Related Pages Search for Clinical Trials 1 NCI's PDQ® Cancer Clinical Trials Registry.

Name of the Trial

Phase I Study of 17-Dimethylaminoethylamino-17-Demethoxygeldanamycin (17-DMAG) in Patients with Advanced Solid Tumors or Lymphoma (NCI-04-C-0218). See the protocol summary ².

Principal Investigator

Dr. Martin Gutierrez, NCI's Center for Cancer Research.

Why Is This Trial Important?

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are found in every cell of the body. HSPs help cells survive stressful conditions (including heat, cold, nutrient starvation, and oxygen deprivation) by protecting other proteins. Under non-stressful conditions, HSPs help proteins achieve and maintain their proper shape. Researchers at NCI are investigating a particular HSP, called HSP-90, as a target for cancer therapy. Many of the proteins implicated in cancer development need HSP-90 to help them achieve their correct functional shape and cellular location.

In this trial, researchers are studying 17-DMAG, an HSP-90 inhibitor developed by the NCI, to see if it can help prevent cancer cells from growing in patients with solid tumors or lymphomas. The trial will also be used to determine the maximum dose of 17-DMAG that can be given to patients and examine what side effects the drug may cause.

"Preclinical research results suggest that inhibiting HSP-90 will alter many of the protein pathways in tumor cells and may result in tumor cell death," said Dr. Gutierrez. "This is the first test of 17-DMAG in humans, and so far, the drug has been well tolerated.

"We think that 17-DMAG's mode of action may represent an important new approach in the treatment of many types of cancer."

Contact Information

This clinical trial is no longer accepting new patients. To locate other clinical trials for solid tumors or lymphoma, search the NCI database of clinical trials ¹ or call the NCI Clinical Trials Referral Office at 1-888-NCI-1937. The call is toll free and confidential.

Glossary Terms

Cancer that begins in cells of the immune system. There are two basic categories of lymphomas. One kind is Hodgkin lymphoma, which is marked by the presence of a type of cell called the Reed-Sternberg cell. The other category is non-Hodgkin lymphomas, which includes a large, diverse group of cancers of immune system cells. Non-Hodgkin lymphomas can be further divided into cancers that have an indolent (slow-growing) course and those that have an aggressive (fast-growing) course. These subtypes behave and respond to treatment differently. Both Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphomas can occur in children and adults, and prognosis and treatment depend on the stage and the type of cancer.

Research using animals to find out if a drug, procedure, or treatment is likely to be useful. Preclinical studies take place before any testing in humans is done.

A molecule made up of amino acids that are needed for the body to function properly. Proteins are the basis of body structures such as skin and hair and of substances such as enzymes, cytokines, and antibodies.

A problem that occurs when treatment affects healthy tissues or organs. Some common side effects of cancer treatment are fatigue, pain, nausea, vomiting, decreased blood cell counts, hair loss, and mouth sores.

An abnormal mass of tissue that usually does not contain cysts or liquid areas. Solid tumors may be benign (not cancer), or malignant (cancer). Different types of solid tumors are named for the type of cells that form them. Examples of solid tumors are sarcomas, carcinomas, and lymphomas. Leukemias (cancers of the blood) generally do not form solid tumors.