The UKCCCR register of UK cancer trials

Autor: P.M. Fayers
Rok vydání: 1995
Předmět:
Zdroj: Clinical Oncology. 7:72-76
ISSN: 0936-6555
DOI: 10.1016/s0936-6555(05)80804-0
Popis: s from publications relating to published trials, including trials only recently completed. This may assist in the selection of treatment for individual patients, possibly after obtaining supplementary details directly from the publications cited. Clinicians Wishing to Participate in Trials One of the underlying principles of clinical trials is the 'uncertainty principle' [16]. Few types of cancer can be treated with complete success without employing treatments that have toxic side effects; thus new treatments are continually being proposed. Arguably, in this situation a clinician can never remain in the state of being certain what is the best treatment. A clinical trial provides the most rigorous method of scientifically comparing alternative therapies, and therefore the principle 'if uncertain, randomize' should apply wherever a trial exists that compares the current 'standard' treatment with a new, as yet unproven but promising, treatment. If a suitable trial exists and is not contrary to the patient's best interests, the clinician should give reasonable consideration to whether the patient might be entered into the trial. In that way the patient can receive the best available therapy whilst also helping to provide scientific information for treatment of future patients. Registers offer an easy means for clinicians and investigators to discover the existence of trials in their area of interest, and enable them to read brief descriptions of the trials. Thus clinicians may use a register to obtain up to date information about new treatments being investigated and the active trials that are assessing their efficacy. If a trial seems interesting, the clinician can consider becoming a participant and can enquire about obtaining a full protocol from the trial co-ordinator. Registers of trials ensure that lack of knowledge of appropriate trials cannot be a ground for failing to enter suitable patients into clinical trials.
Databáze: OpenAIRE
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