Pharmacokinetic Studies Participation Survey
Condition: Relapsed Solid Tumors; Relapsed Leukemia; Relapsed Brain Tumors
MeSH terms: Neoplasms; Brain Neoplasms
Study type: Observational

Summary: 
      Background:

        -  A pharmacokinetic (PK) study of a new drug involves taking several blood samples over a
           period of time from study participants to determine how the body handles the substance.
           These studies provide critical information about new drugs.

        -  Often, patients or parents of children in drug studies choose not to participate in
           optional PK studies that are part of the study protocol.

        -  A better understanding of why patients or families do or do not agree to participate in
           PK studies may help researchers make it easier for people to participate in them.

      Objectives:

        -  To learn why some people do or do not agree to participate in PK blood sampling studies.

      Eligibility:

        -  Patients 18 years of age and older and parents or guardians of children who are
           participating in a study of a drug that includes the option of participating in PK
           sampling.

      Design:

        -  Participants fill out a 2-page survey asking about why they did or did not participate
           in the study's PK sampling.
    

Detailed description: 
      Background:

      Pharmacokinetic studies provide critical information about the disposition of anticancer
      drugs in children. However, participation of children in the pharmacokinetic portion of phase
      I studies is optional when there is not prospect of direct benefit to the child.

      The rate of participation in optional PK studies on COG Phase I Consortium Studies has been
      60-70%.

      There are no recent data on why families do or do not agree to participate in optional PK
      studies. Understanding families' reasons may reveal barriers to participation that could be
      overcome, leading to increased participation rates in optional PK sampling.

      Objectives:

      To use a simple 2 page survey to gather preliminary information on why parents/children agree
      to participate in Phase I Studies do or do not agree to participate in the voluntary
      pharmacokinetic (PK) portion of those studies.

      Eligibility:

      Subjects (greater than or equal to 18 years old) or parents/guardians of subjects who are
      minors who consented to Phase I studies with optional PK sampling with the previous 4 weeks.

      Consent for the primary Phase I treatment protocol must be active (not withdrawn).

      No limit on the number of prior Phase I studies in which the subject or subject's child
      participated.

      Subjects may only participate in this study once.

      Design:

      The individual who provided consent to the treatment study that included optional PK sampling
      will complete a short questionnaire.

      Subjects (n=50) from a convenience sample will complete and return the questionnaire.

      Reasons for participating or agreeing to participate will be tabulated. Correlations between
      answers and subject demographics, time required by PK, need for additional IV will be sought.

      Subjects will meet off study criteria when the questionnaire is returned, lost to follow up,
      or consent for data submission to this or the primary treatment protocol is withdrawn.

      The total accrual is 50 subjects. Accrual ceiling at the POB, NCI is 25 subjects.
    

Time perspective: Prospective
Keywords: Pharmacokinetics; Phase I Trials; Children; Relaspsed Solid Tumors; Relapsed Leukemia; Relapsed Brain Tumors