How do you find clinical trials that match your needs?
The good news is that nationwide attention to low adult awareness and participation in cancer clinical trials is contributing to increased production of patient-centered resources.
|
Step 1.
|
To find a clinical trial, start by asking your doctor. |
|---|---|
|
Step 2.
|
Use the following web-based trial-matching tools and information resources to build knowledge and make informed decisions about clinical trials. |
Web-Based Trial-Matching Tools
Note that the following resources reflect the most current, comprehensive nonprofit endeavors. As others emerge, they will be added.
To find clinical trials in Florida, see the Florida Cancer Clinical Trial Matching Service at the following link: http://floridacancertrials.com. The best way to use this service is to set up a free account, specify your diagnosis, and complete the brief on-screen questionnaire. You will see a list of local trials and have the option to see nationwide studies as well. They list a toll-free number as well as an email link to help you if you have questions.
The Coalition of Cancer Cooperative Groups has created TrialCheckâ!, which is used by the American Cancer Society. This resource contains more than 4,000 cancer clinical trials from Cooperative Groups, National Cancer Institute (NCI), academic centers, and pharmaceutical and biotech companies. TrialCheckâ! is updated daily: http://www.cancertrialshelp.org/trialcheck/default.aspx
The highly regarded National Cancer Institute (NCI) trial matching resource is available at the following link: http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has a site that includes clinical trials for all conditions, not just cancer: http://clinicaltrials.gov/
NCI-designated comprehensive cancer centers nationwide run clinical trials that may not yet have been picked up by other resources.
|
NCI-designated cancer centers are “characterized by scientific excellence and the capability to integrate a diversity of research approaches to focus on the problem of cancer. They play a vital role in advancing towards our goal of reducing morbidity and mortality from cancer.” |
|
|---|---|
|
|
The diverse approaches are part of the realm of translational research, which moves laboratory discoveries through the progressive research process that leads to the survivor.
|
|
|
Research at NCI-designated cancer centers is likely to include molecular biology, genotyping, microarray analysis, proteomics, bioinformatics, epidemiology, clinical studies, and behavioral research.
|
|
|
In the state of Florida, at this time, there is one NCI-designated cancer center: H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center. Many treatment centers throughout Florida are affiliated with Moffitt Cancer Center. To see the list of affiliates, select “Hospital and Practice Affiliates” at the following link: www.moffitt.org/affiliates.
|
It is important to understand that community hospitals do not need to be affiliated with an NCI designee to offer clinical trials. Searching each hospital’s website, however, can be time-consuming and may not yield results. Not all community hospitals offer clinical trials; those that offer clinical trials don’t always list them on their websites. For a list of Florida hospitals, see the following link: http://theagapecenter.com/Hospitals/Florida.htm
NCI-designated comprehensive cancer centers nationwide run clinical trials that may not yet have been picked up by other resources. To see a list by state, use this link: http://cancercenters.cancer.gov/cancer_centers/cancer-centers-list.html
NCI-designated cooperative groups have clinical trials for special populations; to see a list of cooperative groups, use this link: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/NCI/clinical-trials-cooperative-group
- Cooperative groups of particular interest to women with gynecologic cancers would be the following--and remember that in addition to treatment studies, there are clinical trials on prevention and management of symptoms.
- Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG): http://www.gog.org
- Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG): http://www.ecog.org
- Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG): http://www.rtog.org
LIVESTRONG, Lance Armstrong Foundation website, has a trial-matching service at the following link: http://www.livestrong.org/site/c.khLXK1PxHmF/b.2661787/k.65AA/Clinical_Trials_Match/apps/s/link.asp
Web-Based Information Resources
The NCI website is probably the richest resource for clinical trial information, some of which may be downloaded.
For a patient advocate’s perspective on when to seek clinical trials, see the following link: http://floridacancertrials.com/en/whentosearch.asp
For a video on clinical trials, produced by Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center in collaboration with its Patient and Family Advisory Council, see: http://floridacancertrials.com/en/enteringtrials.asp
For introductory information on clinical trials, see: http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/learning
For information on the development in progress for NCI’s New National System, see http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/conducting/new-national-system
For information on barriers to adult participation in cancer clinical trials, see http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/developments/doctors-barriers0401
