Page 3 - SFHN0120FINALUF.qxp_SFHN 0608 Friday 5.0

The Evolution SPECIAL C ONTENT

of Clinical Trials

at Sylvester Comprehensive Canceer Center

BY DIANA GONZALEZ

hen new cancer treatments show prom- Every year thousands of ppatients enroll in clin- with the develop-
ment of immuno
ise in the laboratoryy,, they move into the ical trials at NCI-designatted cancer centers like ment of immuno-
ted cancer centers like
Wcareful evaluation of how they work in Sylvester. Being part of th hat network of 71 cen- therapies and hold
patients, called Phase 1 Clinical Tr ters nationwide means gre eater access to more in- more promise.
Trials. Sylvester
Comprehensive Cancer Center, the only cancer vestigational treatments.
center in South Florida to earn National Cancer “This is a very ex-
Institute (NCI) designation, also has the only “With NCI designation, we e are able to bring new citing moment in
Phase 1 Clinical Tr opportunities in the form of clinical trials in re- cancer research, es-
Trial program in the region.
gards to new agents, new d drugs that will be able pecially in Phase 1
WR EHQH¿W PRUH DQQ G PRUH D SDWLHQWV ´ VDLG -DLPH W research, where we
T
Merchan, M.D., director o of Phase 1 Clinical Trri- are actually seeing
als at Sylvester. QW QW VLJQL¿FDQW EHQHILLW VLJQL¿FDQW EHQHILLW I I
als at Sylvester.
in many of our pa-
Luis Martinez participated in a Phase 1 trial at tients. Five or ten
Sylvester. “Research, as we understand it here, years ago the main
is very careful investigation. So when you come objective of a Phase 1 Clinical T Trrial was to see
into a clinical trial, you’re really under a lot of how safe a drug was,” said Dr. M
Merchan.
very special care,” said Martinez.
Raymond Mathews is currentl ly enrolled in a
Sylvester’s Phase 1 Clinical Tr clinical trial. His stage 4 kidn
Trials research clin-
ney cancer had
ic makes it possible for cancer specialists and spread to his liver, but he is now
w in remission.
research support staffff to provide specialized care
in one location for study participants. “As a patient, you don’t know if f the treatment is
going to have any side effffects. I basically have
“This is a space that we have developed that is no side effffects. I take it at the same time each
fully and exclusively dedicated to conduct clin- day and it’s paid offff for me,” s said Mathews. “I
ical research with patients with advanced can- probably wouldn’t be here today
y if I wasn’t part
cerr,,” explained Dr. Merchan. “All personnel are of the study.”
WUDLQ HG LQ VSHFL¿F SURWRFRO JXLGHOLQHV IRROORZ I
hat there have al-
safety procedures, and provide the special sup- While Dr. Merchan points out th
“WWee have a very important responsibility to our port that patients require.” ways been “exceptional respond ers,” he is seeing
ants with impres-
communityy,, which is to have therapies avail- more and more Phase 1 participa

bl
ational therapies.
h
h i ii i l
i
f
able for patients when their initial treatment ,Q VRPH FDVHV 6\O YHVWHU LV WKH ¿UVW FHQ WHU LQ sive responses to these investiga
doesn’t work,” said Sylvester director Stephen the world to evaluate these investigational treat- It is no longer considered only a a last resort.
D. Nimer, M.D. ments, which have evolved in the last decade
“There will be more and more Ph
hase 1 trials that
will not be only for patients at th
he end of the line
of their treatment, but can be o
offffered at earlier
stages,” Dr. Merchan said.
v
S ylv es t er C ompr ehensiv e Canc er
C ent er is South Florida’ ’ s only
c
NCI-designa t ed canc er c ent er
and serv es pa tients fr om se v en
m se
loca tions: Miami, C or al G ables,
G
eerfield
K endall, Holly w ood, Deerfield
Beach, Planta tion, and C or al
C
Av
Springs. A v entur a loca tion t o
To
open early 20 20 . T o sc
chedule a
c onsulta tion a t a loca tion near
on near
E (46
y ou, call 844- 32 4-HOPE (46 7 3)
or visit S ylv es t er . or g.

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