Chronic Thalidomide Administration in Patients Undergoing Chemoembolization for Unresectable Hepatocellular Cancer

This is a clinical trial to test the safety and efficacy of the drug thalidomide in combination with a procedure called chemoembolization in patients with inoperable liver cancer. Chemoembolization is the process by which chemotherapy is instilled directly into the blood vessels feeding the tumor, so that the blood vessels feeding the tumor may be blocked. Chemoembolization consists of two separate procedures. It will be done by infusing chemotherapy with the drug doxorubicin through the hepatic artery into the liver and then by infusing collagen to cut off the blood supply to the tumor. A catheter will be inserted at various times to allow for these infusions.

The objectives are to investigate the feasibility and potential activity of chronic administration of thalidomide in patients with unresectable hepatocellular cancer who receive chemoembolization to predominant tumor masses. The toxicity of thalidomide in these patients will be evaluated. Overall safety will also be assessed. Serum levels of angiogenic cytokines such as VEGF, bFGF, and TNF-a, that are believed to have a role in hepatocellular carcinoma, will be collected.

Study Overview

Study Type

Interventional

Phase

  • Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

    • New York
      • New York, New York, United States, 10016
        • Kaplan Comprehensive Cancer Center

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma.
  • MRI of liver must show discrete tumor nodules. Lesions on angiography must be hypervascular.
  • Patient must have the following minimum labs: ANC> 1200/mm3; Hemoglobin > 8 mg/dl; platelets > 50,000 mm3; hepatic transaminases < 5x normal; bilirubin < 3.0 mg/dl; and creatinine < 1.5 mg/dl.
  • ECOG performance status > 2.
  • No history of prior chemotherapy or biologic therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma.
  • No other history of malignancy other than curatively resected basal cell carcinoma of the skin or carcinoma in situ of the cervix.
  • Patients must not be pregnant or lactating.
  • Sexually active men and women of childbearing age must use adequate contraception. All patients must understand the potential for severe birth defects with thalidomide and must be able to follow instructions to avoid conception while taking thalidomide

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

September 9, 2000

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 9, 2000

First Posted (Estimate)

September 11, 2000

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

June 24, 2005

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 23, 2005

Last Verified

January 1, 2004

More Information

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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