Merkel Cell Carcinoma, Islet Cell Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine Carcinoma, Pituitary Tumor
Conditions
Keywords
ACTH-producing pituitary tumor, prolactin-producing pituitary tumor, growth hormone-producing pituitary tumor, recurrent pituitary tumor, TSH producing pituitary tumor, nonfunctioning pituitary tumor, somatostatinoma, stage III Merkel cell carcinoma, recurrent Merkel cell carcinoma, neuroendocrine carcinoma
Brief summary
RATIONALE: Antineoplastons are naturally-occurring substances that may also be made in the laboratory. Antineoplastons may inhibit the growth of cancer cells. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well antineoplaston therapy works in treating patients with neuroendocrine tumor that is metastatic or unlikely to respond to surgery or radiation therapy.
Detailed description
OBJECTIVES: * Provide treatment with antineoplastons A10 and AS2-1 for patients with metastatic or incurable neuroendocrine tumors. * Describe response, tolerance to, and side effects of this regimen in these patients. OUTLINE: This is an open-label study. Patients receive gradually escalating doses of antineoplastons A10 and AS2-1 by intravenous injection 6 times daily until the maximum tolerated dose is reached. Treatment continues for at least 2 months in the absence of unacceptable toxicity or disease progression. Patients achieving complete response (CR) continue treatment for an additional 8 months after reaching CR. Tumors are measured every 2 months for 1 year and then every 3 months for 1 year. PROJECTED ACCRUAL: Approximately 20-40 patients will be accrued for this study.
Interventions
PROCEDUREalternative product therapy
PROCEDUREbiological therapy
PROCEDUREbiologically based therapies
PROCEDUREcancer prevention intervention
PROCEDUREdifferentiation therapy
Sponsors
Burzynski Research Institute
Study design
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed incurable neuroendocrine tumor that is unlikely to respond to existing therapy, meeting 1 of the following criteria: * Metastatic disease * Disease that is not curable with surgery or radiotherapy * Measurable disease by MRI or CT scan * Tumor must be at least 2 cm PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: * 18 and over Performance status: * Karnofsky 60-100% Life expectancy: * At least 2 months Hematopoietic: * WBC at least 2,000/mm\^3 * Platelet count at least 50,000/mm\^3 Hepatic: * No hepatic insufficiency * Bilirubin no greater than 2.5 mg/dL * SGOT and SGPT no greater than 5 times upper limit of normal Renal: * No renal insufficiency * Creatinine no greater than 2.5 mg/dL * No history of renal conditions that contraindicate high dosages of sodium Cardiovascular: * No uncontrolled hypertension * No history of congestive heart failure * No history of other cardiovascular conditions that contraindicate high dosages of sodium Pulmonary: * No serious lung disease, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Other: * Not pregnant or nursing * Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 4 weeks after study participation * No active infection * No concurrent nonmalignant systemic disease * Not a high medical or psychiatric risk PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: * At least 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy * No concurrent immunomodulating agents Chemotherapy: * At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas) Endocrine therapy: * Concurrent corticosteroids allowed Radiotherapy: * At least 8 weeks since prior radiotherapy Surgery: * Recovered from prior surgery Other: * Prior cytodifferentiating agents allowed * No prior antineoplastons * No other concurrent antineoplastic agents
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed