Solid Tumors

Patients must have histologically or cytologically confirmed inoperable stage III or IV melanoma. Patients are allowed to have had up to two prior chemotherapy regimens for metastatic melanoma (therapy with an inhibitor of the kit protein not eligible). Prior radiotherapy is allowed.

Patients will be prescribed 100 mg Imatinib mesylate tablets and instructed to take four tablets twice a day (400 mg BID) by mouth during a meal and with a large glass (8 oz.) of water. Tablets should be taken for six weeks. Patients who show any response or stable disease and no evidence of progression will be offered additional six week cycles of treatment if tolerating therapy. Patients will be followed until disease progression.

Patients will be randomized onto one of two arms.
Arm A: ExAblate procedure to the most painful target lesion.
Arm B: Placebo ExAblate treatment.

VTE Treatment Group: Eligible subjects must be age 18 years or older, diagnosed with active cancer and have a documented first venous thromboembolic event. Subjects must be currently receiving any treatment for cancer. In addition, subjects must have a documented first venous thromboembolic event (VTE). Subjects must not be in need of long-term anticoagulant therapy or be undergoing high dose chemotherapy for peripheral blood stem cell or bone marrow transplantation, induction chemotherapy for acute leukemia or has other conditions associated with persistent thrombocytopenia of less than 100x109/L for a duration of at least four consecutive weeks.

Control Group Patients: Eligible control patients will be matched patients aged 18 years or older and diagnosed with active cancer meeting the same criteria as above but without thrombosis

All eligible subjects with VTE will receive tinzaparin 175 U/kg/day for at least 6 months with another 6 months at the investigator's discretion (up to one year study treatment). Plasma markers of hemostasis, fibrolysis, and angiogenesis will be measured at baseline and at 7 days, 1 month, and 6 months after start of tinzaparin treatment (if subject agrees).

Patients with cancer but without blood clots (control group) will also be enrolled in this study but will not receive study drug. For these patients, information regarding overall heath and response to their cancer treatment will be monitored. Plasma markers of hemostasis, fibrinolysis, and angiogenesis will be measured at baseline and at 7 days, 1 month, and 6 months (if subject agrees)