Cancer Clinical Research
Saint Alphonsus Cancer Institute is a leader in clinic trial research.
- Phase II-III clinical trials
- Access to all National Cancer Institute trials through NCORP
- Multi-site national and international Pharma trials-Phase II-IV
- Rapid Start/Just-In-Time clinical trials to patients with rare disease
- Rare genetic profiles
- Clinical research opportunities at all clinic locations
- Access to clinical trials, including Phase 1 trials and the SMMART trial protocol
The Saint Alphonsus Cancer Institute partakes in clinical trials to learn better ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat cancer. Taking part in a clinical trial has many possible benefits, including access to newer treatments and drugs that may not be generally available.
You also contribute to furthering knowledge about cancer treatment.
You are also taking an active role in your healthcare, and your treatment begins only after you have a complete understanding of the possible risks and benefits.
When participating in a clinical study, you are working with a specialized team of doctors, nurses, social workers, dieticians, and other healthcare professionals to monitor your care and progress.
Montana Cancer Consortium Clinical Trials
The Saint Alphonsus Cancer Institute has been approved for membership in the Montana Cancer Consortium (MCC), a research cooperative group funded through the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) grant mechanism.
MCC has over 100 ongoing clinical trials where MCC physicians have entered more than 400 patients. Members of MCC include every medical oncologist and board-certified radiation oncologist in Montana, northern Wyoming, and northern Idaho.
Saint Alphonsus is able to offer our patients a wide variety of cancer treatment, cancer prevention, and cancer control trials that we would not otherwise have access to.
View information about the various clinical trials here.
Understanding Oncology Clinical Trials
What is a Clinical Trial?
Clinical trials are medical research studies that rely on human volunteers. These studies determine if a new treatment such as an experimental drug to control high blood pressure is safe and effective. They may also be used to test new uses for existing treatments.
Clinical trials have led some of medicine's most important breakthroughs. These include the protease inhibitors that extend the lives of people with AIDS to the latest cancer treatments.
Still, it is crucial to remember that these trials are, first and foremost, medical research studies, cautions the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. No one, including the doctors who oversee clinical trials and the volunteers who participate, knows whether the treatments being tested will work.
Why Should I Consider Volunteering for an Oncology Clinical Trial?
You may gain access to a promising new treatment that is not yet widely available. This may be beneficial if you are ill, and no conventional treatment can control the disease. Also, you can help others by contributing to medical research.
What Are the Risks?
There are no guarantees that the treatment will work. Also, in some trials neither you nor your doctor will know if you are receiving the experimental treatment, the standard treatment, or a placebo ("dummy pill" with no active ingredients). You can't assume that by participating in a trial you will obtain the newest treatment.
Because the treatments being tested are often new, doctors may not know if the possible side effects are either temporary or permanent.
How Can I Protect Myself?
Before signing up, make sure you know the answers to key questions such as:
- What is the purpose of the study?
- What are the qualifications of the researchers?
- How might I expect to benefit from this study, and what are the expected risks?
- If I am injured, who will take care of me or pay for my treatment?
- how will my privacy be protected?
The study's details will be explained in an informed consent form. This form is not a contract. Volunteers can leave a clinical trial at any time, for any reason.
What Other Safeguards Exist to Protect Participants?
Under federal guidelines, every trial in the United States must be approved and monitored by an institutional review board (IRB). This board is made up of an independent committee of doctors, statisticians, and community advocates. They approve and then review all research to make sure any risks to volunteers are as low as possible and worth the potential benefits.
How Are Volunteers Chosen?
All trials have participation guidelines based on factors such as age, medical history, and health status. Some trials seek volunteers with illnesses or conditions to be studied in the trial, while others seek healthy people.
Where Can I Find Out About Ongoing Clinical Trials?
Information about clinical trials is now available at www.clinicaltrials.gov. Managed by the National Institutes of Health, this website gives the location, purpose, and participation criteria for thousands of clinical trials worldwide. For information on cancer-related trials, visit the National Cancer Institute website.
f you have questions about whether joining a clinical trial is the right choice, talk to an oncologist near you.