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Tissue Procurement and Natural History Study of Patients With Malignant Mesothelioma

Published: June 1, 2016

Primary Outcome Measures

    • Allow sample acquisition for use in the study of mesothelioma [ Time Frame: Ongoing ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

Detailed Description:

Background
Malignant mesothelioma is a malignancy arising from the mesothelial cells of the pleura, peritoneum, pericardium, or tunica vaginalis.
Mesothelioma accounts for 0.10% of deaths annually in the United States. Malignant pleural mesothelioma is the most common of these, comprising of 80% of the cases with an annual incidence of about 2,500 in the United States.
The median survival from diagnosis of pleural mesothelioma is approximately 12 months. The majority of patients present with stage III or IV disease with 85-90% of patients considered unresectable at diagnosis.
Peritoneal mesothelioma has a better prognosis than pleural mesothelioma; nevertheless, patients undergoing therapy for peritoneal mesothelioma have few well-studied treatment options due in large part to the rarity of the disease.
In addition to mesothelioma, mesothelin is highly expressed in several cancers, including pancreatic, biliary adenocarcinomas, gastric and ovarian cancers; mesothelin is also expressed in a significantly larger proportion of thymic carcinoma than thymoma.
Mesothelin expression level has been correlated with improved overall survival in thymic cancer and with reduced overall survival in patients with lung cancer
Objectives
To allow sample acquisition for use in the study of mesothelioma and other mesothelin expressing cancers
Design
Up to 1000 subjects will be enrolled
Patients will be followed to determine the course of disease and to record any treatment received for the eligible mesothelin expressing cancer
Patients will undergo sampling of blood, urine, tumor and abnormal body fluids for tissue banking
Studies which may be performed on banked material include genetic and genomic studies, establishment of cell cultures and immunologic studies

Eligibility

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria
All patients greater than or equal to 2 years of age with malignant mesothelioma.
All patients greater than or equal to18 years of age with thymic carcinoma, pancreatic or biliary adenocarcinoma or lung, gastric or ovarian cancers.
Confirmed pathological diagnosis is required from the Laboratory of Pathology, NCI. Tumor tissue that has been previously collected and is available for study or that can be collected with minimal additional risk to the subject during sampling required for routine patient care or required testing on an NIH research protocol will be used for diagnosis.
Age greater than or equal to 2 years
Ability and willingness of subject or legally authorized representative (LAR) to provide informed consent to participation
Exclusion Criteria
Active symptomatic major organ disorder that would increase the risk of biopsy, including but not limited to ischemic heart disease, recent myocardial infarction, active congestive heart failure, pulmonary dysfunction.
Pregnant or breast feeding women will be eligible for this protocol, but will not undergo tumor biopsy.
Active concomitant medical or psychological illnesses that may increase the risk to the subject or in adult patients, inability to obtain informed consent, at the discretion of the principal investigator.
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