Study of Hair Samples From Patients With Cancer

National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Unspecified Adult Solid Tumor, Protocol Specific

Treatments: Genetic: protein expression analysis

Study type: Observational

Funder types: NIH

Identifiers

NCT00899691

04-C-0138

040138

CDR0000363803

Details and patient eligibility

About

RATIONALE: Studying samples of hair in the laboratory from patients with cancer may help doctors identify biomarkers related to cancer and predict how well patients will respond to treatment.

PURPOSE: This laboratory study is looking at hair samples from patients with cancer.

Full description

OBJECTIVES:

• Determine whether layered membrane technology can quantitatively measure the expression, activity, and localization of cell growth control and signaling proteins in hair samples from patients with cancer.
• Correlate changes in protein expression with expected changes based on planned therapy in these patients.

OUTLINE: This is a pilot, multicenter study.

Hair samples are obtained from patients at baseline and at the end of study. The samples are assayed for proteins and phosphorylation status using layered membrane technology. Proteins analyzed may include vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR), Erk1/2, Akt, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and c-KIT.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 190 patients will be accrued for this study within 3 years.

Enrollment: 190 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Diagnosis of malignancy
• Undergoing treatment at the National Cancer Institute's Clinical Center
• Must have scalp hair

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

• 18 and over

Performance status

• Not specified

Life expectancy

• Not specified

Hematopoietic

• Not specified

Hepatic

• Not specified

Renal

• Not specified

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

• Not specified

Chemotherapy

• Not specified

Endocrine therapy

• Not specified

Radiotherapy

• Not specified

Surgery

• Not specified