Lung Cancer Case Study

Cisplatin With or Without Raltitrexed in Treating Patients With Malignant Mesothelioma of the Pleura

Background:

Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. It is not yet known whether receiving cisplatin with raltitrexed is more effective than cisplatin alone for malignant mesothelioma. This is a randomized phase III trial to compare the effectiveness of cisplatin with or without raltitrexed in treating patients who have malignant mesothelioma of the pleura.

Experimental Drug SS1(dsFv)-PE38 to Treat Cancer:

Background:
This study will determine the dose of the experimental anticancer drug SS1(dsFv)-PE38 that can be given safely to patients. It will also look at how the body handles the drug, its side effects, and its effect on the tumor. SS1(dsFv)-PE38 will be tried in patients with solid tumors that have an antigen called mesothelin. This is a protein that is normally produced by cells lining body cavities, but has also been found on several types of cancer cells.

The drug SS1(dsFv)-PE38 is composed of SS1, a protein that binds tightly to mesothelin, and PE38, parts of the Pseudomonas exotoxin (PE) protein, which can kill human cells if it gains entry to them. SS1(dsFv)-PE38 is designed to attach to mesothelin on the cancer cells and allow entry of the PE38, which will then destroy the cells.

Location/Contact Information:
Maryland
National Cancer Institute (NCI), 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, United States;
Recruiting
Clinical Studies Support Center/NCI 1-888-624-1937
ncicssc@mail.nih.gov