Tag Archive for: U.S Food & Drug Administration

What Do MPN Patients Need to Know About Clinical Trials?

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What Do MPN Patients Need to Know About Clinical Trials? from Patient Empowerment Network on Vimeo.

What is a clinical trial and how does patient participation work? This animated video provides an overview of clinical trials, the process, and details key steps for engaging in your care.

See More From MPN Clinical Trials 201

Related Programs:

Understanding Common MPN Clinical Trial Terms

Understanding Common MPN Clinical Trial Terms

 Understanding Clinical Trial Phases

Understanding Clinical Trial Phases

 MPN Clinical Trials: Updates on MPN Treatment and Research

Clinical Trials As an MPN Treatment Option: What You Should Know

Transcript:

Brian: 

Hi, I’m Brian and this is my doctor, Dr. Liu. 

I have myelofibrosis, which is a type of myeloproliferative neoplasm, or MPN as it’s commonly referred to. 

And when discussing therapy with my doctor. She suggested a clinical trial might be my best treatment option. Dr. Liu, can you please explain what a clinical trial is? 

Dr. Liu: 

Absolutely. In basic terms, a clinical trial is a research study that involves human volunteers. The goal of cancer clinical trials is to discover new and improved approaches to prevent or treat the disease.  

There are typically four phases of a trial. Each phase gathers valuable information about the treatment and helps measure its effectiveness1.  

But, Brian you had some hesitations at first, right? 

Brian:  

That’s right.  Although I trusted your advice, I definitely had questions about the process.  

One thing I worried about was safety. I asked Dr. Liu how I would be kept safe if I participated in a clinical trial. 

Dr. Liu: 

I hear this concern a lot from patients. But every trial has a strict safety protocol, with set guidelines in place to protect patients.  

Additionally, researchers must follow patient safety rules, which are regulated by the U.S Food & Drug Administration (the FDA). And an institutional review board (or IRB) regularly reviews a study at each study location. Plus, many trials are overseen by a group called a data and safety monitoring committee2. 

Finally, there is also a clinical trial team that can include healthcare team members like cancer researchers and oncology nurses. This team regularly observes the health of each participant, through each stage of the process. Because of this, trials often involve more testing and visits, which can be a bigger commitment for a patient. 

Brian: 

When Dr. Liu explained the safety measures, it helped me feel more confident in the process and comfortable about participating. So, then I asked which trial she would recommend for my individual disease.  

Dr. Liu: 

It’s important to note that every trial has “eligibility requirements” that include things like a patient’s age, health, and prior treatments they have received. These requirements determine whether a patient qualifies for a trial. 

We talked about which trials may be a good fit for Brian and discussed the pros and cons of each one. We also reviewed the logistical and financial impact the trials could have on his life.

Brian: 

That’s right. Dr. Liu also pointed out that patients can leave a trial at any time–for any reason– once they have enrolled.

Dr. Liu: 

That’s right—participation is completely voluntary. 

Brian: 

One of the main reasons that I joined a trial was because I wanted to find out if a treatment in development would be more effective in treating my cancer. AND I wanted to help advance research forward, so I could help the MPN community.  

Dr. Liu: 

Right, Brian. Patients may have different reasons for participating, but trials are the only way to develop and study new and improved treatments for MPNs. 

Now that you understand more about trials, how can you find out more? 

  • Start by asking your doctor if there are any trials that you are eligible for.  
  • If there is a trial that your team recommends, ask to discuss: 
  • The treatment approach used in the study and the purpose of the trial. 
  • The risks and benefits of participation. 
  • The financial costs, if any, and if there are assistance programs to help if you need it. 
  • The location of the trial and whether it can be coordinated with your local institution if it isn’t conveniently located—or if transportation is available. 
  • And, how often you will need to visit the trial site and how long the trial will last. 
  • Finally, continue to educate yourself, using resources like clinicaltrials.gov. 

Brian: 

We hope you found this information useful! Visit powerfulpatients.org/MPN to learn more about clinical trials and MPN research. 

Dr. Liu: 

Thanks for joining us! 

What Do CLL Patients Need to Know About Clinical Trials?

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What Do CLL Patients Need to Know About Clinical Trials? from Patient Empowerment Network on Vimeo.

What is a clinical trial and how does patient participation work? This animated video provides an overview of clinical trials, the process, and details key steps for engaging in your care.

See More from CLL Clinical Trials 201

Related Resources:

What Are the Types of CLL Clinical Trials?

 CLL Clinical Trials: What Are the Phases?

 Clinical Trials As a CLL Treatment Option: What You Should Know

Transcript:

 Dr. Singh:  

Hi, I’m Dr. Singh, and this is my patient, Elena, who is living with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, also called “CLL.”

And Elena is participating in a CLL clinical trial.  

Let me start by explaining what a clinical trial IS. Basically, it is a research study with human participants. And the goal of cancer clinical trials is to discover new and improved treatments to treat or to prevent cancer. 

At first, when I asked Elena if she would consider participating, she had a few hesitations.  

Elena:

Yes—even though I trust Dr. Singh, I still had questions. 

So, the first thing I asked was, what steps are taken to protect my safety if I participate in a trial? 

Dr. Singh: 

This is a common concern for many patients, and so I explained to Elena that each trial has a strict safety protocol, with set guidelines to protect patients. Beyond that, researchers are required to follow patient safety rules, which are enforced by the U.S Food & Drug Administration (FDA). At each study location, an institutional review board (or IRB) regularly reviews a study, and many trials are overseen by a group called a data and safety monitoring committee. 

And the trial team, which can include nurses and researchers, closely monitors the health of each trial participant regularly, all throughout the process. This is why clinical trials often require more visits and testing, and, in turn, a bigger commitment from that patient.  

Elena: 

After I felt more comfortable about the safety aspects, I asked Dr. Singh which clinical trial he would recommend for my CLL. 

Dr. Singh: 

That’s right. We discussed Elena’s available trial options, reviewed the pros and cons of each approach, as well as the logistics and potential financial impact. 

And it’s important to note that not every patient will qualify for every trial. Clinical trials have “eligibility requirements,” which can vary widely but may include factors like a patient’s age, health, and any prior treatments they have had.  

Elena: 

And there are several phases of clinical trials, right, Dr. Singh? 

Dr. Singh: 

Yes, exactly. The main phases are Phase I, II, III and IV. Each phase gathers valuable information about the treatment and helps measure its effectiveness.  

Elena: 

So, the main reason I joined a trial was to find out if a newer treatment could be more effective than the standard of care to treat my CLL. AND I wanted to help move cancer research forward for the CLL community. 

Dr. Singh: 

Exactly. Not every patient has the same reason for participation, but trials are essential for developing new and improved treatments for the future. 

Elena:  

I also learned that patients can leave a trial at any time or stage if they wish. 

Dr. Singh: 

That’s a great point, Elena.  

Now that you understand more about trials, how can you find out more? 

  • Start by asking your doctor if there are any trials that are available to you—and, if there is a specific trial that they recommend for you. 
  • If there is a trial that your team recommends, ask to discuss: 
  • The treatment approach used in the study and the purpose of the trial. 
  • The risks and benefits of participation. 
  • The financial costs, if any, and if there are assistance programs to help if you need it. 
  • The location of the trial and whether it can be coordinated with your local institution if it isn’t conveniently located—or, if transportation is available. 
  • How often you will need to go to the trial site and how long the trial will last. 
  • Finally, continue to educate yourself, using resources like clinicaltrials.gov. 

Elena: 

And visit powerfulpatients.org/CLL to learn more about clinical trials and CLL research. 

Dr. Singh: 

Thanks for joining us!