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Cancer Clinical Trials - the Best Hope to Beat Cancer

Friday, September 25, 2009 7:07:00 AM Posted by Cancer Centers

Cancer Clinical trials are the mechanism for improving survival and quality of life for individuals faced with a cancer diagnosis. Without trials, we would not know that mastectomy for breast cancer is equivalent to lumpectomy and axillary node dissection. We would not have the evidence that most patients with Hodgkin's disease, aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and advanced testicular cancer can be cured with chemotherapy. In order to achieve these milestones in cancer treatment success, cancer clinical trials are designed in phases. I have listed some valuable information for you to read in one easy-to-read webpage.

This is a free service for our valued readers which can be located on this link: Cancer Clinical Trials
Phase I Trials: The first step in testing a new approach in humans. Data from previous animal and laboratory studies are used to evaluate drug dose, drug metabolism, administration schedule and side effects. Patients are divided into small groups called "cohorts." Each cohort is treated with increasing doses of the agent or combination until the maximal tolerated dose is reached. The highest dose associated with acceptable side effects is chosen for future studies. Generally, phase I trials are conducted on patients who have advanced disease and a variety of malignancies.

Phase II Trials: Determining the safety and effectiveness of a new treatment are the primary endpoints of phase II trials. A new drug, combination, or technique is studied on a small and relatively homogeneous group of patients. The type of cancer chosen for a phase II treatment is based on results of Phase I trials and laboratory studies. The primary purpose of most phase II cancer trials is to determine the percentage of patients that show a measurable response to treatment. Additional information on side effects and safety are also collected.

Phase III Trials: These large-scale trials compare a new treatment or combination that has shown promise in Phase II trials to the current standard therapy. Patients are randomly assigned to the standard approach. Phase III trials are critical for advancing the quality of cancer treatment and may establish a new standard of care.

An investigational study or clinical trial refers to a drug or procedure that has undergone basic laboratory testing and received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be tested in human subjects.

Clinical trials help to identify better and safer anti-cancer drugs. Advances in treatment occur as a direct result of clinical trials. These advances lead to new standards of care and improved quality of life for those battling cancer. For more information on cancer clinical trials feel free to visit our website.

Revolutionizing Light Emitting Diodes : Bringing Relief In Cancer Clinical Trials
Light emitting diodes that were earlier associated as only an electronic light source, today has become a part of a noble cause – to help cure a person of cancer. This might sound a little abhorrent, but the truth is that the professors of neurology, pediatrics and hyper baric medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin are convinced, that using LEDs can improve a bone-marrow transplant patient's quality of life, after conducting several successful human trials.

This light emitting diode, an indispensable part of the optics and optical components, ensures a painless and secure process wherein an array of light helps ease or prevent some of the pain and discomfort associated with cancer treatment. This clinical trial is presently in its second part. As the first part was very encouraging, the doctors could not resist themselves from indulging in the expansion of these trials to several U.S. and foreign hospitals.

The scientists as well as the researchers are of the opine that the cells exposed to near infrared light from LEDs, grow 150 to 200 percent faster than cells not stimulated by such light. Thus, the healing process speeds up as the light arrays increase energy inside these cells. It came to notice that in the first trial, the use of LEDs showed a significant relief to pediatric bone-marrow transplant patients suffering the ravages of oral mucositis. Thus, LEDs were found to be effective in overcoming the common side effects of chemotherapy and radiation treatments.

The treatment device that is creating this magic is the 3-by-5-inch portable, flat array of light-emitting diodes that is held on the outside of the patients cheek. However, a foil is placed between the flesh and the LED array to avoid any kind of sham treatment.

After comparing the result of the first trial it was found that the percentage of patients with ulcerative oral mucositis to historical epidemiological controls were just 53 percent of the treated patients in the bone- marrow transplant group developed mucositis, considerably less than the usual rate of 70-90 percent. The researchers are still awaiting the the approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, before the device can be made available for widespread use.

Among the optics and optical market, these light emitting diodes are also known to be beneficial in providing lights for plants that are grown on the Space Station as part of commercial experiments sponsored by NASA industry.


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