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Chemotherapy for Recurrent or Treatment-Resistant Lymphomas
Untitled Document
Name of the Trial
Phase II Study of UCN-01 in Patients With Relapsed or Refractory Systemic Anaplastic
Large Cell or Mature T-Cell Lymphomas (NCI-04-C-0173). See the protocol
summary.
Principal Investigators
Dr. Wyndham Wilson, Dr. Keiron Dunleavy (Protocol Co-Chair), and Dr. Alan
Wayne (Protocol Co-Chair), NCI Center for Cancer Research.
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Dr. Wyndham Wilson
Principal Investigator |
Why Is This Trial Important?
Lymphomas are cancers of the immune system. There are many different types
of lymphoma, and treatment and prognosis depend on the type of lymphoma a patient
has and how advanced the cancer has become.
In this trial, researchers are trying to determine whether a new drug called
UCN-01 will help kill cancer cells in patients who have a type of lymphoma called
anaplastic large cell lymphoma. This type of lymphoma starts in white blood
cells called T cells. Anaplastic lymphoma primarily affects children. UCN-01
belongs to a group of drugs called protein kinase inhibitors. Protein kinases
are enzymes in cells that help activate or deactivate other proteins, which
may play a role in tumor cell growth.
"Protein kinases are like switches that turn other proteins on or off,"
said Dr. Wilson. "A number of tumor cells have these switches abnormally
turned on or off, and this abnormal activity contributes to the survival of
the tumor.
"In anaplastic large cell lymphoma, a protein kinase called ALK is turned
on all the time. We hope that UCN-01 will inhibit the action of this abnormally
activated kinase and cause the tumor cell to enter apoptosis, or programmed
cell death.
"We are also interested in seeing if this drug will be useful against
other T-cell lymphomas."
Who Can Join This Trial?
Researchers will recruit 18-37 patients aged 9 or older who have been diagnosed
with anaplastic large cell lymphoma or mature T-cell lymphoma that has not responded
to treatment or recurred following previously successful treatment. See the
list
of eligibility criteria.
Where Is This Trial Taking Place?
The study is taking place at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland.
Contact Information
For more information, contact the NCI Clinical Studies Support Center at 1-888-NCI-1937.
The toll-free call is confidential.
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