Recent News
Investigation of the Anti-Cancer Activity of Artichoke Extract in an Asbestos-Exposed Population (ABOCA1)
Purpose: This is a single-arm phase II trial to assess the biological activity (in a sub-cohort using a Simon two-stage Phase II design) and toxicity of Artichoke Whole Phytocomplex Concentrate (WPC). The objective of the study is to explore the potential for a non-toxic phytocomplex extract from the artichoke plant as a chemoprevention agent.
SPECTAlung: Screening Patients With Thoracic Tumors for Efficient Clinical Trial Access
Purpose: SPECTAlung is a program aiming at screening patients with thoracic tumors to identify the molecular characteristics of their disease. The thoracic tumors include lung cancer, malignant pleural mesothelioma, thymoma or thymic carcinoma at any stage. Once the molecular characteristics are identified, there might be the possibility to offer these patients access to targeted clinical trials.
Immunotherapy brings new treatment options to mesothelioma patients
Named breakthrough of the year by Science Magazine in 2013, immunotherapy is a new option for treating cancer, but not without speculation and concern. This new treatment is limited to…
Dendritic Cell Vaccination for Patients With Solid Tumors
Purpose: The aim of this study is to evaluate the immunogenicity and clinical efficacy of intradermal vaccination with autologous RNA-modified dendritic cells (DCs) – engineered to express the WT1 protein – in patients with limited spread metastatic solid tumors, i.e. breast cancers, glioblastoma grade IV, sarcomas, malignant mesothelioma and colorectal tumors. Based on the results of our previously performed phase I study with autologous WT1 mRNA-transfected DC, the investigators hypothesize that the vaccination with DC will be well-tolerated and will result in an increase in WT1-specific CD8+ T cell responses.
Asbestos threat looms in Pennsylvania community
Ambler, Pennsylvania, is a small town near Philadelphia. Like other towns in the United States, it carries a deadly burden and legacy. The historic town, originally called Wissahickon for the…
Effect of Fas Ligand Polymorphism on Patients With Platinum/Gemcitabine-Treated Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma
Purpose:
To Study the Effect of Polymorphism in Fas Ligand Gene Promoter Region (rs 763110) on Gemcitabine/Platinum regimens used in treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM)
Tissue Procurement and Natural History Study of People With Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, Small Cell Lung Cancer, Extrapulmonary Small Cell Cancer, Pulmonary Neuroendocrine Tumors, and Thymic Epithelial Tumors
Purpose
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. It causes more than one million deaths every year. Researchers want to gather tissue samples from people with lung and thymic cancers to understand the disease better. This may lead to new ways to diagnose and treat it.
Objective
To collect tissue samples for use in the study of lung cancers
Eligibility
Adults over age 18 with non-small cell lung cancer, small cell lung cancer, extra pulmonary small cell cancer, pulmonary neuroendocrine tumors, and thymic epithelial tumors.
Design
- Participants will be screened with a medical history, physical exam, and blood tests. They will be asked about how they perform their daily tasks.
- Participants may be asked to give urine and blood samples. They may give a saliva sample if they cannot give blood. They will also give a sample of their tumor from a biopsy they had. They may also be given the option to undergo a biopsy.
- Participants may have MRI, CT, and/or PET scans of the body. They will lie in a machine that takes pictures of the body.
- After visits to the Clinical Center end, researchers will contact participants by phone every year to check on their health.
Asbestos in schools creates deadly risks for children
Asbestos is a deadly fiber that was once considered a miracle mineral for its insulating and fireproofing abilities. After many decades of use, the public became aware of long-hidden facts…
Peritoneal Surface Malignancies – Characterization, Models and Treatment Strategies (PSM)
Purpose: The aim of this study is to identify biomarkers of disease recurrence and prognosis to optimize patient selection for treatment with cytoreductive surgery (CRS) with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), and through animal models to explore different treatment strategies for peritoneal surface malignancies (PSM).
Phase I Study to Determine the Maximum Tolerable Dose of BAY94-9343 in Patients With Advanced Solid Tumors
Purpose: BAY94-9343 is an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) directed against the cancer antigen mesothelin on tumor cells. This study will attempt to answer the following questions:
– What are the side effects of BAY94-9343 when given at different dose levels and schedules?
– What dose level and schedule of BAY94-9343 should be tested in future clinical research studies?
– How much BAY94-9343 is in the blood at specific times after administration?
– Does the treatment with BAY94-9343 show any effect on the tumor growth?
– Are there specific biomarkers that might be able to explain why some patients respond to treatment and others do not?
