and blood and tissue samples from people with and without eye diseases, to be used in research studies. Eligibility: Individuals of any age with different types of eye disease. Healthy volunteers with no history of eye disease. Design: Participants may be recruited from National Eye Institute studies or may be referred from other sources. Participants will be screened with a physical exam and medical history. They will also have a full eye exam. Questions will be asked about family medical history, especially about eye disease. Blood samples will be collected. Other samples, such as saliva, tears, hair, stool, and urine, may be collected as needed. Adult participants may also provide a skin sample. Tissue or fluid from eye collected as part of eye care or treatment may also be added to the database. No treatment will be provided as part of this study.

The purpose of the study is to investigate how best to screen for Endolymphatic sac tumors (ELSTs) in von Hippel-Lindau (vHL) patients in order to diagnose the ELSTs while they are still small so that hearing loss can be prevented. Up to 16% of vHL patients are known to develop endolymphatic sac tumors in the inner ear that can cause permanent hearing loss. However, the ELSTs are often not found before hearing loss has already occurred. The challenge for doctors is to diagnose the ELSTs at early stages before they cause often irreversible deafness. In order to find ELSTs before they cause hearing loss, it is important to screen for the tumors prophylactically, that is screen all vHL patients regardless of whether or not they have symptoms. Who can join? Persons diagnosed with vHL who are at least 15 years old. The investigators include patients WITH OR WITHOUT a diagnosed ELST. What does it involve? You need to have a hearing test and an MRI of the brain, where the inner ear can be seen, most vHL patients have already had this done as part of their surveillance program. Participants will be asked to participate in follow up examinations (hearing test and/or MRI of the brain) after 2, 5, and 10 years. How can I join? A doctor has to be responsible for the study in each country where vHL patients participates. Ask the doctor who manages your vHL examinations to contact us or contact us yourself and the investigators will help you find a doctor in your country who will participate in the study.

NOTE: This is a research study and is not meant to be a substitute for clinical genetic testing. Families may never receive results from the study or may receive results many years from the time they enroll. If you are interested in clinical testing please consider seeing a local genetic counselor or other genetics professional. If you have already had clinical genetic testing and meet eligibility criteria for this study as shown in the Eligibility Section, you may enroll regardless of the results of your clinical genetic testing. While it is well recognized that hereditary factors contribute to the development of a subset of human cancers, the cause for many cancers remains unknown. The application of next generation sequencing (NGS) technologies has expanded knowledge in the field of hereditary cancer predisposition. Currently, more than 100 cancer predisposing genes have been identified, and it is now estimated that approximately 10% of all cancer patients have an underlying genetic predisposition. The purpose of this protocol is to identify novel cancer predisposing genes and/or genetic variants. For this study, the investigators will establish a Data Registry linked to a Repository of biological samples. Health information, blood samples and occasionally leftover tumor samples will be collected from individuals with familial cancer. The investigators will use NGS approaches to find changes in genes that may be important in the development of familial cancer. The information gained from this study may provide new and better ways to diagnose and care for people with hereditary cancer. PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: Establish a registry of families with clustering of cancer in which clinical data are linked to a repository of cryopreserved blood cells, germline DNA, and tumor tissues from the proband and other family members. SECONDARY OBJECTIVE: Identify novel cancer predisposing genes and/or genetic variants in families with clustering of cancer for which the underlying genetic basis is unknown.

The Relaxation Response Resiliency Program (3RP) has shown efficacy in improving coping and resilience across diverse populations; however, little is known about how it helps individuals manage the challenges of living with a chronic illness. This study proposes to pilot test an adapted version of the 3RP among patients living with VHL.

The purpose of this study is to learn more about the growth of brain and spinal cord tumors and cysts that develop in association with them in patients with von Hippel-Lindau disease. It will examine how fast the tumors grow and try to determine what factors (for example, puberty , pregnancy, menopause, blood proteins, etc.) affect their growth. Patients between the ages of 8 and 75 years who are enrolled in NIH s study of von Hippel-Lindau disease may be eligible for this 5-year study. Participants will have magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain and spinal cord and a thorough neurological history and examination at the start of the study. A blood sample will be taken for analysis of factors (hormones or other proteins) that may predict tumor growth. Follow-up clinic visits every 6 months will include a physical and neurological examination, blood tests, and MRI scans of the brain and spine. If symptoms or tumor growth requires more frequent follow-up, scans will be done at 3-month intervals. Surgical removal of brain and spinal cord tumors is currently the treatment of choice when these lesions cause neurological problems. A better understanding of which tumors are likely to grow and which will remain stable may help guide physicians in treatment decisions and avoid unnecessary procedures.

The goal of this clinical research study is to learn if dovitinib can safely be given to patients who have VHL with a measurable hemangioblastoma (tumor of the central nervous system). The effects of this drug on the disease will also be studied.

This open-label study will pilot the use of systemic sunitinib malate, a dual inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and platelet derived growth factor (PDGF), in five participants with Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) to investigate its potential efficacy as a treatment for retinal angiomas. Participants will have visual dysfunction with either visual acuity loss or visual field loss from retinal angiomas secondary to genetically confirmed VHL. This open-label study will pilot the use of systemic sunitinib malate in five participants to investigate its potential efficacy as a treatment for retinal angiomas associated with VHL. Participants will receive nine months of sunitinib malate therapy (six cycles total - one cycle consists of 50 mg oral dose once daily for four weeks followed by a two week rest period). The primary outcome will be a change in the best-corrected visual acuity of more than or equal to 15 letters from baseline to the Week 36 visit. The secondary ocular outcomes will focus on retinal thickness and leakage of the retinal angioma at the Week 36 visit. Optical coherence tomography will document changes in retinal thickening and fluorescein angiography will be used to determine leakage of the retinal angioma.