Clinical Research Directory

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.

Measuring if Immunotherapy Plus Chemotherapy is Better Than Chemotherapy Alone for Patients With Aggressive Poorly Differentiated Sarcomas

This phase III trial compares the effect of immunotherapy (pembrolizumab) plus chemotherapy (doxorubicin) to chemotherapy (doxorubicin) alone in treating patients with dedifferentiated liposarcoma (DDLPS), undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS) or a related poorly differentiated sarcoma that has spread from where it first started (primary site) to other places in the body (metastatic) or that cannot be removed by surgery (unresectable). Doxorubicin is in a class of medications called anthracyclines. Doxorubicin damages the cell's deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and may kill tumor cells. It also blocks a certain enzyme needed for cell division and DNA repair. A monoclonal antibody is a type of protein that can bind to certain targets in the body, such as molecules that cause the body to make an immune response (antigens). Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as pembrolizumab, may help the body's immune system attack the cancer, and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Adding immunotherapy (pembrolizumab) to the standard chemotherapy (doxorubicin) may help patients with metastatic or unresectable DDLPS, UPS or a related poorly differentiated sarcoma live longer without having disease progression.

Testing the Addition of Cemiplimab to Palbociclib for the Treatment of Advanced Dedifferentiated Liposarcoma

This phase II trial compares the effect of treatment with palbociclib alone to treatment with palbociclib plus cemiplimab for treating patients with dedifferentiated liposarcoma that may have spread from where it first started to nearby tissue, lymph nodes, or distant parts of the body (advanced). Palbociclib may stop the growth of cancer cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Cemiplimab is a monoclonal antibody that may interfere with the ability of cancer cells to grow and spread. The combination of these two drugs may be more effective in shrinking or stabilizing advanced dedifferentiated liposarcoma compared to palbociclib alone.