17,500 Enrollees Needed in Major Colorectal Cancer Trials

PHILADELPHIA -- The Coalition of Cancer Cooperative Groups announced the launch of QuickLink -- www.cancertrialshelp.org/patientsCaregivers/colorectalTrials.jsp -- a new resource designed to help patients, caregivers and people at risk learn more about major colorectal cancer clinical trials. QuickLink can be found by visiting www.CancerTrialsHelp.org.

"The only way to move toward a cure for colon cancer is through research," said Robert L. Comis, MD, president, Coalition of Cancer Cooperative Groups. "As a direct outcome from clinical trials, five new drugs have received FDA approval over the last five years, making new and better treatments more available to patients with colorectal cancer today than ever before. "

Patients who join cancer clinical trials are given the best available treatment or a new treatment that, based on early clinical data, could be an improvement over the current standard therapy. In addition, there are many trials available for prevention, screening and early detection of colorectal cancer or pre-cancerous polyps.

"Clinical trials are not just a vital source of information, they can be of great value to the individuals who participate in them," said Comis. "A common misperception that some patients receive placebo has prevented some people from participating in clinical trials." Placebos (also called "sugar pills") are rarely used in cancer clinical trials and are never used in place of treatment.

There are nearly 270 colorectal cancer studies currently available for patients in the U.S., out of over 4,500 cancer trials of all types.1 Now, QuickLink provides information on 10 of the largest colorectal trials currently available, along with links to patient support services and quick access to the screening capabilities of TrialCheck®, the coalition's signature database and navigator of thousands of cancer clinical trials. TrialCheck offers a fast and easy way for people to locate clinical trials. Results are displayed by proximity to the user's Zip Code. It is the most frequently updated searchable database of cancer clinical trials in the U.S.

"Unfortunately, less than 5 percent of people diagnosed with cancer will be treated through enrollment in a clinical trial," said Kevin Lewis, chairman of the board, Colon Cancer Alliance. "Our organization is very supportive of the coalition and its efforts to accelerate research. We believe that in recent years, patients have received better treatment options in trials, and if we can educate people about clinical trials, I am confident that we can increase enrollment in these high-priority colon cancer trials."

Focus Efforts, Accelerate Results
Recently, a group of experts from the oncology research community, academia, cancer cooperative groups, patient advocacy and industry identified 10 trials as high priority colorectal clinical studies that address important research opportunities and merit support for rapid completion. Combined, these 10 large studies will need to enroll more than 17,500 participants. The Coalition's Scientific Leadership Council in Gastrointestinal Cancer presented these trials as part of their recommendations for the future direction of colorectal cancer research at a forum in Washington, D.C., in Dec. 2005, and at a major GI cancer meeting in San Francisco in Jan. 2006.

In the near term, this group will raise awareness about the availability of these trials. "We are committed to focusing our efforts on helping to complete enrollment in these 10 pivotal colorectal cancer clinical trials," said Michael J. O'Connell, MD, chairman, Scientific Leadership Council in GI Council. "If we can accelerate the completion of these trials, we can move faster toward more effective diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of colon cancer."

Excluding skin cancer, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in the United States and Canada (after lung and breast in women, and lung and prostate in men). The American Cancer Society estimates that there will be 148,610 new cases of colorectal cancer diagnosed in the U.S. in 2006. The ACS also reports mortality rates from colorectal cancer have declined in both men and women over the past two decades, at an average of 1.8 percent per year. This decrease reflects declining incidence rates and improvements in survival. The one- and five-year relative survival for persons with colorectal cancer is 83 percent and 64 percent, respectively. Survival continues to decline beyond five years to 58 percent at 10 years after diagnosis.2

The Coalition of Cancer Cooperative Groups
The Coalition of Cancer Cooperative Groups is a non-profit organization seeking to increase participation in high-quality cancer clinical trials and accelerate the development of new cancer therapies. Its membership comprises all of the nation's federally-funded cancer cooperative groups, representing nearly 8,000 oncology researchers in 1,700 hospitals and oncology practices nationwide, along with over 40 patient advocacy organizations.

The Scientific Leadership Council in GI Cancer
The Scientific Leadership Council in GI Cancer is a multidisciplinary group of professionals representing the spectrum of diagnostic, therapeutic, and laboratory disciplines engaged in colorectal cancer clinical research. Its purpose is to recommend and profile the most promising research in GI cancers, and to bring together stakeholders in the cancer community to help form common goals and understanding around these research needs.

Works Cited
1. www.clinicaltrials.gov
2. American Cancer Society, Cancer Facts & Figures, 2006

Source: Coalition of Cancer Cooperative Groups

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