Excellent Research Support, Leading to Outstanding Patient Care with Clinical Trials at GBMC

The Oncology Clinical Trials Program at GBMC is entering its third decade of service to our patients. This program is dedicated to offering novel and state-of-the-art therapies to patients who are battling cancer. We have a superior team led by Judy Bosley, RN, BSN, CCRP, along with Pamela Nickoles, RN, BSN, CCRP, and Clinical Research Associates Melissa Loomis CCRP, Kieu Nguyen Markiewicz BS, CCRP, and Steven Schmitt, BS. This team not only provides excellent research support but also greatly contributes to outstanding patient care.

The Oncology Clinical Trials program offers nearly 60 trials to our patients for virtually the entire spectrum of cancer diagnoses, including breast, lung, gastrointestinal, gynecological, head and neck, melanoma, genitourinary cancers, and lymphoma. The program is an active member of The National Cancer Institute (NCI) oncology cooperative groups. These groups include the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group/ American College of Radiology Imaging Network, NRG Oncology (which includes the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project), the Radiation Tumor Oncology Group, and the Gynecologic Oncology Group. Our patients can also access trials at GBMC through the NCI’s Clinical Trials Support Unit. In addition, our Clinical Trials program has established collaborative relationships with many major pharmaceutical clinical trial efforts working in conjunction with the NCI and Food and Drug Administration.

The Oncology Trials Program offers a range of opportunities— from prevention to the latest cancer treatments—using personalized genetic targeting and immunotherapies for all stages of disease. The wide range of these studies is illustrated by the following clinical trials.

1. NANOPAC-2016-01 - Phase II Intraperitoneal NanoPac® with Recurrent Stage III Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Undergoing Second Cytoreductive Surgery

This clinical trial is testing an exciting new chemotherapy delivery technology in primary and recurrent ovarian cancer following debulking surgery. This nanoparticle platform allows paclitaxel to be given intra abdominally in a single dose to achieve high locally maintained concentrations of chemotherapy and to minimize effects of chemotherapy to rest of the body.

2. S1400 Lung-MAP: Biomarker-Targeted Second-Line Therapy in Treating Patients With Recurrent Stage IV Squamous Cell Lung Cancer

The Lung-MAP trial tests several new treatments for patients who have advanced stage squamous cell lung cancer. This trial will establish a method for genomic screening that will determine which new targeted cancer therapy that will be used in the patient’s treatment. Targeted therapies are designed to block the growth and spread of cancer by taking advantage of specific molecular mutations in cancers.

The above studies are illustrative of the many exciting and innovative clinical research trials that are offered at the Berman Cancer Institute at GBMC. Clinical research studies are considered in nearly all treatment options for patients. The treatment plan always needs to be discussed with patients and their families so that their desires and goals of care are best achieved.