Treating Melanoma Through Clinical Trials

All treatments that are available today have been discovered through clinical trials. Clinical trials are often viewed as the best treatment option for Stage II, III and IV melanoma patients, so it is important to learn about trials so you make an informed treatment decision.

All treatment options, including clinical trials, should be thoroughly discussed with your melanoma team. 

What is a Clinical Trial?

Clinical research studies help find new ways to treat, prevent and diagnose diseases. A clinical trial is carefully designed to closely monitor people’s progress as they go through treatment with an investigational drug, product, device or method of treatment that has not been approved by the FDA. Today, all medications prescribed by a doctor must first be tested in clinical trials. Study participants receive close medical supervision and provide valuable feedback on their experiences. All treatments must go through three phases of research before becoming available to the public:

• • Phase I  focuses primarily on safety in a small number of human volunteers
  • Phase II  tests the effectiveness of the new drug on a small number of human volunteers
  • Phase III  usually tests the new drug in comparison with the standard therapy currently being used on a larger number of human volunteers¹

Participating in a clinical trial is voluntary and participants may choose to discontinue participation at any time.

Listen to our May 19, 2020 melanoma clinical trials webinar below!

How Do I Find a Melanoma Clinical Trial?

There are many ways you can learn more about available clinical trials, which centers of excellence are participating in clinical trials, and how to enroll in a trials; however, two of the easiest are noted below:

Reasons to Consider a Clinical Trial

There are a number of reasons you or your doctor may want to consider participation in a clinical trial, including:

1. Access to investigational treatments before they become widely available
2. Opportunity to play a role in the discovery of treatments, cures and preventions for certain diseases or medical conditions
3. Ability to play a more active role in your own healthcare
4. Access to free physical examinations and diagnostic tests related to the study

Patient Safety in Clinical Trials

All clinical research studies in the United States are reviewed by the FDA and governing bodies called institutional review boards (IRBs), whose job is to make sure participants’ rights are fully protected and that participants are not exposed to any unnecessary risks.

As noted earlier, participating in a clinical trial is voluntary. Before you enroll in a trial, a doctor or nurse will clearly explain the study procedures and requirements. This is called informed consent. Doctors are not allowed to enroll patients in clinical trials without first ensuring they understand what their involvement in the trial means. Once you enroll, you may end your participation at any time.

Questions to Ask your Physician

It is important to feel comfortable with your treatment decision. Before enrolling in a trial, some topics to discuss with your doctor may include: the study treatment(s), the logistics related to the study, the medication(s) you will be taking, your privacy rights, your medical team, possible risks and benefits, and possible costs. A detailed, thoughtful list of possible questions to consider are available on Cancer.net, an ASCO resource.

Citations:

1. National Institutes of Health. U.S. National Library of Medicine. Clinicaltrials.gov.  

Content last updated: August 27, 2020