Doctor outlines how-to of clinical trials

Always searching for new, better and more effective ways of treating cancer, on Daruka Mahadevan, M.D., Ph.D., at the Arizona Cancer Center in Tucson explained to a Green Valley crowd how clinical trials work at the season’s third of seven cancer lectures.

Clinical trials, Mahadevan said, are research studies involving patients that look for better ways to treat a disease.

“Today’s standard treatments are based on results of earlier clinical trials... trials may test new drugs that are less toxic,” he said, explaining that therapeutic clinical trials test new drugs, surgical techniques, radiation therapy or other treatment methods in patients with specific types or stages of cancer.

Common criteria for entering a trial include having a certain type or stage of cancer, having received a certain kind of therapy in the past and being in a certain age group.

Criteria such as these help ensure that people in the trial are as alike as possible so that doctors can be sure the results are due to the treatment being studied and not other factors.

Mahadevan said clinical trials traditionally have four phases.

Phase I determines the safety, maximum dosage, biology and effectiveness. Phase II determines if the type of cancer responds to the new treatment at a given dose.

Phase III determines whether the new treatment is better than the standard treatment or if the new drug should be added to a standard treatment.

Phase IV finds more information about the new treatment to be appropriate for use in patients. The goal is to control the disease and ultimately find a cure.

He said the Arizona Cancer Center’s top priority is to protect patients through well-designed protocols.

Every patient learns what will be done and why, how many patients will take part, what tests will be given and how often, and disclosure of the treatment and monitoring plan.

Every patient entering a clinical trial must give their informed consent.

Current clinical trials taking place at ACC are focusing on new drugs and treatments for solid tumors, breast cancer and lymphoid malignancies.

To find clinical trial information at ACC, go to www.arizonacancercenter.org.

Use the drop-down menu under “Research.” The “Find a Clinical Trial” option is on the left near the bottom.

The ACC is one of 40 National Cancer Institute-designed comprehensive cancer centers in the nation and the only one serving Arizona.

Contact Green Valley freelance reporter Ellen Sussman at ellen2414@cox.net.

ACC Cancer lectures

Dec. 9: Colon cancer

Jan. 20: Diet and nutrition

Feb. 17: Breast cancer

Mar. 17: Skin cancer

Lectures are held at the West Social Center at 10 a.m. They are free and open to the public.