Clinical Trials: More Than a Last Resort

In an interview with Targeted Oncology, Krish Patel, MD, executive director of hematologic cancer research at Sarah Cannon Research Institute, discusses the benefits of clinical trial–based care and what community oncologists should know when considering trials for their patients.

Community oncologists play an important role in expanding access to clinical trials. Patel discusses the value of offering trials in community settings, where patients can receive investigational therapies closer to home rather than traveling to distant treatment centers. When trials cannot be conducted locally, he emphasizes the importance of knowing about opportunities through partner networks and nearby sites.

Patel highlights the close safety monitoring built into clinical trials, which allows clinicians to identify and manage adverse effects while evaluating how new therapies perform compared with established treatments. For patients, participation can also provide an additional layer of support throughout treatment.

Patel also addresses a common misconception that clinical trials are primarily a last-resort option. Trials are available across the cancer treatment journey, including for patients beginning their first treatment and those who have exhausted approved options.

As new therapies continue to move through clinical development, Patel encourages community oncologists to consider clinical trials as part of the treatment discussion throughout a patient’s care. Earlier consideration of trials can broaden available treatment options while giving patients access to therapies that may not yet be available through standard care.