Collection of Blood From Patients With Cancer

Launched by NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE (NCI) · Apr 23, 2002

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying how certain types of cells in the blood that can weaken the immune system (called suppressor cells) change before and after chemotherapy in patients with different types of cancer, including prostate, breast, colon, lung, and liver cancer. The goal is to better understand how these cells might affect cancer treatment. If you are 18 years or older and have cancer, you may be eligible to participate. Healthy volunteers are also welcome to join the study.

Participants will have a small amount of blood (about 3 tablespoonfuls) drawn, and there may be a few more samples collected during treatment if you choose to enroll in a related study involving chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or surgery. It's important to know that this study does not involve any cancer treatment itself; it’s focused solely on collecting blood samples. To be eligible, you'll need to be able to understand and sign a consent form, and meet certain health criteria, but there are no major health exclusions. If you're interested, this could be an opportunity to contribute to important research that may help improve cancer treatments in the future.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• * INCLUSION CRITERIA:
• • Patients with a known or suspected malignancy and healthy volunteers 18 years of age and older are eligible.
• • Performance status of ECOG 0, 1, 2, or 3 for admission to this protocol.
• • Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document.
• INCLUSION FOR APHERESIS:
• • Note: Effective with Amendment CC, participants will no longer be asked to undergo apheresis. This content is being retained for historical reference.
• • Hemoglobin greater than or equal to 10 mg/dL and platelet count \> 75,000/mm(3)
• • Weight greater than 25 kg
• • HIV negative
• • Prothrombin Time - within normal limits
• • Partial Thromboplastin Time - within normal limits
• • Medically indicated central line in place or adequate peripheral venous access
• EXCLUSION CRITERIA:
• • None.