Clinical Research Directory

Inclusion Criteria: 1. Males or females ages 18-89 years 2. Female patients must have a negative pregnancy test and agree to use contraception. Female patients receiving tocilizumab should maintain adequate contraceptive measures during and for a minimum of 90 days after the last dose of tocilizumab. Male patients receiving tocilizumab should maintain adequate contraceptive measures during and for a minimum of 60 days after the last dose of tocilizumab. 3. Biopsy-proven diagnosis of malignancy with cytologic or radiographic evidence of malignant pleural effusion or ascites 4. Scheduled to undergo standard-of-care pleural or peritoneal drainage catheter placement 5. ECOG 0-2 6. Able to read and understand consent in English and provide informed consent Exclusion Criteria: 1. Pediatric patients 2. Laboratory abnormalities that indicate clinically significant inflammatory process AST/SGOT \> 2 times the upper limit of normal ALT/SGPT \> 2 times the upper limit of normal Total bilirubin \> 2 times the upper limit of normal Creatinine \> 2.5 mg/dL Hemoglobin \< 7 mg/dL White blood cell count \< 3,000/ mm3 Platelet count \< 70,000/mm3 Absolute neutrophil cell count \< 2,000 per mm3 3. ECOG \> 3 4. Subjects who are unable to comply with study procedures including travel for weekly outpatient clinic visits 5. Pregnant and lactating women 6. Active immunotherapy within 30 days; concurrent chemotherapy or targeted therapy is permitted but for patients with a history of prior immunotherapy, the most recent dose should be \>30 days prior to the first treatment visit 7. Investigational drug use within 30 days prior to first treatment dose 8. History of systemic autoimmune disease (CRS, GCA, PJIA, RA, and SJIA) 9. Patient with known hypersensitivity to tocilizumab (IL-6) 10. Active infection 11. Medical contraindication or history of adverse reaction to acetaminophen or diphenhydramine