Dexamethasone Treatment Options in Maryland

The primary objective of this study is to determine the efficacy of PCI-32765, both as a single agent and in combination with dexamethasone, in subjects with relapsed or relapsed and refractory Multiple Myeloma (MM) Read Less

This is a Phase I/II study of a drug called bortezomib given in combination with chemotherapy drugs used to treat acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) that has come back (recurred). Bortezomib is a drug that has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating adults with multiple myeloma which is a type of blood cancer. Bortezomib has been shown to cause cancer cells to die in studies done on animals (mice). Studies have been done that have shown that some adults and children with cancer have shown a response to bortezomib when it is used alone. Studies have also been done in adults to evaluate the dose of bortezomib that can be safely given in combination with other chemotherapy drugs. Read Less

Background: The drug pemetrexed is used to treat non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that does not respond to standard therapy or that has recurred after standard therapy; however, only 9 in 100 patients respond to pemetrexed. Sirolimus is a drug that blocks a protein in cells called mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). In cancer cells, mTOR is active when it should not be, allowing the cells to grow uncontrollably. This protein is unusually active in many cases of NSCLC. By blocking the activity of mTOR, sirolimus may make the cancer cells more responsive to treatment with pemetrexed. Objectives: To determine if sirolimus in combination with pemetrexed is safe and well tolerated in patients with NSCLC. To determine the highest safe dose of pemetrexed combined with sirolimus. To look at the ability of sirolimus and pemetrexed to fight NSCLC. To learn how the body eliminates sirolimus and pemetrexed. Eligibility: Patients 18 years of age and older with NSCLC whose disease does not respond to standard therapy or has recurred after treatment with standard therapy. Design: Biopsy before treatment starts, if the tumor is easy to reach by bronchoscopy or can be done by needle biopsy. This procedure is optional. Drug treatment, as follows: * Day 1: Intravenous (through a vein) infusions of pemetrexed. Small groups (3 to 6) of patients are given pemetrexed at a certain dose level. If the first group experiences no significant side effects, the next group receives a higher dose. This continues in succeeding groups for up to five dose levels until the maximum tolerated study dose (highest dose that patients can be given safely) is determined. * To lessen the side effects of pemetrexed, patients also receive a Vitamin B12 injection every 21 days, folic acid tablets daily, and dexamethasone tablets twice a day the day before, the day of, and the day after pemetrexed infusions. * Days 1-21: Sirolimus tablets by mouth. Evaluations during the treatment period: * History and physical examinations, blood and urine tests, electrocardiogram. * Disease evaluation with computed tomography (CT), positron emission tomography (PET) or magnetic resonance scans (MRI) scans.... Read Less

The purpose of this study is to compare the safety and efficacy of Lenalidomide plus low dose dexamethasone to that of the combination of melphalan, prednisone and thalidomide. Read Less

This is an open label trial of Anti PD1/MD-3475, Pomalidomide and dexamethasone. The study will use standard (FDA approved) doses for both pomalidomide and dexamethasone. The experimental drug Anti PD-1 (MK 3475) given on days 1 and 14. Read Less

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop cancer cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Combining chemotherapy with peripheral stem cell transplantation may allow the doctor to give higher doses of chemotherapy drugs and kill more cancer cells. Monoclonal antibodies can locate cancer cells and either kill them or deliver cancer-killing substances to them without harming normal cells. PURPOSE: Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of peripheral stem cell transplantation plus combination chemotherapy and rituximab in treating patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Read Less

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Combining chemotherapy with peripheral stem cell transplantation may allow the doctor to give higher doses of chemotherapy drugs and kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of peripheral stem cell transplantation plus combination chemotherapy in treating patients who have multiple myeloma. Read Less

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Combining chemotherapy with peripheral stem cell transplantation may allow the doctor to give higher doses of chemotherapy drugs and kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of peripheral stem cell transplantation plus combination chemotherapy in treating patients who have multiple myeloma that has been treated for longer than 12 months. Read Less

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop cancer cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Combining chemotherapy with peripheral stem cell transplantation may allow the doctor to give higher doses of chemotherapy drugs and kill more cancer cells. PURPOSE: Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of peripheral stem cell transplantation plus combination chemotherapy in treating patients who have low-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma or chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Read Less

RATIONALE: Thalidomide may slow the growth of cancer cells. Oblimersen may increase the effectiveness of thalidomide and dexamethasone by making cancer cells more sensitive to the drugs. PURPOSE: Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of combining thalidomide and dexamethasone with oblimersen in treating patients who have relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. Read Less

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop cancer cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. It is not yet known which regimen of combination chemotherapy is most effective for lymphoblastic lymphoma. PURPOSE: This randomized phase III trial is studying different regimens of combination chemotherapy to compare how well they work in treating children or adolescents with newly diagnosed stage III or stage IV lymphoblastic lymphoma. Read Less

The main purpose of this study is to evaluate whether or not the dexamethasone pellet (Ozurdex®, Allergan, Irvine, CA) can replace oral corticosteroid (e.g. prednisone) in the treatment of active sight-threatening, noninfectious intermediate and/or posterior uveitis in which immunosuppressive drug therapy is indicated. Uveitis is an inflammation inside the eye. Uveitis can decrease patients' vision if it is not treated. The dexamethasone pellet is an implant filled with a corticosteroid medicine. This therapy is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of intermediate and/or posterior uveitis. In this study investigators want to see if using the implant together with systemic immunosuppressive drug therapy can result in lower ocular side effect profile but is effective enough to replace the use of high-dose systemic corticosteroids in the treatment of active intermediate and/or posterior uveitis. Knowing the effectiveness and safety of these treatments is important because the kinds of uveitis being studied usually need to be treated for many years. This information may help researchers understand uveitis better and may suggest ways of improving treatment. Adult patients with intermediate and/or posterior uveitis for which immunosuppressive drug therapy with high-dose corticosteroid is planned may join. Read Less