CompletedPhase 1

Decitabine in Treating Patients With Melanoma or Other Advanced Cancer

United StatesStarted 1997-05

Plain-language summary

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. PURPOSE: Phase I trial to study the effectiveness of decitabine in treating patients with stage III or stage IV melanoma or other advanced cancer that has not responded to previous therapy.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Stage III (nonresectable) and IV melanoma, or any other advanced metastatic malignancy for which all standard therapy has failed Must have at least two cutaneous, mucosal or lymph nodal lesions that can be biopsied or one lesion large enough to be biopsied twice PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: ECOG 0-1 Life expectancy: Not specified Hematopoietic: Hemoglobin at least 9.0 g/dL Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 WBC at least 3500/mm3 Absolute granulocyte count at least 1500/mm3 Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL SGOT and SGPT less than 2.5 times normal Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.8 mg/dL Other: Not pregnant Not HIV or hepatitis BsAg positive No major systemic infections No coagulation disorders No major illness of cardiovascular or respiratory systems No symptomatic CNS disease or evidence of cerebral edema PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: No therapy for cancer within the past month

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

Trial details

NCT IDNCT00002980

SponsorCalifornia Cancer Consortium

Sponsor typeNETWORK

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

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