Clinical Research Directory

Testing Low-Dose Common Chemotherapy (Liposomal Doxorubicin) in Combination With an Anti-Cancer Drug, Peposertib, in Advanced Sarcoma

This phase I trial tests the safety, side effects, and best dose of combination therapy with liposomal doxorubicin and peposertib in treating patients with sarcoma that has spread from where it first started, to other places in the body (metastatic), or cannot be removed by surgery (unresectable) and for which no known cure is available (advanced). Doxorubicin is in a class of medications called anthracyclines. Doxorubicin damages the cell's deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and may kill cancer cells. It also blocks a certain enzyme needed for cell division and DNA repair. Liposomal doxorubicin is a form of the anticancer drug doxorubicin that is contained inside very tiny, fat-like particles. Liposomal doxorubicin may have fewer side effects and work better than other forms of the drug. Peposertib may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. It may also enhance the activity of chemo- and radiotherapy. There is some pre-clinical evidence in animal models that combining peposertib with liposomal doxorubicin can shrink or stabilize certain types of cancer for longer than either drug alone, but it is not known if this will happen in people. Combination therapy with liposomal doxorubicin and peposertib may be effective in treating patients with advanced sarcoma.

Testing the Addition of an Anti-cancer Drug, Abemaciclib, to the Usual Chemotherapy Treatment (Gemcitabine) for Soft Tissue Sarcoma

This phase I/II trial tests the side effects and best dose of abemaciclib when added to gemcitabine and compares the effectiveness of that treatment to the usual treatment of gemcitabine with docetaxel for the treatment of patients with soft tissue sarcoma that may have spread from where it first started to nearby tissue, lymph nodes, or distant parts of the body (advanced) or that has spread from where it first started (primary site) to other places in the body (metastatic) (phase 1) or patients with leiomyosarcoma or dedifferentiated liposarcoma (phase 2). Abemaciclib is in a class of medications called kinase inhibitors. It works by blocking the action of an abnormal protein that signals tumor cells to multiply. This helps slow or stop the spread of tumor cells. Gemcitabine is a chemotherapy drug that blocks the cells from making deoxyribonucleic acid and may kill tumor cells. Docetaxel is in a class of medications called taxanes. It stops cancer cells from growing and dividing and may kill them. Giving abemaciclib with gemcitabine may be safe and effective when compared to treatment with gemcitabine and docetaxel for patients with advanced or metastatic soft tissue sarcoma or leiomyosarcoma or dedifferentiated liposarcoma.

XL092 (Zanzalintinib) for the Treatment of Patients With Metastatic or Unresectable Leiomyosarcoma

This phase II trial tests how well zanzalintinib (XL092) works in treating patients with leiomyosarcoma that has spread from where it first started to other places in the body (metastatic) or that cannot be removed by surgery (unresectable). Leiomyosarcomas are a type sarcoma that can occur in any location in the body, such as the uterus or in the abdomen. Current standard treatment for leiomyosarcoma only shows a progression-free survival of 4-6 months. XL092, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, interferes with cell communication and growth and may prevent tumor growth. Giving XL092 may kill more tumor cells in patients with metastatic or unresectable leiomyosarcoma.

Cabozantinib and Temozolomide for the Treatment of Unresectable or Metastatic Leiomyosarcoma or Other Soft Tissue Sarcoma

This phase II trial studies how well cabozantinib and temozolomide work in treating patients with leiomyosarcoma or other soft tissue sarcoma that cannot be removed by surgery (unresectable) or has spread to other places in the body (metastatic). Cabozantinib may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as temozolomide, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading. Giving cabozantinib and temozolomide may work better than either one alone in treating patients with leiomyosarcoma or other soft tissue sarcoma. Cabozantinib is an investigational drug, which means that it has not been approved by the United States (US) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or any other regulatory agencies for sale or use by the public for the indication under investigation in this study.