Paclitaxel Treatment Options in Durham, NC

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use 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. Computer systems that allow doctors to create a 3-dimensional picture of the tumor to plan treatment may result in more effective radiation therapy. It is not yet known which chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy regimen is more effective in treating non-small cell lung cancer. PURPOSE: Randomized phase II trial to compare the effectiveness of different combination chemotherapy regimens and 3-dimensional radiation therapy in treating patients who have unresectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer. Read Less

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use 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. Combining chemotherapy and radiation therapy may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of combination chemotherapy and radiation therapy in treating patients who have limited-stage small cell lung cancer. Read Less

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. PURPOSE: Phase III trial to study the effectiveness of paclitaxel in treating older patients who have solid tumors. Read Less

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 paclitaxel in treating patients who have extensive-stage small cell lung cancer. Read Less

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as ifosfamide, cisplatin, paclitaxel, and vinblastine, work in different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. It is not yet known whether ifosfamide and cisplatin are more effective when combined with paclitaxel or vinblastine in treating germ cell tumors. PURPOSE: This randomized phase III trial is studying paclitaxel, ifosfamide, and cisplatin to see how well they work compared to vinblastine, ifosfamide, and cisplatin in treating men with progressive or recurrent metastatic germ cell tumors. Read Less

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Combining more than one drug may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: Randomized phase III trial to compare the effectiveness of paclitaxel with or without carboplatin in treating patients who have recurrent, stage IIIB, or stage IV non-small cell lung cancer. Read Less

This randomized phase III trial studies carboplatin, paclitaxel, and sorafenib tosylate to see how well they work compared to carboplatin and paclitaxel in treating patients with stage III or stage IV melanoma that cannot be removed by surgery. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as carboplatin and paclitaxel, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Sorafenib tosylate may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth and by blocking blood flow to the tumor. It is not yet known whether giving carboplatin and paclitaxel together with sorafenib tosylate is more effective than carboplatin and paclitaxel in treating melanoma. Read Less

Taxanes (such as paclitaxel) are highly active to treat breast cancer. Abraxane® (nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel) compared to standard paclitaxel improves efficacy and tolerability. When combined with a taxane, platinum agents improve response in metastatic breast cancer, with carboplatin conferring less toxicity than cisplatin. Monoclonal antibodies including bevacizumab target vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) to reduce angiogenesis. We hypothesize that the previously-untested combination of weekly Abraxane® and carboplatin plus biweekly bevacizumab will lengthen time to progression without producing intolerable toxicity. Read Less

Taxanes (such as paclitaxel) are highly active to treat breast cancer. Abraxane® (nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel) compared to standard paclitaxel improves efficacy and tolerability. When combined with a taxane, platinum agents improve response in metastatic breast cancer, with carboplatin conferring less toxicity than cisplatin. The investigators hypothesize that the combination of weekly Abraxane® and carboplatin will lengthen time to progression without producing intolerable toxicity. Read Less

"Elesclomol (STA-4783), N-malonyl-bis (N'-methyl-N'-thiobenzoylhydrazide) is a new chemical entity with a novel structure. STA-4783 induces an oxidative stress response in cells. This response is characterized by increased production of gene families that protect against different cellular stresses, including excessive heat, the presence of reactive oxygen species such as oxygen radicals, or the presence of heavy metals. Subjects will participate in up to 2 weeks of screening during which time they will complete all screening procedures. Eligible subjects who have not received any prior cytotoxic chemotherapeutic agent for melanoma will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive either STA-4783 213 mg/m2 in combination with paclitaxel 80 mg/m2 or paclitaxel 80 mg/m2 alone. One treatment cycle will consist of weekly treatments for 3 weeks, followed by a 1-week rest period. Cycles will be repeated every 4 weeks until disease progression. Tumor assessments will be performed every 8 weeks from the date of randomization or sooner if the Investigator suspects progression has occurred based on clinical signs and symptoms. " Read Less

Our hypothesis is that this study design, in which bevacizumab is added to one of six single agent chemotherapies with proven activity in metastatic breast cancer, will result in regression or stabilization of this disease in a safe and tolerable manner. Read Less

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Combining more than one drug or combining chemotherapy with surgery may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: Randomized phase III trial to compare the effectiveness of combination chemotherapy consisting of paclitaxel and cisplatin with or without surgery in treating patients with stage III ovarian epithelial cancer. Read Less