Advancing Cancer Care Together
Today’s clinical trials are the heart of tomorrow’s cancer treatment breakthroughs. These important research studies look for new ways to prevent, screen, diagnose and treat various diseases, including cancer. For many patients, clinical trials offer a chance to find better treatments, medications or procedures that might help manage their condition more effectively years ahead of when these novel therapies would be commercially available.
Clinical trials depend heavily on the generosity of volunteers, known as study participants. Your involvement is crucial in helping the medical community learn more about cancer, improve patient care and ultimately save lives.
If you or a loved one is facing the challenges of cancer, clinical trials can offer the newest alternative treatment options, especially when current treatments aren’t delivering the desired results. By participating in a clinical trial, you gain access to the latest therapies and interventions. It is a common misconception that clinical trials are only for late-stages of cancer, but in fact many trials are available for people with curable, early-stage cancers and often focus on newer therapies that have fewer side effects than our older, established therapies.
The combination of leading-edge care and the dedicated attention from the clinical trial staff can provide not only physical but also emotional support and encouragement.
At SCRI Oncology Partners, we offer direct access to clinical trials. Our team of experts lead the way in the creation and administration of clinical trials through our collaboration with Sarah Cannon Research Institute, a global leader in oncology research.
Clinical Trial Types
Cancer clinical trials are divided into four different categories
Clinical Trials
Through our collaboration with Sarah Cannon Research Institute we offer the latest clinical trials
During a Trial
Find out more about what happens during a clinical trial
What is a clinical trial?
Clinical trials are voluntary research studies that help test the safety and effectiveness of new treatments. They are crucial for understanding how patients respond to medications and other care options.
Each study tries to answer specific scientific questions related to things like procedures, drugs, prevention tactics, screening options and ways to improve the quality of life for those undergoing care.
Clinical trials use protocols, or guidelines, that specify the details of the trial. This includes:
- Trial purpose
- Participant eligibility
- How data will be collected
- How patients’ health will be protected
Protocols are carefully reviewed and used by each physician in the study to ensure consistency.
What are the types of cancer clinical trials?
Cancer clinical trials are divided into four different categories:
Treatment trials test the latest cancer treatments to determine which are the safest and most effective.
Prevention trials focus on finding better ways to prevent diseases, either by doing something, like making a lifestyle change (action study) or taking something, like a new medicine (agent study).
Screening trials study new ways to test for a condition early on so that it can be treated more quickly and efficiently.
Quality-of-life trials look for ways to improve the day-to-day lives of cancer patients.
What are the benefits of participating in a clinical trial?
A significant benefit of clinical trials is that they help us determine better ways to prevent, diagnose or treat cancers. These trials are the only way the latest cancer treatments can be tested before they become available to the public. Every standard of care treatment today started as a clinical trial.
Clinical trials also offer the latest treatment options, allowing participants to potentially benefit from the latest science has to offer.
Joining a clinical trial can bring direct benefits to you as a participant. You can help future generations and have access to the latest therapies. Oftentimes free or low-cost treatment during the study is available. The physicians at SCRI Oncology Partners are some of the top oncologists in the field with a passion for research.
What are some risks of participating in a clinical trial?
Although clinical trials can come with risks, good communication with your oncologist and the physicians running the trials will help you understand what to look out for and who to contact if you need more information.
Some risks to consider:
- Randomized studies may not allow you to choose the treatment you receive.
- Health insurance and managed care providers may not cover all the costs.
- You won’t know ahead of time if the trial treatment is more effective than the one you are currently receiving, although it would never be less effective.
What is a trial phase?
Clinical trials usually go through several phases of study, each with its own focus. SCRI Oncology Partners offers all phases of clinical trials.
Phase I: Researchers test a drug to evaluate its safety. This usually involves closely monitoring a small group of participants (typically somewhere between 15-30). Researchers will determine things like how best to administer the therapy, how much to prescribe and what side effects there are, if any.
Phase II: Researchers focus on determining whether the treatment works for a specific type of cancer. Participants might be divided into groups, with each group being given a slightly different dosage to see which is most effective. Phase II trials usually involve more participants than Phase I trials but will still add up to a fairly small test group of less than 100 people.
Phase III: In this phase, researchers compare the new treatment to current treatments to see which is more effective. Participants may be arranged into smaller, randomized groups, with some receiving the standard treatment and others receiving the newer one. It’s possible that both the researchers and the patients won’t know which treatment each participant is receiving, which can help prevent bias.
Phase IV: This phase takes place after the cancer therapy has been approved for a specific use. At this point, the goal is to collect information about the long-term effects of the drug, including side effects and how it impacts quality of life.
What is a placebo, and will I receive one?
Placebos, or inactive ingredients, are sometimes used in clinical trials to help researchers understand the effectiveness of a new treatment. They are, however, less common in cancer clinical trials. In almost all trials, participants receive either the new treatment or the current one so that researchers can compare the two. If a placebo is used, it is in addition to standard therapy.
How are my rights protected during a clinical trial?
Clinical trials follow strict scientific and ethical principles. They also undergo several levels of approval before starting.
For example, the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of the research organization running the trial will review all aspects of the research study before it begins. An IRB is made up of doctors, researchers and community leaders whose job is to protect participants by making sure the trial protocols are fair. You should feel well-informed about the parameters of the study and what your rights are throughout the process.
How do you prepare for a clinical trial?
Clinical trials usually come with a lot of information, and it’s natural to have many questions. If you can, bring these questions to your doctor before the trial begins, and make sure you get answers that make you feel comfortable and informed. It’s important to understand things like the purpose of the study, the procedures involved and any costs you might need to cover. This way, you’ll feel more confident and prepared as you embark on this journey.
Can you leave a clinical trial after it starts?
What happens during a clinical trial?
Clinical trials are research studies in which individuals may volunteer to take part. At SCRI Oncology Partners, our team provides research options to advance cancer treatment and learn more about how to fight cancer. All cancer therapies must first make their way through the clinical trial process, which sometimes can take many years. First, doctors study a new treatment in the lab. Then, they might study the treatment in animals. Only those drugs that show the most activity and promise make it to treatment in people through clinical trials. Clinical trials offer patients the very latest cancer therapy options, making it particularly attractive for those in late-stage cancer or who have failed prior cancer therapies, often years before they are commercially available to everyone. SCRI Oncology Partners offers phase I-IV clinical trials, the only organization of its kind in Nashville to do so.
Most clinical trials are specific to a kind of cancer so if, for example, you have a melanoma diagnosis, you would want to look for melanoma clinical trials that match your specific cancer stage. Your healthcare team can help you through the process, or you can explore open clinical trial services here.
If you qualify for a trial, your healthcare team will provide you with all applicable information. They will tell you, in a process called informed consent, how the trial will be conducted and the possible risks and benefits of the trial. It is always your decision whether to take part in a clinical trial or not, and you should ask as many questions as necessary until you feel satisfied.
You will then sign a document stating that you understand the details of the trial and that you are willing to participate. Even after signing the document of informed consent, you may withdraw from the trial at any time for any reason.
The way you receive treatment depends on the specific clinical trial. Clinical trial treatments can come in many forms. These include but are not limited to the following:
- Intravenous (IV) medications
- Shots
- Oral medications
- Surgery
- Radiation
It is important that you follow the therapy protocol as directed and keep all scheduled visits. As with any cancer therapy, clinical trial treatments may come with side effects, which your healthcare team will help you manage. It is very important to report to your healthcare team any side effects that you experience because that is part of what is being studied (how the therapy affects the whole body, not just the cancer cells).
Your healthcare team at SCRI Oncology Partners will be alongside you in the clinical trial, although you may also have new members of your team, including a principal investigator for the trial and a research nurse.
After the study treatment is complete, participants will continue to be followed for months or even years for health updates. If you change to another healthcare provider, then the research staff may contact the participant via phone. All information collected is analyzed to help determine the study drug’s safety, effectiveness and side effects. FDA medical advisors and specialists closely review this data before considering any new therapy for approval. Once approved, studies continue to compare the new option with other therapies already on the market. Other studies may research whether it can be administered to a new patient population, its long-term effectiveness and its impact on quality of life.
Learn more about clinical trials at Sarah Cannon Research Institute (SCRI)
Contact Us
Whether you are newly diagnosed, previously treated or seeking additional care or research options, we are here to support you every step of the way.
Contact Us
Whether you are newly diagnosed, previously treated or seeking additional care or research options, we are here to support you every step of the way.
Contact Us
Whether you are newly diagnosed, previously treated or seeking additional care or research options, we are here to support you every step of the way.