Dr. Dedhar has been studying ILK and its connection to the tumour supressor gene PTEN since he and his colleague, Dr. Greg Hannigan of Sunnybrook Health Sciences in Toronto, first discovered ILK in 1996. Dr. Dedhar is part of the BC Cancer Agency's prostate program which together with Vancouver Hospital and Health Sciences Centre for the Centre of Excellence for Prostate Cancer Research. Phase One clinical trials on ILK inhibitors are expected to begin within 24 months. The research discussed in this news release is still very much in the early stages. It will be two years before the first of a series of trials in humans begins.
Clinical trials take place in several phases, usually three.
Phase I trials - first step in testing new treatments in humans. At this stage, researchers look for the best way to give the treatment, and determine its safety and side-effects. These studies usually include a small number of patients who can not be helped through other means. These trials, too, are only open to a small number of people because of the risks and unknowns. Phase III trials - compares the results of patients taking the new treatment with those of people taking standard treatments.