Clinical trials are carefully monitored studies designed to improve methods to prevent, diagnose, or treat the many various forms of cancer. These studies will help to improve our knowledge of cancer treatment, to reduce treatment side effects and toxic effects, to enhance the patient’s quality of life during and after treatment, and (most importantly) to increase the cure rates for the various forms of cancer.

Clinical trials are usually one of the final stages in the development of a new therapeutic agent or diagnostic test. Some trials are modifications of existing nationally-recognized therapies or treatments. Clinical trials assist on the oncologist/researcher in determining whether these new or innovative approached to prevention or treatment of cancer are safe and effective.

Many persons are hesitant to participate in trials because they have the perception they may be “guinea pigs” for a dangerous “experiment” treatment. There is a little truth in this perception.

Before a treatment can enter into human study in the United States, there must be considerable previous lab and animal research performed. Human testing of a treatment is carried out with great care and in a number of phases. The first phase defines the most effective dose levels and treatment side effects or toxic effects. The second phase tests those dose levels various cancer forms, to determine what kinds of cancer that the treatment is most effective in. Finally, when a treatment is in the latter (third or fourth) phases to testing, reasonable certainty exists that the new treatment has effectiveness in a certain form of cancer. In these latter phases of testing, the study treatment is compared to a currently recognized treatment to see which treatment is safer and/or more effective.

For the patient, the main advantage of enrolling in these trials is the opportunity to receive cutting-edge, innovative treatment that is potentially more effective than other existing forms of treatment.

It is important to recognize that while participating in a clinical trial, the patient is carefully monitored by an oncologist/researcher and the fully trained CORT staff. In addition, the researcher, the research site and the staff are all monitored by local agencies empowered solely for protection of human research participants. Study monitors from research sponsors also regularly visit the study site, monitor the treatment administration, ad collect and analyze data that is obtained in the study.

Prior to enrolling in any clinical trial, a patient begins with a process known as “Informed Consent” that fully details exactly the steps involved with the trial. This process includes any testing required, the details of treatment under study and the potential benefits and side effects of participation. This process of “Informed Consent” takes place prior to any participation.

There are four different types of clinical trials. They are as follows:

1. Treatment Trials – these trials are designed to test new treatments (a new drug, a new combination of drugs, new approaches to surgery, etc)
2. Quality of Life Trials – these trials, also known as supportive trials, explore ways to improve quality of life for cancer patients.
3. Prevention Trials- these trials test new approaches to lower the risk of a certain type of cancer. These trials investigate ways to prevent cancer in individuals who have never had cancer or to prevent cancer from reoccurring in patients who have previously been treated for cancer. These new approaches may include medicines, vitamins, minerals or other supplements.
4. Screening Trials- these trials try to determine the best way to detect cancer as early as possible.
   Please carefully review the Clinical Trials available at our Center to determine if there is one that is right for you. Click on “Clinical Trials” to review this list. If you determine there is a trial that you would like to pursue for possible participation, please call our Center at 972.566.5588 or email to trials@cortpa.com

Also, when you come to the Center for a visit regarding a trial participation, we will provide an educational booklet from the National Cancer Institute titled “Taking Part in Clinical Trials: What Cancer Patients Need to Know”.