Clinical Research Directory

Cabozantinib or Sunitinib Malate in Treating Participants With Metastatic Variant Histology Renal Cell Carcinoma

The goal of this clinical research study is to compare the safety and effectiveness of cabozantinib and sunitinib when given to patients with metastatic (has spread) variant histology renal cell carcinoma (vhRCC), a type of kidney cancer. This is an investigational study. Cabozantinib and sunitinib are both FDA approved and commercially available for the treatment of advanced kidney cancer, including vhRCC. The study doctor can explain how the study drugs are designed to work. Up to 84 participants will be enrolled in this study. All will take part at MD Anderson.

Study of Aerosol Gemcitabine in Patients With Solid Tumors and Pulmonary Metastases

Any time the words "you," "your," "I," or "me" appear, it is meant to apply to the potential participant. The goal of this clinical research study is to find the highest tolerable dose of gemcitabine that can be given by inhalation (breathing it as a mist) to patients with solid tumors that have spread to the lungs from other parts of the body. The safety and side effects of this drug will also be studied. This is an investigational study. Gemcitabine is FDA approved and commercially available for the treatment of pancreatic and lung cancer, and other solid tumors. Its administration by inhalation is investigational. The study doctor can explain how the study drug is designed to work. Up to 44 participants will be enrolled in this study. All will take part at MD Anderson.

Pembrolizumab With Intratumoral Injection of Clostridium Novyi-NT

Some tumors are difficult to treat with chemotherapy or radiation. One of the reasons is that areas of the tumor do not have many blood vessels, which makes it difficult for drugs to reach those areas. One way that researchers have recently tried to overcome this problem is by injecting special kinds of bacteria into the tumors. These bacteria have been genetically changed to remove the chemicals that are poisonous to humans, but are still able to cause tumor cells to break down and die. The idea is that these bacteria may be able to assist chemotherapy drugs in fighting cancer. The goal of this clinical research study is to find the highest tolerable dose of one of these bacterial therapies (Clostridium novyi-NT spores) that can be given in combination with pembrolizumab to patients with advanced solid tumors. The safety of this drug will also be studied, as well as whether it can help to control the disease. This is an investigational study. Clostridium novyi-NT is not FDA approved or commercially available. It is currently being used for research purposes only. Pembrolizumab is FDA approved for the treatment of melanoma and different types of head and neck and non-small cell lung cancers. It is investigational to use these drugs in combination with each other in various types of advanced cancers. The study doctor can describe how the study drugs are designed to work. Up to 18 participants will be enrolled in this study. All will take part at MD Anderson.