Then the patient and his or her physician decide together whether participation in a clinical trial is appropriate. Researchers at Ellis Fischel Cancer Center participate in many clinical trials investigating treatments for a wide range of diseases, such as leukemia, lymphoma, gastrointestinal and gynecologic malignancies as well as cancers of the lung, breast and prostate. Some of these trials are sponsored by the National Cancer Institute through cooperative groups involving many hospitals across the nation. These trials include the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project, Cancer and Leukemia Group B, Radiation Therapy Oncology Group and Gynecologic Oncology Group. Ellis Fischel investigators also conduct drug studies for pharmaceutical companies and their own, in-house studies.
Some clinical trials examine the effectiveness of one particular treatment in one group of patients.
Other trials compare two or more treatments in separate groups of patients, who are alike in certain ways, such as the extent of their disease. This enables researchers to compare treatment results. Doctors who conduct clinical trials follow a treatment plan, or protocol, that explains what will be done and why.