Partnership Makes it Easier for Patients to Participate in Research Studies
2/2/2010
Cleveland Clinic’s Taussig Cancer Institute has opened its first regional Phase I/Phase II clinical trial at Fairview Hospital and Hillcrest Hospital as part of an initiative to increase participation in research studies and give patients easier access to the newest treatments.
This trial is the result of an innovative collaboration between Cleveland Clinic and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society to further the advancement of new treatments for blood cancer patients and to make clinical trials available to patients in their own communities.
“This is a win-win for patients and researchers in the blood cancer community,” said John Sweetenham, M.D., director of clinical research in the Taussig Cancer Institute. “Patients have access to the latest treatments without having to travel far from home or transfer their care to a different physician just to participate. These changes will make it easier for researchers to recruit patients, thus speeding up the research and approval process for important new drugs.”
The first trial, entitled “A Phase 1-2, Multicenter, Open-Label Study of AEG35156 in Patients With Relapsed or Refractory Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia and Indolent B-Cell Lymphomas,” will study the dosage thresholds for a new drug. This trial, along with all future regional trials, will also be open on Cleveland Clinic’s main campus to maximize participation and access. Previously, such trials would only have been available to patients seen on main campus.
Offering clinical trials at community hospitals allows patients who see an oncologist at that location to remain with their own doctor. Patients are often reluctant to participate in clinical trials if it requires them to leave their doctor or travel outside their community.
This regional trial is the first of two opening this month, and Cleveland Clinic and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society plan to offer more trials in the future.
Patients, caregivers and physicians interested in learning more information on clinical trials at Cleveland Clinic can call the Cancer Answer Line at (866) 223-8100.
About Taussig Cancer Institute
The Taussig Cancer Institute is one of 26 institutes at Cleveland Clinic that group multiple specialties together to provide collaborative, patient-centered care. More than 250 cancer specialists annually serve 26,000 cancer patients, applying the most effective techniques to achieve long-term survival and improved quality of life. Cleveland Clinic is a nonprofit, multispecialty academic medical center. Founded in 1921, it is dedicated to providing quality specialized care and includes an outpatient clinic, a hospital with more than 1,000 staffed beds, an education institute and a research institute. Taussig’s Web site address is my.clevelandclinic.org/cancer.
About Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland Clinic, located in Cleveland, Ohio, is a not-for-profit multispecialty academic medical center that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. Cleveland Clinic was founded in 1921 by four renowned physicians with a vision of providing outstanding patient care based upon the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation. U.S. News & World Report consistently names Cleveland Clinic as one of the nation’s best hospitals in its annual “America’s Best Hospitals” survey. About 2,000 full-time salaried physicians and researchers and 7,600 nurses at Cleveland Clinic represent more than 100 medical specialties and subspecialties. In addition to its main campus, Cleveland Clinic operates nine community hospitals in Northeast Ohio, Cleveland Clinic Florida, the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Las Vegas and Cleveland Clinic Canada. In 2008, there were more than 4.2 million visits throughout the Cleveland Clinic health system and 165,000 hospital admissions. Patients came for treatment from every state and from more than 80 countries. Visit Cleveland Clinic at clevelandclinic.org.
About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society ® (LLS) is the world’s largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer. The LLS mission: cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world and provides free information and support services. Founded in 1949 and headquartered in White Plains, NY, LLS has chapters throughout the United States and Canada. To learn more, visit www.lls.org or contact the Information Resource Center at (800) 955-4572, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET.
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