The goal of this clinical research study is to find the highest safe dose of gemcitabine that can be given with radiotherapy before surgery to treat sarcoma. This study will also look at how well this treatment controls sarcoma.
Before the start of treatment, participants will have a physical exam, blood tests, a MRI scan, and a chest x-ray. A PET scan may be done if thought necessary. Participants will receive the drug gemcitabine by vein along with radiation therapy on Days 1, 8, 22, 29, 43, and 50. Radiation treatments will be given 5 days a week for 5 weeks. The gemcitabine and radiotherapy will be given on an outpatient basis. Chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy may be stopped if side effects become severe. About 4 to 6 weeks after the final dose of gemcitabine, surgery will be done to remove the tumor or to remove any previous surgical scar and leftover tumor. During the combined treatment, participants will be seen weekly by the doctor in charge of radiotherapy or by the study nurse. Blood tests will be done every week during treatment. A MRI scan and a chest x-ray will be done within 14 days before surgery. A PET scan will be done if thought necessary. After the surgery is done, participants will return to M. D. Anderson for follow-up visits every 4 months for the first 2 years, every 6 months for 3 years, and then yearly from then on. An ultrasound and MRI scan (of the extremity or trunk) will be done 3 months after completion of all treatment. Ultrasound scans will be performed at each visit. A MRI scan will only be done again at later visits if needed. This is an investigational study. Gemcitabine is approved for use by the FDA. Its use together with radiation therapy in this study is experimental. About 36 individuals will take part in the study. All will be enrolled at M. D. Anderson.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
41
Starting dose: 400 mg/m2 by vein on days 1, 8, 22, 29, 43, and 50.
Radiation therapy dose of 50 Gy in 25 fractions at 2.0 Gy per fraction. Radiotherapy given once daily (Monday through Friday) for 5 weeks.
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Houston, Texas, United States
Maximum Tolerated Dose of Preoperative Gemcitabine with External-Beam Radiation Therapy
The maximum tolerated dose (MTD) defined as the dose having posterior expected toxicity importance score (TIS) closest to the target 1.65 at the end of the trial.
Time frame: 6 weeks
Response to Preoperative Gemcitabine with External-Beam Radiation Therapy
Response to preoperative chemoradiotherapy measured by comparing pre- and post-treatment MRI scans using the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) criteria. Evaluation of the MRI-defined change used to measure radiographic response.
Time frame: 3 months after completion of all treatment
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