Clinical Trials

• Biospecimen Resource for Familial Pancreas Research, a Data and Tissue Registry (also known as a bio-repository, bio-bank, data and tissue database, data and tissue bank, etc.) to Help Advance Research in Familial Pancreas Disease.
  The research staff is collecting clinical and family histories, blood and/or tissue samples from family members of patients diagnosed with pancreatic diseases, including pancreatic cancer and melanoma. This will help the researchers to learn whether inherited factors increase the risk of pancreatic diseases, pancreatic cancer, or other cancers. These future studies could involve searching for changes in the genetic material (DNA) taken from blood and/or tissue. The information and samples will be used in future research studies.Some of the future research studies could involve genetic testing. Because the genetic tests are not used for regular medical care, the patient will not be told the results of the test(s). The test results will not be put in the patient's medical record either.
  

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• MC0677, B7-DC XAb Plasma Therapy for the Treatment of Metastatic Melanoma. A Feasibility/Pilot Study
  Patients are being asked to take part in this research study because they have been diagnosed with metastatic melanoma and they are a candidate for plasma therapy. This treatment uses an antibody taken from a patient that appears to activate the immune system against melanoma.The study drug is a small sample of the patient's plasma containing the antibody B7-DC XAb. The antibody was discovered for its ability to stimulate the immune system in a way in which the body would become aware of the presence of the cancer. The molecule will bind receptors on the surface of immune cells and stimulate anti-tumor immunity. The researchers can measure the results of this change in the peripheral blood (blood from a vein) as well as look to see if this will reduce the size of the tumors.
  

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• The Use of a Heat Treatment and Vaccine for Patients with Stage 4 Melanoma
  This study is being done to learn about the anti-tumor effectiveness of a heat shock vaccine in patients with stage 4 metastatic malignant melanoma.
  

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• Transcutaneous (Topical) Peptide Immunization with NY-ESO-1b (SLLMWITQC) Peptide Using Resiquimod as an Immune Adjuvant: A Pilot Study
  This study is being done to:- Test the safety of the NY-ESO-1b/resiquimod vaccine- See what effects (good and bad) the NY-ESO-1b/resiguimod vaccine has on a patient- See if using the vaccine as a gel versus injection is more effective in stimulating the immune systemBoth agents used in this study (NY-ESO-1b and resiquimod) have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in clinical trials. Neither has been approved for commercial use.
  

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