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Cancer Clinical Trials
Clinical trials are used to evaluate tests or treatments that have not yet been proven to be effective. Clinical trials rely on volunteers to take part in them. The June 9, 2004, issue of JAMA includes an article about patients who participate in cancer clinical trials.
PHASES OF TREATMENT TRIALS
- Phase 1 trials are conducted to determine if a new treatment is safe and what doses can be given and to discover the main adverse effects of the new treatment. At this first phase, a small number of patients are enrolled.
- Phase 2 trials further evaluate the safety and potential effectiveness of a therapy and evaluate how it affects the body.
- Phase 3 trials provide scientific testing of the value of a new treatment. Participants are randomly (by chance, like flipping a coin) assigned to receive the new therapy, the current standard therapy, or a placebo (an inactive pill or procedure). Most new therapies move on to phase 3 trials only if they have shown promise during phase 1 and phase 2 trials.
- Phase 4 trials evaluate the long-term safety of the new treatment and take place after the new treatment has been approved for use.
ELIGIBILITY TO PARTICIPATE IN A CLINICAL TRIAL
Every clinical trial has guidelines that outline who can and cannot participate in the study. These guidelines are called eligibility criteria. Cancer clinical trials usually require that patients have a particular type or stage of cancer to participate.
INFORMED CONSENT
Patients who wish to enroll in a clinical trial must give informed consent before participating. Informed consent ensures that patients understand the potential risks and benefits of joining a clinical trial prior to participating. During the informed consent process, participants are told about what the trial involves and the purpose of the study. Participants sign an informed consent form to acknowledge that they understand the risks and benefits of the study, but the form is not binding, and participants can leave the study at any time for any reason.
BENEFITS OF PARTICIPATING IN A CLINICAL TRIAL
- Participants may receive promising new therapies that are not available to the public.
- Participants are closely monitored by researchers, doctors, and other health care professionals during the clinical trial.
- Results from the clinical trial may help other patients in the future.
RISKS OF PARTICIPATING IN A CLINICAL TRIAL
- New therapies are not always better than standard treatments with which they are compared.
- New treatments may have unexpected adverse effects or risks.
- Participants in randomized trials may not receive the therapy they want.
- Health insurance may not cover all of the costs associated with participating in a clinical trial. Disclosure about any costs should be part of the informed consent.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
INFORM YOURSELF
To find this and other JAMA Patient Pages, go to the Patient Page link on JAMA's Web site at http://www.jama.com. A Patient Page on participating in medical research was published in the February 7, 2001, issue.
Sources: National Cancer Institute's Cancer Information Service
The JAMA Patient Page is a public service of JAMA. The information and recommendations appearing on this page are appropriate in most instances, but they are not a substitute for medical diagnosis. For specific information concerning your personal medical condition, JAMA suggests that you consult your physician. This page may be photocopied noncommercially by physicians and other health care professionals to share with patients. Any other print or online reproduction is subject to AMA approval. To purchase bulk reprints, call 718/946-7424.
TOPIC: CANCER
Sharon Parmet, MS, Writer;
Cassio Lynm, MA, Illustrator;
Richard M. Glass, MD, Editor
JAMA. 2004;291:2778.
RELATED ARTICLE
Participation in Cancer Clinical Trials: Race-, Sex-, and Age-Based Disparities
Vivek H. Murthy, Harlan M. Krumholz, and Cary P. Gross
JAMA. 2004;291(22):2720-2726.
ABSTRACT
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