Letter from Dr. Van Amburg
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At the heart of any cure lies research. Our cancer clinical research team strives to understand the complexities of various forms of cancer in the effort to help develop new, viable treatment options. Promising new therapies or diagnostic approaches must be validated in real world conditions before they can be approved for general use.
Many patients who participate in clinical trials are among the first to receive novel treatments before they become commonly available. As part of the process, patients are carefully screened for eligibility, including type of disease and its stage, as well as the participant's age and general health. Accepted eligibility criteria help assure trial results accurately answer the research question and identify individuals who will benefit from the approach studied. In addition, the clinical research team follows enrolled patients for up to 20 years after their treatment is complete. This allows researchers to assess both the short and long-term risks and benefits of the new therapy.
St. Luke's is proud to partner with well-respected local and national clinical trial groups including the National Cancer Institute. St. Luke's broad-based program of clinical research includes about 20 trials at any given time. We are an active participant in the Cancer and Leukemia Group B through our affiliation with Washington University School of Medicine. We are able to access trials from the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group, the Southwest Oncology Group and the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project through our participation in the NCI Clinical Trial Support Unit. Currently, our medical oncologists, breast surgeons and radiation oncologists are active participants in this effort.
In addition to overseeing patients on protocol, we are responsible for complying with federal guidelines regarding patient safety, efficacy and privacy. This regulatory function involves the oversight of the St. Luke's Institutional Review Board during the initial protocol review, annual review and amendment process.
"It is our hope that this team-based approach will accelerate the pace of medical progress against cancer," says Donald Busiek, MD, who serves as St. Luke's Oncology Principal Investigator responsible for overseeing the oncology research program. "Each patient's contribution will lead to better outcomes in the future."
Information regarding available clinical trials (including eligibility and treatment) can be found at www.stlukes-stl.com/clinical_trials/research.html or by calling the Oncology Research Office at 314-205-6936.
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