Treatment for Cancer of Skin
This study is evaluating whether a combination of gefitinib and PEG-interferon alfa-2a is safe and effective in treating patients with unresectable or metastatic skin cancer.
See full descriptionAbout the trial for Cancer of Skin
Treatment Groups
This trial involves a single treatment. Treatment is the primary treatment being studied. Participants will all receive the same treatment. There is no placebo group. The treatments being tested are in Phase 1 & 2 and have already been tested with other people.
Eligibility
This trial is for patients born any sex aged 18 and older. You must have received 1 prior treatment for Cancer of Skin or the other condition listed above. There are 10 eligibility criteria to participate in this trial as listed below.
Approximate Timelines
Measurement Requirements
This trial is evaluating whether Treatment will improve 5 primary outcomes in patients with Cancer of Skin. Measurement will happen over the course of .
Patient Q & A Section
Can cancer of skin be cured?
Many patients with non-melanoma skin cancers are curable, especially when treated early. In melanoma, patients have a much poorer prognosis and early detection of metastases is essential. With new treatment regimens, it now seems that some patients can be cured, but it cannot be guaranteed to all early-detected patients.
What are common treatments for cancer of skin?
Immunotherapy and other types of targeted therapy have been tested with varying degrees of success; however, the role of chemotherapy is less defined in skin cancer. The common practice of treating skin cancer is through a combination of surgery, laser, radiation, medications, or any combination thereof; however, it is also important to look toward the most recent literature relating to skin cancer treatments.
What causes cancer of skin?
The majority of skin cancers are caused by inherited genetic alterations (about 60%), while the rest are due to environmental factors (e.g., ultraviolet radiation). Prevention and early-detection are the best way to avoid these diseases. Preventive measures include sun protection and skin checks.
What are the signs of cancer of skin?
Signs and symptoms of cancer of skin include itching, loss of skin sensation, or loss of colouration of the skin. The most common form of cancer of skin is basal-cell carcinoma, which may occur on its own but more importantly can be associated with a sun or UV radiation exposure, or it can be associated with malignant melanoma, which has a poor prognosis.
How many people get cancer of skin a year in the United States?
Only half of incident non-melanoma skin cancer cases in the United States are diagnosed as of 2012, and this is likely underestimated because of underestimation of cases among patients in private practice (who are unlikely to report such cases and who may get less appropriate care than those treated in hospital settings). For melanoma, the proportion of incident cases diagnosed in 2002 as of 2012 was 61.7%. For people diagnosed with melanoma, treatment has improved, although treatment of people with early stage is less effective than that for advanced or metastatic cases.
What is cancer of skin?
Different types of cancer can occur in the skin with the main types being basal-cell carcinoma, squamous carcinoma, and melanoma. The skin is the body's largest organ and plays an important role in maintaining temperature, pH, immunity, and moisture. Although cancer of skin often affects people throughout the world, it is most common in the tropics and may therefore have a regional bias.
Is treatment typically used in combination with any other treatments?
Patients receive combination therapies much more often than they would if they were treated singly. Treatment combination was used twice as often (relative to single therapy) for melanoma, prostate, gastrointestinal, ovarian, bladder, leukemia, and breast cancer, but single therapy use was used slightly more often than in combination for lung and cervical cancer.
What is the survival rate for cancer of skin?
Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers, leading to millions of deaths worldwide each year. Even though it has been well understood what types of cancers can develop, the progression from benign growths to melanoma is still poorly understood, but we think we have an explanation, based on data taken from skin cancer clinical trials.\n
What are the latest developments in treatment for therapeutic use?
There are many novel drugs and new biologicals approved for the treatment of cancer and some of them have shown efficacy in clinical trials with non tumoral application. The potential of using a new drug or biological for cancer therapy is the most interesting, although it is possible that the drug or biological will not be effective and that a more targeted therapy may be needed, especially in advanced tumours. It is also a challenge, because it requires the optimization of the treatment schedule; in fact, for many patients, it is hardly possible to define the ideal treatment time, because the majority of patients experience intolerable toxicity. For this reason, new possibilities are being investigated and it has been shown that the therapy should be applied according to a dynamic approach.
Who should consider clinical trials for cancer of skin?
More information is needed regarding preferences for cancer clinics and potential side effects. There may be less willingness to participate in clinical trials when cancer is not suspected and when patients are treated with less aggressive therapies. Future efforts should focus on making clinical trial education more accessible, expanding enrollment in clinical trials, providing accurate information about potential side effects, and encouraging the recruitment of minorities.
How serious can cancer of skin be?
The disease can become much more serious and malignant the longer it stays on the skin or if it metastasizes to other areas, especially the lungs. If there is any area of weakness on the skin, the cancer may spread. For some people, the skin disease can cause pain, itching and discharge from any site, which can affect the quality of life for the person. If the skin cancer is spreading, it can also threaten the functions (such as sensation, smell and movement) of the body, and worsen the general health condition. It is important to receive a correct diagnosis of skin cancer so that treatments are completed and the person can live healthy. Doctors should be able to tell apart skin cancers before treatment begins.
What does treatment usually treat?
Clinical findings show that treatments frequently used in the treatment of [skin cancer](https://www.withpower.com/clinical-trials/skin-cancer) are related to specific histologically determined tumours. Recent findings imply that it may be possible to develop more effective treatments for the specific types of cancer in the study.