Clinical Research Directory

Ropidoxuridine in Treating Patients With Advanced Gastrointestinal Cancer Undergoing Radiation Therapy

This phase I trial studies the side effects and best dose of ropidoxuridine in treating patients with gastrointestinal cancer that has spread to other places in the body and usually cannot be cured or controlled with treatment undergoing radiation therapy. Ropidoxuridine may help radiation therapy work better by making tumor cells more sensitive to the radiation therapy.

Collecting Blood Samples From Patients With and Without Cancer to Evaluate Tests for Early Cancer Detection

This study collects blood and tissue samples from patients with cancer and without cancer to evaluate tests for early cancer detection. Collecting and storing samples of blood and tissue from patients with and without cancer to study in the laboratory may help researchers develop tests for the early detection of cancers.

Paclitaxel With or Without Cixutumumab as Second-Line Therapy in Treating Patients With Metastatic Esophageal Cancer or Gastroesophageal Junction Cancer

This randomized phase II trial studies how well paclitaxel with or without cixutumumab works in treating patients with esophageal cancer or gastroesophageal junction cancer that has spread to other places in the body (metastatic). Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as paclitaxel, 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. Cixutumumab may kill cancer cells by blocking the action of a protein needed for cancer cell growth. Giving paclitaxel with or without cixutumumab may kill more tumor cells.

Chemotherapy With or Without Radiation or Surgery in Treating Participants With Oligometastatic Esophageal or Gastric Cancer

This phase II trial studies how well chemotherapy with or without radiation or surgery works in treating participants with esophageal or gastric cancer that has spread to less than 3 places in the body (oligometastatic). Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as fluorouracil and capecitabine, 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. Radiation therapy uses high energy x-rays to kill tumor cells and shrink tumors. Surgery, such as complete surgical resection, may stop the spread of tumor cells by surgically removing organs or tumors. Giving chemotherapy with radiation or surgery may work better than chemotherapy alone in treating participants with oligometastatic esophageal or gastric cancer.