You’re probably familiar with the term “clinical trial.” And if you or someone you care about is a patient at Memorial Sloan Kettering, it’s even more likely you’ve heard the phrase before, since these studies have played an integral role in the fight against cancer.
By definition, a clinical trial is a research study that tests a new medical approach in a group of people to make sure it is safe and effective. All of the drugs used to treat people with cancer today were developed through a series of carefully constructed clinical trials.
We conduct one of the largest clinical research programs in the world. In 2013, our physicians led more than 1,200 clinical research studies for adult and pediatric cancers.
“We learn from all of these studies, which build upon each other and ultimately lead to new discoveries and improved treatments for patients,” says medical oncologist Paul Sabbatini, Deputy Physician-in-Chief for Clinical Research at MSK.
The first step in testing a new drug in humans is called a phase I trial. These studies offer eligible patients the chance to try an innovative treatment that in most cases has some preclinical data suggesting it might have activity against a particular type of cancer.
In this Q&A, Dr. Sabbatini sheds light on how phase I clinical trials are conducted at MSK and how to determine whether patients may be eligible for one. Stay tuned to our blog next month for a second post, in which he will demystify common misconceptions surrounding clinical trials.
