Spots Global Cancer Trial Database for Melphalan and Whole-Body Hyperthermia in Treating Patients With Advanced Melanoma

Study Description

Brief Summary: RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Hyperthermia therapy kills tumor cells by heating them to several degrees above body temperature. Combining hyperthermia with chemotherapy may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of melphalan and whole-body hyperthermia in treating patients with advanced melanoma.

Detailed Description: OBJECTIVES: I. Evaluate the combination of 41.8 degrees Celsius whole body hyperthermia (WBH) and melphalan (L-PAM) in patients with advanced melanoma. II. Assess the efficacy of this combination of therapy. III. Assess the clinical toxicity of WBH and L-PAM in these patients. IV. Obtain pilot data on the effect of WBH and L-PAM on cytokine induction in these patients. OUTLINE: The combination of whole body hyperthermia (WBH) and melphalan (L-PAM) is administered on week 1. The infusion of L-PAM is administered at a constant rate over approximately 10 minutes, beginning 20 minutes after achieving target temperature of 41.8 degrees Celsius by esophageal or axillary temperature probe. WBH is continued for an additional 40 minutes for a total of 60 minutes. On week 5 or 6, patients receive another combination of WBH and L-PAM. Disease status is reevaluated at least every 2 courses. Patients without progressive disease continue therapy of WBH and L-PAM every 4 weeks for a maximum of 6 courses. PROJECTED ACCRUAL: Approximately 34 patients will be accrued for this study.

Keywords

Eligibility

Minimum Age: 16 Years

Eligible Ages: CHILD, ADULT, OLDER_ADULT

Sex: ALL

Healthy Volunteers: No

Locations

Contact Details

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