A Clinical Trial is a research study done on humans following a very strict protocol. The goal of a clinical trial is to develop new drugs and treatments for all types of diseases, most especially fatal ones such as Mesothelioma.
Before any medicine is considered effective and safe for the general public to take, it has to undergo a thorough process in a clinical trial.
Who are involved in Mesothelioma clinical trials?
The people involved in these biomedical studies are the researcher, who make up the very detailed plan of how the procedure shall be done, the volunteer who will be the subject of the trial, and the review board who usually consists of scientists, oncologists, other physicians, and nurses.
The review board is indirectly involved with the procedures, but it monitors the trial and gives an annual formal review. The volunteers who participate are in most cases, patients diagnosed with Mesothelioma and other types of malignant cancer. Most mesothelioma patients resort to clinical trials as their last hope for a cure.
What are the stages a clinical trial undergoes?
To avoid confusing the term 'stages' with the gravity or extent of the disease, we shall use the term 'phases'.
Generally, a clinical trial has three phases, although a fourth phase is now being considered for the purpose of post-marketing studies. The fourth phase basically checks on the effectiveness of the FDA-approved drug which had already gone through all three phases.
The first phase determines the drug's correct dosage and focuses primarily on safety, rather than the drug's efficacy. The test is done on a small group of 20-80 persons for the first phase.
The second phase verifies if the new drug has a definite effect against a particular disease. This is also where the ideal dosage of the drug is evaluated and the results of the first phase is confirmed. The test is conducted on a larger group of people around 100-300 individuals.
The third phase compares the new drug against the existing standard treatment for a particular disease or illness. The new drug is combined with other drugs to determine side effects, and different doses are tested for the same purpose and to check the efficacy of the drug. This last phase is conducted on a large scale where up to 3,000 people are participants.
Do all Mesothelioma patients have to undergo these clinical trials?
Mesothelioma patients are in no way obliged to participate in biomedical studies and researches. Oncologists may recommend these, especially when patients are considering new types of treatment, but the decision is up to the patient and the patient's family.
Trial reports on Mesothelioma cases raise hope for Mesothelioma patients. The report summarizes the results of the research procedure and is normally published in medical journals for evaluation, and to serve as the basis of continued experimentation by other health professionals.
There are different types of Mesothelioma, would a single successful clinical trial be enough for all types of this disease?
There were Mesothelioma Clinical Trial reports conducted for different types and extent of Mesothelioma. A few examples are the following:
For progressive malignant Pleural Mesothelioma (developed in the lining of the lungs), Phase III Vorinostat trial was conducted where physicians use a chemotherapy drug called Vorinostat to kill cancerous cells and stop the cell's division by blocking enzymes that are needed for the cancerous cells to multiply.
For advanced malignant Mesothelioma, Phase II Pemetrexed Disodium with Gemcitabine is a trial conducted to examine the effects of chemotherapy drugs such as Gemcitabine and Pemetrexed Disodium on recurrent malignant Mesothelioma.
For patients with unresectable malignant Mesothelioma, Phase II AZD2171 clinical trial was conducted so doctors can investigate the use of such chemotherapy drugs for inhibiting enzymes and block the flow of blood into the tumor. The trial was dedicated to help patients suffering from advanced, sarcotamous, epithelial, and recurrent malignant Mesothelioma.
