The Cancer Research Department at the Coborn Cancer Center opens new clinical trials on a regular basis. Please contact the research staff at (320) 229-4907 for information on these or additional studies that may be open and available to treat, control or prevent cancer. A sample of cancer research trials currently open to enrollment at the Coborn Cancer Center is listed below.

Treatment Trials

Breast	Esophagus or Gastric	Lung	Ovarian
Bladder	Head and Neck	Lymphoma	Pancreatic
Central Nervous System	Hematology	Melanoma	Prostate
Colon and Rectal	Leukemia	Myeloma	Renal

Breast

N0937 / Phase II Trial of Brostallicin and Cisplatin in Patients with Metastatic Triple Negative Breast Cancer

This purpose of this research study is to:
• Find out what effects the study treatment has on breast cancer
• Look at the safety of chemotherapy treatment with cisplatin in combination with brostallicin

Brostallicin is a new drug and is considered “investigational” in this study. “Investigational” means that the FDA has not approved brostallicin as a treatment for metastatic breast cancer.

CALGB 40502 / A Randomized Phase III Trial of Weekly Paclitaxel Compared to Weekly Nanoparticle Albumin Bound Nab-paclitaxel or Ixabepilone Combined with Bevacizumab as First-Line Therapy for Locally Recurrent or Metastatic Breast Cancer

The purpose of this study is to compare the anticancer effects and side effects of these three different chemotherapy drugs given on a weekly schedule in combination with bevacizumab. In this study the patient will receive treatment for 3 out of every 4 weeks with one of the following chemotherapy drugs: paclitaxel, nab-paclitaxel, or ixabepilone. The patient will also receive bevacizumab every two weeks regardless of which chemotherapy drug the patient receives.

B-43 / A Phase III Clinical Trial Comparing Trastuzumab Given Concurrently with Radiation Therapy and Radiation Therapy Alone for Women with HER-2 Positive Ductal Carcinoma in Situ Resected by Lumpectomy

This study is being done to compare the effects, good and/or bad, of adding the drug trastuzumab (also called Herceptin®) to breast radiation therapy. Radiation therapy is the standard treatment for patients with DCIS.

This study will find out if adding trastuzumab to breast radiation therapy is more effective than radiation therapy without trastuzumab in preventing occurrence of breast cancer in the same breast, in the other breast, or in other parts of the body in patients with HER2-positive DCIS.

Z1071 / A Phase II Study Evaluating the Role of Sentinel Lymph Node Surgery and Axillary Lymph Node Dissection Following Preoperative Chemotherapy in Women with Node Positive Breast Cancer (T1-4, N1-2, M0) at Initial Diagnosis

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the role of sentinel lymph node dissection (SLND) surgery and axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) surgery after chemotherapy in patients with breast cancer that has spread to the lymph nodes in the breast area. These are called the axillary (underarm) lymph nodes.

N0733 / Randomized Phase II Trial of Capecitabine and Lapatinib with or without IMC-A12 in Patients with HER2 Positive Breast Cancer Previously Treated with Trastuzumab and an Anthracycline and/or Taxane

Capecitabine (Xeloda®) plus lapatinib (Tykerb®) is a standard treatment for HER2 positive metastatic breast cancer. The purpose of this research study is to find out if a new drug, IMC-A12, can make the treatment with capecitabine and lapatinib work better. The purpose is also to see what effects IMC-A12 has when combined with this capecitabine plus lapatinib.

N063D / ALTTO Adjuvant Lapatinib and/or Trastuzumab Treatment Optimisation Study: A randomised, multi-centre, open-label, phase III study of adjuvant lapatinib, trastuzumab, their sequence and their combination in patients with HER2/ErbB2 positive primary breast cancer

This purpose of this research study is to:
• Find out what effects the study treatment has on breast cancer.
• Compare four different study treatment combinations to see if one is better
• Find out what effects this study has on quality of life.

Because of recent research by NCCTG, the standard treatment for HER2+ breast cancer now includes trastuzumab (Herceptin®). However, not all patients with HER2+ breast cancer do better with trastuzumab, so investigators are trying to find out why. GW572016 (lapatinib, brand name: Tykerb®) is a new drug that is taken every day by mouth. Lapatinib is considered “investigational” in this study. “Investigational” means that the FDA has not approved lapatinib as a treatment for early breast cancer.

CALGB / 40503 Endocrine Therapy With or Without Anti-VEGF Therapy: A Randomized, Phase III Trial of Endocrine Therapy Alone or Endocrine Therapy Plus Bevacizumab For Women with Hormone Receptor-Positive Advanced Breast Cancer

The purpose of this study is to determine whether the addition bevacizumab to standard endocrine therapy can improve the effectiveness of endocrine therapy alone. This study will compare the effects (good and bad) of bevacizumab in combination with endocrine therapy with the effects of endocrine therapy alone, to see which is better.

S0500 / A Randomized Phase III Trial to Test the Strategy of Changing Therapy Versus Maintaining Therapy for Metastatic Breast Cancer Patients Who Have Elevated Circulating Tumor Cell Levels at First Follow-up Assessment

The purpose of this experimental study is to find out if the CellSearch™ blood test, which identifies tumor cells in the blood, can predict survival outcome in patients with metastatic breast cancer. These tumor cells are called circulating tumor cells (CTCs). The CellSearch™ blood test may allow doctors to tell if current chemotherapy is not working before the patient shows signs that that the cancer is getting worse. This is based upon a prior study that showed that most women with high numbers of CTCs had worsening of their breast cancer within 1-3 months. In this prior study, increase in the size of a tumor or spread of cancer in the body was determined by standard clinical tests such as physical examinations, x-rays and scans, and not by the CellSearch™ blood test. This study will test whether switching to another form of treatment based upon the results of the CellSearch™ blood test helps people live longer. In addition, this study will be used to further confirm results of the prior study, which showed that patients with < 5 CTCs before they begin treatment are more likely to live longer than those with ≥ 5 CTCs.

S0221 / Phase III Trial of Continuous Schedule AC + G Vs. Q 2 Week Schedule AC, Followed by Paclitaxel Given Either Every 2 Weeks or Weekly for 12 Weeks as Post-Operative Adjuvant Therapy in Node-Positive or High-Risk Node-Negative Breast Cancer

The main purpose of this study is to compare the effects of four different treatments (or “regimens”) for breast cancer. All of these treatments include essentially the same drugs given in different ways and on different schedules. All of the treatments use standard, commercially available medicines that are known to be effective for treating breast cancer.

B-39/RTOG 0413 / A Randomized Phase III Study of Conventional Whole Breast
Irradiation (WBI) Versus Partial Breast Irradiation (PBI) for Women with Stage 0, I, or II Breast Cancer

The purpose of this study is to see if partial breast irradiation (PBI) is as good as or better than whole breast irradiation (WBI) in keeping cancer from coming back in the breast.

Bladder

C90601 / A Randomized Double-Blind Phase III Comparing Gemcitabine, Cisplatin and Bevacizumab to Gemcitabine, Cisplatin and Placebo in Advanced Transitional Cell Carcinoma

The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of the combination of the chemotherapy drugs gemcitabine and cisplatin (chemotherapy) with the combination of gemcitabine, cisplatin, and the experimental drug bevacizumab on transitional cell cancer to find out which is better. Bevacizumab is an antibody that we think can block a protein called VEGF and inhibit the growth of new blood vessels. Bevacizumab has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of metastatic colorectal, lung, and breast cancer, but for transitional cell carcinoma, it is not FDA-approved and should be considered experimental.

Central Nervous System (Brain)

N057K / Phase I/II Evaluation of Everolimus (RAD001), Radiation and Temozolmide (TMZ) Followed by Adjuvant Temozolomide and Everolimus in Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma

The purpose of this research study is to:
• Add everolimus to the standard treatment temozolomide and radiation, to see if this addition makes the standard treatment better. Everolimus helps to stop signals that cause tumors to grow. Everolimus is investigational and is currently not approved for use in brain tumors.
• Test the safety of the everolimus when given in combination with temozolomide.

RTOG 0825 / Phase III Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial of Conventional Concurrent Chemoradiation and Adjuvant Temozolomide Plus Bevacizumab Versus Conventional Concurrent Chemoradiation and Adjuvant Temozolomide in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma

The purpose of this study is to determine whether the addition of bevacizumab to the standard chemoradiation will further improve the outcome. This study will find out what effects, good and/or bad, this change in treatment has on the tumor compared with standard treatment. Bevacizumab has not been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of glioblastoma.

N0572 Phase I/II Trial of Sorafenib and CCI-779 in Patients with Recurrent Glioblastoma

This study is being done:
• To find out what effects sorafenib and CCI-779 have on brain tumors
• To compare the response to sorafenib and CCI-779 with laboratory studies of the patients blood cells and tumor tissues
• To look at sorafenib and CCI-779’s ability to slow down the growth of brain tumors.

Sorafenib and CCI-779 are experimental drugs not yet approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

Esophagus or Gastric (Stomach)

There are no current esophagus/gastric studies.

Colon and Rectal

C80702 / A Phase III Trial of 6 Versus 12 Treatments of Adjuvant FOLFOX plus Celecoxib or Placebo for Patients with Resected Stage III Colon Cancer

This study is being done to evaluate the effects of different chemotherapy treatments. One of the common combinations of chemotherapy drugs used to treat your type of cancer includes 5-fluorouracil (also called 5-FU), leucovorin and oxaliplatin, and is also called “FOLFOX”. At the present time, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved each of these drugs as treatment for colon cancer. FOLFOX is a standard treatment used to prevent colon cancer from coming back (recurrence).

S0600 / Phase III Trial of Irinotecan-Based Chemotherapy Plus Cetuximab (NSC-714692) with or without Bevacizumab (NSC-704865) as Second Line Therapy for Patients with Mestatic Colrectal Caner who have Progressed on Bevacizumab with either FOLFOX, OPTIMOX, or XELOX

The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of bevacizumab or cetuximab when added to an irinotecan-based treatment. Bevacizumab is considered investigational in this study. The other drugs used in this study are not considered investigational.

C80405 / Phase III Trial of Inrinotecan/5-FU/Leucovorin or Oxaliplatin/5-FU/Leucovorin with Bevacizumab or Cetuximab (C225) for Patients with Untreated Metastatic Adenocarcinoma of the Colon or Rectum

This study is being done to evaluate the effects of different regimens of chemotherapy. There are two common combinations of chemotherapy drugs: One uses 5-fluorouracil (also called 5-FU), leucovorin and oxaliplatin, and is also called “FOLFOX;”the other combination uses 5-FU, leucovorin, and irinotecan, this combination is also called “FOLFIRI.” At the present time, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved each of these as treatment for colon or rectal cancer.

The FDA has also approved the use of a drug called bevacizumab (or Avastin) in combination with these chemotherapy regimens. Bevacizumab plus either of these chemotherapy regimens is considered the standard of care for most patients.

Cetuximab is approved by the FDA for the treatment of colorectal cancer in patients who have developed progressive cancer following the use of irinotecan. Recent studies, however, have shown that people who have a mutation (an abnormality) in a gene in their tumor tissue called K-ras do not appear to benefit from treatment with cetuximab or other similar drugs. Another recent study has shown that adding cetuximab to a regimen of bevacizumab and chemotherapy does not appear to help patients with colorectal cancer, however, that study included patients who had K-ras mutations in their tumors.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether cetuximab plus chemotherapy is better than bevacizumab with chemotherapy in patients who do not have K-ras mutations in their tumor tissue.

E5202 / A Randomized Phase III Study Comparing 5-FU, Leucovorin and Oxaliplatin versus 5-FU, Leucovorin, Oxaliplatin and Bevacizumab in Patients with Stage II Colon Cancer at High Risk for Recurrence to Determine Prospectively the Prognostic Value of Molecular Markers

The purpose of this study is to determine whether specific biological features (often called tumor markers or markers) seen in tests done on a tumor (found in the colon) can be used to predict recurrence of tumors in patients with stage II colon cancer. Also to compare the effects of a combination of chemotherapy drugs, when given with and without a new drug, bevacizumab, on patients with stage II colon cancer at high-risk for recurrence.

Prostate

E3805 / CHAARTED: ChemoHormonal Therapy versus Androgen Ablation Randomized Trial for Extensive Disease in Prostate Cancer

The purpose of this study is to evaluate a new way of treating patients with prostate cancer. In Arm A, the patient will receive docetaxel chemotherapy both at the time of starting hormonal therapy and later when/if the hormonal therapy is no longer working per the doctor’s decision. In Arm B, patients only get chemotherapy when/if the hormonal therapy is no longer working per the doctor’s decision. We are doing the study to see if there is a benefit to giving chemotherapy at the beginning.

RTOG 0621 / Adjuvant 3DCRT/IMRT in Combination with Androgen Suppression and Docetaxel for High Risk Prostate Cancer in Patients Post Prostatectomy: A Phase II Trial

The purpose of this study is to find out what effects a combination of local (radiation therapy) and systemic (hormonal therapy and chemotherapy) treatments has on the risk of recurrence of prostate cancer.

RTOG 0534 / Phase III Trial of Short Term Androgen Deprivation with Pelvic Lymph Node or Prostate Bed Only Radiotherapy (SPORT) in Prostatic Cancer Patients with a Rising PSA After Radical Prostatectomy

The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of three treatment methods on participants and their cancer. 

There are 3 treatment groups in this study:
1)   Patients who receive radiation therapy to the prostate bed only;
2)   Patients who receive hormone therapy for 4 to 6 months plus radiation therapy to the prostate bed;
3)   Patients who receive hormone therapy for 4 to 6 months plus radiation therapy to the prostate bed and to the pelvic lymph nodes.

CALBG 90203 / Randomized Phase III Study of Neo-Adjuvant Docetaxel and Androgen Deprivation Prior to Radical Prostatectomy versus Immediate Radical Prostatectomy in Patients with High-Risk, Clinically Localized Prostate Cancer

The purpose of this study is to compare the effects (good and bad) of the combination of chemotherapy and hormone therapy followed by radical prostatectomy (surgery to remove your prostate) with radical prostatectomy alone to see which is better.

Renal (Kidney)

E2804 / The BeST Trial: A Randomized Phase II Study of VEGF, RAF kinase and mTOR Combination Targeted Therapy (CTT) with Bevacizumab, Sorafenib and Temsirolimus in Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma

The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of several different treatments on metastatic renal cell carcinoma. In this study, you will get one regimen for as long as it prevents growth of your cancer.

Based on laboratory experiments, we believe that combinations of two anti-cancer treatments may be superior to any one therapy alone. This study is designed to determine which of the four drug regimens should be tested in later clinical trials. You will be assigned to one of the following experimental arms: Arm A (bevacizumab alone); Arm B (bevacizumab and temsirolimus); Arm C (bevacizumab and sorafenib); and Arm D (temsirolimus and sorafenib).

E2805 / ASSURE: Adjuvant Sorafenib or Sunitinib for Unfavorable Renal Carcinoma

The purpose of this study is to determine if either Sunitinib or Sorafenib can prevent recurrence of kidney cancer and to compare the effects of the Sunitinib and the Sorafenib with placebo on kidney cancer to see which is better. It is not known whether the benefits of taking either sunitinib or sorafenib will outweigh the risks.

Lymphoma

There are no current lymphoma studies.

Lung

Non Small Cell Lung

RTOG 0617 / A Randomized Phase III Comparison of Standard Dose (60 Gy) versus High Dose (74 Gy) Conformal Radiotherapy with Concurrent and Consolidation Carboplatin / Paciltaxel +/- Cetuximab in Patients with Stage IIIA/IIIB Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

One purpose of this study is to compare the effects, good and/or bad, of high-dose radiation therapy and chemotherapy with standard dose radiation therapy and chemotherapy on you and your cancer to find out which is better. In this study, the patient will get either the high-dose or the standard-dose radiation therapy. The high-dose radiation therapy is considered experimental in this study. Everyone will get the chemotherapy with the same drug combination and schedule, consisting of paclitaxel and carboplatin.

In addition, this study will compare the effects, good and/or bad, of adding cetuximab to radiation and chemotherapy. In this study, the patient will get either radiation and chemotherapy or radiation, chemotherapy, and cetuximab.

Cetuximab is a drug that may delay or prevent tumor growth by blocking certain cellular chemical pathways that lead to tumor development. It has been approved by the FDA as a treatment for patients with colorectal and head and neck cancer. Cetuximab has not yet been approved as a treatment for patients with lung cancer and is considered experimental in this study.

Small Cell Lung

N0923 / A Randomized, Double-Blinded Phase II Study of NTX-010, a Replication-Competent Picornvirus, After Standard Platinum-Containing Cytoreductive Induction Chemotherapy in Patients with Extensive Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer

The purpose of this research study is to:
• Find out if NTX010 will help improve survival.
• Find out what effects NTX-010 has on small cell lung cancer.
• Find out if there are individual differences and/or tumor characteristics that will affect response to treatment.

The agent, NTX-010, a live virus, used in this study is considered investigational, which means it has either not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for routine clinical use or for the use described in this study. However, the National Cancer Institute and the FDA have approved the use of this agent for this study.

Melanoma

N0879, A Randomized Phase II Trial of Carboplatin, Paclitaxel, Bevacizumab, with or without Everolimus for Therapy of Metastatic Malignant Melanoma

This research study is being done to:
-- Find out what effects  the combination of study drugs has on melanoma
Group A:  Carboplatin, paclitaxel, and bevacizumab
Group B:  Carboplatin, paclitaxel, bevacizumab, and everolimus.

-- Find out what effects the combination of study drugs has on the immune system and the way the tumor grows.

Paclitaxel, carboplatin, bevacizumab, and everolimus are chemotherapy drugs that are FDA approved to treat certain types of cancer.  However, the drugs and combinations listed above have not been approved for the treatment of melanoma; so their use in this study is considered investigational.

E1697 / Phase III Randomized Study of Four Weeks High Dose IFN-a2b in Stage T2bN0,T3a-b , T4a-bN0 and T1-4, N1a,2a,3(microscopic) Melanoma.

The purpose of this study is to compare the benefits of treatment with Interferon to no treatment after surgery.

Head and Neck

LORHAN / Prospective, Longitudinal, Multi-Center, Descriptive Registry of Patients Receiving Therapy other than Surgical Resection Alone for Newly Diagnosed Head and Neck Carcinoma

The Registry collects demographic information (e.g., age, gender) on patients as well as information on patients’ cancer stage (extent of the cancer), treatment, and outcome. This information may help healthcare professionals better understand head and neck cancer and its management and assist with planning of future research.

E1305 / A Phase III Randomized Trial of Chemotherapy with or without Bevacizumab In Patients with Recurrent Or Metastatic Head and Neck Cancer

The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of the addition of a drug called bevacizumab to the standard chemotherapy to see which works better. We will determine if the combination of standard chemotherapy (cisplatin and docetaxel or cisplatin and 5-FU) and bevacizumab can increase the effectiveness of treatment for head and neck cancer. This combination is experimental. We will determine if the adding bevacizumab to standard therapy produces results that are better than those we would ordinarily expect. Currently, we do not know whether using bevacizumab will be effective. This is a subject of this study. Bevacizumab is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for another type of cancer, colorectal cancer, but is not approved for head and neck cancer.

Hematology

E2905 / Randomized Phase III Trial Comparing the Frequency of Major Erythroid Response (MER) to Treatment with Lenalidomide (Revlimid) Alone and in Combination with Epoetin Alfa (Procrit) in Subjects with Low or Intermediate-1 Risk MDS and Symptomatic Anemia

This study is being done to determine if the combination of treatment with epoetin alfa and lenalidomide is better than lenalidomide alone in improving red blood cell production and in relieving the need for red blood cell transfusions in patients with MDS (myelodysplastic syndrome).

Leukemia

RC0783 / Randomized Phase II Trial of Pentostatin, Cyclophosphamide, and Rituximab With or Without Concurrent Avastin® for Previously Untreated B-Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)

The purpose of this research study is to learn about the effectiveness and side effects of Pentostatin, Cyclophosphamide, and Rituximab (PCR) with or without a fourth medicine, Avastin®, for previously untreated B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Myeloma

S0777A / Randomized Phase III Trial of Lenalidomide and Low Dose Dexamethasone (LLD) Versus Bortezomib, Lenalidomide and Low Dose Dexamethasone (BLLD) for Induction, in Patients with Previously Untreated Multiple Myeloma Without an Intent for Immediate Autologous Stem Cell Transplant

The purpose of this study is to compare the effectsof a two-drug combination (CC-5013 [lenalidomide] and low dose dexamethasone, also called "LLD") with a three-drug combination (CC-5013 [lenalidomide], low dose dexamethasone, and a new drug called bortezomib ([Velcade], also called "BLLD"). CC-5013 (lenalidomide) and bortezomib are both experimental drugs. We are comparing these two different combinations of drugs to evaluate whether they can stop or slow down the progression of cancer, and if so, which one is more effective.

Ovarian

GOG 0252 / A Phase III Clinical Trial of Bevacizumab in IV versus IP Chemotherapy in Ovarian, Fallopian Tube and Primary Peritoneal Carcinoma NCI-Supplied Agents: Bevacizumab

The standard treatment for ovarian, fallopian tube, and primary peritoneal (abdominal) cancer is a combination of commercially available chemotherapy (anti-cancer) drugs, cisplatin or carboplatin and paclitaxel, given intravenously (into a vein or IV) or given directly in the peritoneal (abdominal) cavity. Giving chemotherapy directly into the abdomen is called intraperitoneal chemotherapy (IP). A special catheter (tube) is placed in the abdominal cavity. The IP chemotherapy drugs are delivered through this catheter. Because ovarian, fallopian tube, and peritoneal primary cancer spread in the abdominal cavity, giving chemotherapy drugs directly into the abdominal cavity may result in more of the drug reaching the tumor cells. On this study the drugs to be administered into the abdominal cavity, cisplatin, carboplatin, and paclitaxel, are standard, non-experimental drugs used for the treatment of ovarian cancer and have been safely administered into the abdominal cavity in other patients with this type of cancer. There have been documented survival advantages, in ovarian cancer patients treated with IP chemotherapy, but also recently with weekly intravenous (IV) paclitaxel, and controversy exists between the best treatment available for women with these cancers. This study will compare IV chemotherapy with two different IP treatment plans (regimens) to determine if there is a survival benefit.

Pancreatic

There are no current pancreatic studies.

Control Trials

C170601 / Phase III Double Blind Trial of Oral Duloxetine for Treatment of Pain Associated with Chemotherapy Induced Peripheral Neuropathy

Peripheral neuropathy is an uncomfortable sensation that occurs mainly in the hands and feet. It has been described with words like “burning,” “tingling,” “pins and needles,” and “numbness.” When caused by chemotherapy treatment, peripheral neuropathy can often be painful and sometimes difficult to control. The purpose of this study is to find out what effects, good and/or bad, a medication called duloxetine will have and to test whether duloxetine will help to reduce the amount of pain caused by peripheral neuropathy. Duloxetine will not make the peripheral neuropathy go away, but it may reduce the amount of pain caused by peripheral neuropathy. Duloxetine has been approved for use in treating painful neuropathy related to diabetes, but has not been fully studied in treating painful neuropathy due to chemotherapy. Duloxetine has also been approved to treat depression.

N08C3 / Phase III Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study of Gabapentin for the Prevention of Delayed CINV (Chemotherapy Induced Nausea and Vomiting) in Patient Receiving Highly Emetogenic Chemotherapy

The purpose of this research study is to compare the effects of gabapentin with standard nausea medications to find out which is better for delayed nausea and vomiting (that which happens 24 hours or later after chemotherapy.

C70604 / A Randomized, Phase III Study of Standard Dosing versus Longer Dosing Interval of Zoledronic Acid in Metastatic Cancer

The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of less frequent treatment (every 12 weeks) with zoledronic acid (Zometa) compared to standard treatment (every 4 weeks) with zoledronic acid.

N07C2 / The Use of Wisconsin Ginseng (panax quinquefolius) to Improve Cancer-Related Fatigue: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Phase III Study

The purpose of this research study is to:
• See if taking Wisconsin Ginseng, an herbal product, will improve problems with fatigue in patients who have been diagnosed with cancer and are experiencing fatigue.
• See the effects of taking Wisconsin Ginseng.
• See if Wisconsin Ginseng can improve stress, vitality, mood, function, and general quality of life.

RTOG 0433 / A Phase III International Randomized Trial of Single Versus Multiple Fractions For Re-Irradiation of Painful Bone Metastases

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of re-irradiation given in a single dose compared to re-irradiation given in multiple smaller doses on people with painful bone metastases.

RTOG 0517 / Randomized Phase III Trial to Evaluate Radiopharmaceuticals and Zoledronic Acid in the Palliation of Osteoblastic Metastases from Lung, Breast, and Prostate Cancer

The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of two different combinations of drugs to see which is better. One combination includes zoledronic acid (Zometa®), vitamin D and a calcium supplement. Zoledronic acid is a drug given through the vein to strengthen bones. The other combination includes zoledronic acid, vitamin D, and a calcium supplement plus one of two types of a radiopharmaceutical. A radiopharmaceutical is a radioactive drug given through the vein to attack cancer in the bone. In this study, the patient will get one of the combinations of drugs, not both.

N0574 / Phase III Randomized Trial of the Role of Whole Brain Radiation Therapy in Addition to Radiosurgery in Patients with One to Three Cerebral Metastases

The purpose of this research study is to compare overall survival and to compare the effects of radiosurgery (SRS) to radiosurgery plus whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT) on brain metastases.

Prevention Trials

There are no current prevention trials.

Registry Trials

AIMMS / Adults in MN with Myelodysplastic Syndrome

This study is being done to learn more about myelodysplastic syndrome. Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is a blood cancer that affects about 10,000 people in the United States each year. Little is known about why MDS happens or why some people with MDS eventually develop leukemia. We are proposing one of the largest epidemiological studies of MDS ever conducted, with the goal of being able to identify risk factors that could lead to prevention.  This case-control epidemiology study was designed to investigate the causes of MDS in Minnesota. 

N08C1 / Paclitaxel-Associated Acute Pain Syndrome Natural History Study

The purpose of this research study is to gather information about the amount and type of pain, if any, you experience while receiving paclitaxel chemotherapy treatment. In addition, a blood sample will be drawn to learn how certain genes (units of heredity or traits that are passed down from generation to generation) may make you more or less likely to experience paclitaxel-associated pain.