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Clinical Trials at the Center for Cancer Care
For over 10 years, the doctors and nurses at our Center have been
working to improve cancer treatments for our patients. One of the
ways we do this is by taking part in clinical trials (research
studies) sponsored by:
- National
Cancer Institute through national cancer groups (Cancer and Leukemia
Group
B – CALGB, Cancer
Trial Support Unit - CTSU, etc.)
- Pharmaceutical
(Drug) companies and
- Center for
Cancer Care nurses who provide care.
All of our
studies are conducted according to Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) guidelines to
make sure that the rights
of each research
subject are protected. Currently, we are participating in many
clinical trials, some of which are listed below:
BREAST CANCER
National Cancer Institute sponsored –
All ages:
- Dose-dense:
chemotherapy infusions with medicines such as Adriamycin, Cytoxan,
Taxol, Taxotere, or Gemzar given every
2
rather than every 3 weeks. There is early evidence that suggests that shortening
the
time between doses of these commonly used chemotherapies
may improve survival in women whose breast cancer may or may not have spread
to the lymph nodes.
- A comparison
of 2 medications (Adriamycin and Epirubicin) known to be effective
when used to
treat breast cancer
that has spread to the lymph nodes.
Pre-menopausal
(still having monthly flow):
- A comparison
of the suppression of ovarian function (stopping the body from
releasing female hormones) alone,
with Exemestane or with Tamoxifen after chemotherapy as treatment in women
with tumors
that
tested positive for estrogen and/or progesterone.
At or greater
than 65 years of age:
- A comparison
of an oral treatment (Xeloda) with standard infusion therapy
of either Adriamycin
and
Cytoxan or Cytoxan, Methotrexate and 5-FU.
Symptom management:
- Soy
versus *placebo to lessen hot flashes in patients on Tamoxifen
reporting having more
than 7 of these a day.
Nursing
Study –
- Comparison
of Procrit and Aranesp to learn which medication makes the
body grow red
blood cells faster to get rid of the symptoms of anemia (low blood count)
and tiredness caused by
their cancer
treatment.
GASTROINTESTINAL
CANCERS (Stomach, Digestive, + Colon)
NCI sponsored –
- Pancreatic
Cancer – a
comparison of first planned treatment of disease with
Gemzar alone versus Gemzar with Bevacizumab in
patients whose cancer has spread from
their pancreas
to another part
of the body
- Stomach/Esophageal
Cancer – a comparison
of 5-FU and Leucovorin versus
Epirubicin/Cytoxan/5-FU given after surgery both before
and after radiation
therapy; both combinations use
continuous infusion
5-FU during radiation cycle.
Pharmaceutical
Company
sponsored –
- Colorectal
Cancer - Oxaliplatin given every 2 weeks with Bevacizumab,
Leucovorin, and 5-FU as treatment after diagnosis either intermittently
(8 treatments with
oxaliplatin,
8 treatments
without oxaliplatin
and then restart oxaliplatin again) or continuously until
numbness
and/or tingling in hands and feet make continued use of medication unsafe
for patient.
The study
also is comparing
the use of calcium
with
magnesium versus *placebo to see if this combination limits
or slows the development
of
the numbness
and tingling.
GYNECOLOGICAL
CANCER
NCI sponsored –
- Endometrial
Cancer – a comparison
of Doxirubicin, Cisplatin and Taxol
versus Carboplatin and Taxol for treatment
of Stage III/IV (cancer that
has spread from
the lining
of the womb)
or disease that has come
back.
HEAD
AND
NECK CANCER
Nursing
Study –
- A
comparison of GelClair use for mouth and/or throat
sores
during
cancer treatment starting either on the first day of treatment or at the
first sign
of the sores.
LUNG
CANCER
Pharmaceutical Company
sponsored –
- Non-Small
Cell Lung Cancer -
Use of Zometa
versus *placebo
in combination
with Taxotere and Carboplatin in patients prior to onset of bone metastasis.
*
A placebo (like a sugar pill)
is only used
in a
study when there is no accepted or known treatment available
for the disease
status.
To
learn more
about
these and
other studies,
go
to http://www.trialcheck.org/cancertrialshelp and
enter
your personal
information at each
of 9 prompts. After entering your information click
Show Clinical Trials and a list
of clinical trials with distance
from your
zip code appears. Click
on a trial for additional information
you want, i.e. where
available, what
they involve,
etc.
Our
Research Associate,
Karen
Burton, RN, BS,
CRNI,
OCN, CCRP, can
be
reached at 815/227-2633. |
