Clinical Research Directory

Pembrolizumab in Treating Patients With Rare Tumors That Cannot Be Removed by Surgery or Are Metastatic

This phase II trial studies how well pembrolizumab works in treating patients with rare tumors that cannot be removed by surgery or have spread to other parts of the body. Monoclonal antibodies, such as pembrolizumab, may block specific proteins found on white blood cells which may strengthen the immune system and control tumor growth.

Testing the Addition of Pedmark to Cisplatin Chemotherapy for Reducing Drug-Induced Ear Damage in Men With Stage II-III Metastatic Testicular Germ Cell Tumors

This phase I trial evaluates whether adding Pedmark to standard of care cisplatin-based chemotherapy reduces drug-induced ear damage (ototoxicity) in men with stage II-III testicular germ cell tumors that have spread from where they first started (primary site) to other places in the body (metastatic). Cisplatin is in a class of medications known as platinum-containing compounds. It works by killing, stopping or slowing the growth of tumor cells. Cisplatin-induced ototoxicity remains a major concern in adult patients with germ cell tumors as nearly four out of five patients develop hearing loss after treatment. Cisplatin is thought to cause ear damage by the production of chemically reactive molecules called reactive oxygen species. These molecules can cause damage when their levels get too high. Pedmark may reduce the negative side effects of cisplatin by neutralizing these reactive molecules. Pedmark has been approved for reducing the risk of cisplatin-induced ototoxicity in pediatric patients and older patients with solid tumors that haven't spread to other parts of the body. Adding Pedmark to cisplatin-based chemotherapy treatment may reduce ototoxicity in adult men with stage I-III testicular metastatic germ cell tumors.