Clinical Trials

Clinical trials are critical for evaluating novel therapies and determining the best treatment strategies to enhance outcomes for patients with cancer. However, most clinical trials do not meet their enrollment targets due to both structural and clinical barriers. Studies have shown that 85% of patients receive their treatment in a community setting, resulting in up to 55.6% not participating in clinical trials because there are none available, while an additional 21.5% are eliminated due to eligibility criteria. To further compound the situation, clinical trial activities have been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Read More ›

The process of clinical trials underwent a dramatic transformation amid the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Heidi D. Finnes, PharmD, BCOP, FHOPA, RPh, Senior Manager, Pharmacy Cancer Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN. Pharmacists must see this as an opportunity to evolve patient care in clinical trials long after the pandemic is over, Dr Finnes suggested at the 2021 Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association conference. Dr Finnes outlined efficiencies in pharmacy practice that should be enacted to accommodate changes in the way clinical trials are being conducted—such as remote patients and adverse events monitoring, mailing of the investigational drugs, and telehealth visits with study participants. Read More ›

The following clinical trials represent a selection of key studies currently recruiting patients with colorectal cancer for inclusion in investigations of new therapies and new regimens of existing treatments for the disease. Each clinical trial description includes the NLM Identifier to be used as a reference with ClinicalTrials.gov. This information can help oncology practice managers and providers direct eligible patients to one of these clinical trials. Read More ›

New research sponsored by the National Cancer Institute highlights the uphill battle faced by patients with limited financial resources even in clinical trials. According to data presented at the 2019 ASCO Quality Care Symposium, patients with Medicaid or with no insurance had significantly worse overall survival in positive clinical trials compared with privately insured patients. Read More ›

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