Active clinical trials for "Leukemia"

RATIONALE: Alemtuzumab and glucocorticoids, such as prednisone or methylprednisolone, may be an effective treatment for acute graft-versus-host disease caused by a donor stem cell transplant. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well giving alemtuzumab together with glucocorticoids works in treating newly diagnosed acute graft-versus-host disease in patients who have undergone donor stem cell transplant.

RATIONALE: Glutamine may help lessen neuropathy caused by chemotherapy. It is not yet known whether glutamine is more effective than a placebo in treating neuropathy caused by vincristine. PURPOSE: This randomized phase II trial is studying glutamine to see how well it works compared to a placebo in treating neuropathy caused by vincristine in young patients with lymphoma, leukemia, or solid tumors.

To determine what side effects and what clinical effects if any the administration of this investigational product, IDEC-152 (an antibody against CD23 which is an important protein on leukemia cells and certain cells in the body's immune system), has on the CLL patient population.

RATIONALE: Silymarin (milk thistle extract) is an herb that may be effective in treating liver disorders caused by cancer therapy. PURPOSE: Randomized phase II trial to study the effectiveness of silymarin in treating patients who have acute lymphoblastic leukemia with chemotherapy-related side effects to the liver.

RATIONALE: Tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil may be an effective treatment for graft-versus-host disease caused by donor stem cell transplantation. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well giving tacrolimus together with mycophenolate mofetil works in preventing acute graft-versus-host disease in patients who are undergoing donor stem cell transplantation for advanced hematologic cancer.

This study involves the use of a drug called Thymoglobulin, which is approved in the USA to treat kidney transplant rejection and in Canada to treat and to prevent kidney transplant rejection. Thymoglobulin is not approved for the treatment or prophylaxis of graft versus host disease in bone marrow transplantation. This study is to evaluate two (2) doses of Thymoglobulin and its safety and effectiveness when used with a "myeloablative" conditioning regimen prior to receiving a stem cell transplant (also called bone marrow transplantation) from a matched, related donor. A myeloablative regimen is typically composed of chemotherapy and radiation and destroys the subject's existing bone marrow. Subjects meeting all inclusion and exclusion criteria and who have a relative with matching (genetically similar) stem cells who are also willing to donate them (i.e. matched-related-donor) are eligible to participate in this study. Following myeloablative therapy, the donor's cells are then transplanted (i.e. infused) into the subject's blood stream. One of the most common complications of this type of transplant is graft-versus-host disease (GvHD). This is a condition where the transplanted donor cells attack the transplant recipient's body. Treatments, such as cyclosporine, are used to minimize the risk of GvHD following stem cell transplantation. To enter this study, subjects must be having a matched-related donor stem cell transplant. If a subject qualifies for entry into this study, he/she will be assigned to receive Thymoglobulin at a dose of 4.5 mg/kg or 8.5 mg/kg. The treatment assignment is random and is not chosen by the subject or their physician. Subjects are admitted to the hospital for the transplant procedure and are treated with Thymoglobulin over 3-5 days just prior to receiving the donor stem cells. The subject will also receive standard GvHD prophylaxis with cyclosporine. Methotrexate, which is commonly used by transplant centers to minimize the risk of GvHD, will not be used in this study. Subjects will be monitored during treatment with Thymoglobulin and during the transplant hospitalization. Additional subject monitoring occurs at month 1, 100 days and 6 months following the transplant. Approximately 60 study subjects from approximately 14 transplant centers in the United States and Canada will be enrolled.

RATIONALE: Alemtuzumab, tacrolimus, and methylprednisolone may be an effective treatment for graft-versus-host disease caused by a donor stem cell transplant. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well giving alemtuzumab together with tacrolimus and methylprednisolone works in treating acute graft-versus-host disease in patients who have undergone donor stem cell transplant.

RATIONALE: Darbepoetin alfa and epoetin alfa may stimulate red blood cell production and treat anemia in patients who are receiving chemotherapy. It is not yet known whether darbepoetin alfa is more effective than epoetin alfa in treating patients with anemia. PURPOSE: Randomized phase III trial to compare the effectiveness of darbepoetin alfa with that of epoetin alfa in treating anemia in patients who are receiving chemotherapy for cancer.

RATIONALE: Antiemetic drugs, such as ondansetron, may help to reduce or prevent nausea and vomiting in patients with advanced cancer. PURPOSE: This randomized phase III trial is studying how well ondansetron works compared to a placebo in treating patients with advanced cancer and chronic nausea and vomiting that is not caused by cancer therapy.

RATIONALE: Flu vaccine may help the body build an immune response and decrease the occurrence of flu in children who are receiving chemotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia. PURPOSE: Clinical trial to study the effectiveness of vaccine therapy in preventing flu in children who have acute lymphoblastic leukemia.