Research protocols are simply detailed plans for evaluating a new drug or treatment approach. The plans are designed to answer specific scientific questions, which can help doctors develop better therapies. All new treatments go through several stages of testing before they get to the point of being applied with patients in clinical trials, which take place at a network of hospitals around the country.

Medical Consultants participates in a number of such studies. For patients with advanced cancers, clinical trials often offer the best available medical care. For example, immunotherapy currently provides the most effective treatment for advanced melanoma and kidney cancer, diseases that historically have responded poorly to radiation and chemotherapy.

Patients typically must meet strict medical criteria in order to participate in a clinical trial. Patients who do take part can be the first to benefit from the new therapies. Their participation also can contribute to future benefits for other patients. However, it is also true that new treatments may not always be more effective than the current standard care. In addition, a clinical trial may produce unexpected side effects and risks.

An important part of any clinical trial is the informed consent of the patient. For patients interested in participating in a study, Medical Consultants reviews potential side effects and any other information relevant to a treatment so the patient understands and is comfortable with the treatment. The patient is asked to sign a consent form before participating in the treatment. Even after the form is signed, a patient may stop or withdraw from the treatment at any time.

Below is a list of research protocols in which Medical Consultants is currently participating:

• A randomized, open-label, multicenter, phaseIII study comparing the efficacy and safety of gemcitabine and irinotecan HCL (CPT 11) to gemcitabine alone in patients with locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer who have not received prior systemic therapy.
• An open -label, single-arm, clinical trial of the safety and efficacy of recombiant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) for the restoration of function to central venous access devices.
• A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of recombinant human thrombopoietin (rh-TPO) administered to patients with multiple myeloma, solid tumors, or lymphomas who are receiving, myelosuppressive regimens requiring platelet transfusion support.

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