Instead of just focusing on safety, this phase examines how well the proposed treatment works. The second phase also uses a small group of people. This phase happens after a lot of research has already been conducted in the lab, so there is less chance of a foreseeable adverse reaction.
Clinical trials do not aim to hurt people, so at first, the first phase stays small so researchers can closely monitor what happens. The first phase involves a small number of patients, and the primary concern is the safety or side effects of the treatment. Depending on the actual trial, there might be more phases. Human clinical trials are conducted in three different phases.
If the clinical trial fails, future patients will not be exposed, and researchers can identify drugs that could provide better outcomes in the future. If a new medication or treatment proves to be successful, future patients will be able to use it as a regular part of their treatment. Third, no matter what the outcome of the trial, future cancer patients strongly benefit from clinical trials. Second, researchers, doctors, and pharmaceutical manufacturers benefit by having humans to test their experimental cancer treatments on. For patients who cannot afford treatment, involvement in a clinical trial is sometimes at no cost to the patient. This is ideal for cancer patients who haven’t responded to approved therapies. First, patients involved in clinical trials receive life-saving treatment earlier than it would normally be available. Many people benefit from clinical trials.
In addition to measuring safety, clinical trials can determine if a new therapy works, makes no difference or further impairs patients. For instance, a clinical trial about investigational breast cancer treatments may lead to more successful outcomes for breast cancer surgeons and their patients. Why Clinical Trials ExistĬlinical trials exist to get new treatment options to patients. Clinical trials are conducted at many research institutions, hospitals, and community based clinics (or practices) around the world. After months or years of research and testing in the lab and, in many cases, on animals, human testing is needed to ensure safety and effectiveness. What Are Cancer Clinical Trials?Ĭlinical trials are the last phase in getting regulatory approval for new pharmaceutical medications, devices or protocols. Fortunately, clinical trials can provide hope and alternative treatment options for cancer patients who need them. When you’ve exhausted the available cancer treatment options, whether through radiation oncology, hematology-oncology or some other specialty, it can be scary to think that’s there isn’t a treatment option left. This certificate program focuses primarily on the design and analysis of randomized clinical trials for evaluation of licensed and non-licensed medical products and other health interventions, the regulatory framework for the conduct and evaluation of data from clinical trials, and ethical principles for the conduct of clinical trials.When you or a loved one is diagnosed with cancer, learning about what a clinical trial is and deciding what treatment to pursue can be daunting. Clinical Trials are a key tool in the evaluation of new strategies for prevention and treatment of disease.