Lung Cancer Research & Clinical Trials

• Overview
• Signs & Symptoms
• Risk Factors
• Diagnosis
• Types of Lung Cancer
• Newly Diagnosed
• Staging
• NSCLC Genetic Mutations
• Treatment Options
• Research & Clinical Trials

All of the current lung cancer treatments available to patients today were made possible through clinical research trials. Each drug or combination of drugs was carefully studied by cancer researchers and then approved by the FDA.

With the recent ability to create drug therapies that target specific genetic mutations, many new approved options for patients are available, and many more are in the research process, including therapies for advanced lung cancer.

Cancer Care Centers of Brevard offers access to the latest cancer treatments through clinical trials in Brevard County, Florida. Our practice is part of the US Oncology Network. Sarah Cannon Research Institute (SCRI) is a joint venture with US Oncology Research making many lung cancer clinical trials available to our patients at our offices here on the Space Coast.

Trials are not available to every patient, but for those who qualify, participation opens new treatment options unavailable otherwise. This is especially important for those who have already tried standard lung cancer treatments without success. Trials bring new hope for these patients.

What Types Of Lung Cancer Research Trials Are Available In Brevard County?

There are several types of lung cancer research trials. Many of them are proving the effectiveness of a new drug. However, there are several reasons a clinical trial was created, including:

• A new therapy was developed and needs to be tested to determine dosing and safety limits for lung cancer patients meeting specific criteria.

• An established therapy that is used for other types of cancer has shown some promise to be used in the treatment of lung cancer.

• A combination of FDA-approved medications or treatments that have not been used before shows better outcomes for lung cancer patients.

Once the new cancer treatment has been researched and proven to be safe and effective for the types of lung cancer patients the trial has targeted, the FDA moves forward in reviewing the results and approving it for use among all patients with the same kind of cancer.

If you or a loved one has received a lung cancer diagnosis, you can look at the current trials being studied at Cancer Care Centers of Brevard with the link below. If you find a trial that you think could be right for you, it is important to work closely with your oncologist to review your diagnosis to see if you meet the trial qualifications.

Additionally, you can request an appointment at one of our conveniently located offices so that we can review your current diagnosis together and look for treatment options that could be right for you, including a clinical trial. Click below to request an appointment.

Advancing Treatment Options for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Non-small cell lung cancer is the most common type of lung cancer. When it is advanced, it is the most complex type of lung cancer to treat. However, targeted therapy and immunotherapy drugs developed in the past decade have improved survival rates for these patients. Unfortunately, oncologists continue to see patients being diagnosed at a later stage of cancer or with hesitation to begin a treatment plan. New medications and treatments are being developed and tested in clinical trials to help overcome the challenges that doctors and patients face.

Is a Lung Cancer Clinical Trial Right for You?

If you think lung cancer trial research could benefit you, ask your oncologist to meet with a clinical research nurse at any of our offices. The nurse will work with your oncologist to review the clinical research that is currently available at Cancer Care Centers of Brevard. The nurse will also help to review your case and identify the requirements of existing trials. If you are eligible for participation, you will be given all of the information for enrollment – including possible side effects of the therapy. The decision to participate is up to you.

Rest assured, placebos are not used in cancer treatment. Every patient will receive cancer treatment. In some trials, a portion of the patients receive the new therapy while others receive the standard treatment already approved by the FDA for your type of cancer. You may or may not know which one you’re taking.

Our cancer research specialists monitor each patient who volunteers for a lung cancer trial to help determine the effectiveness of the treatment and potential side effects. If a treatment doesn’t work during the clinical trial, the researchers will try to find another option that could be more effective.

Cancer Care Centers of Brevard Offering Clinical Trials for Lung Cancer

At Cancer Care Centers of Brevard, our cancer doctors are involved in many active trials for lung cancer and other types of cancer. The top priority at Cancer Care Centers of Brevard is to provide our community access to promising new cancer treatments. We hope these treatments will emerge as the new gold standard.

Through our clinical trials, our patients receive access to the newest therapies for cancer while their current physician continues to be involved and monitor their care. Patients can also remain at home with their families and loved ones.

Enrolling in a clinical trial is a personal choice that should be reached only after carefully considering how it fits each patient’s needs. Read frequently asked questions about clinical trials, or contact our lung cancer doctors at our clinics where lung cancer trials are available.

Palm Bay - Medical Oncology

Melbourne-Eau Gallie

Rockledge