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Clinical Research Program
The Section of Urology at the University of Chicago
has a strong legacy and rich tradition of clinical
research in urologic oncology. Our objectives
are to improve the treatment of patients with
cancer. Our focus is on the patients and how
we, as scientists, can improve their lives.
The Program in New Cancer Therapies was created
to consolidate clinical and laboratory research
efforts in improving the management of patients
with urologic cancers. The primary objective is
to develop, advance, and subsequently offer state-of-the-art
treatments to patients with urologic cancers by
developing improved therapies and treatment paradigms
that incorporate novel anti-cancer agents and
technologies as a compliment to conventional surgical
therapy.
Our endeavors are based on the following three
principles:
- Combining conventional surgical therapies
with both standard and experimental adjuvant
treatments.
- Embracing minimally-invasive technologies
and expanding their role in patient care.
- Advocating
investigator-initiated clinical trials designed
in the true spirit of translational research,
in which laboratory discoveries are applied
to patient management and observations from
the clinic are explored at the bench. Correlative
scientific investigation will aid in improved understanding
of molecular, genetic, and biochemical pathophysiologic
processes of these cancers and in the creation
of better management strategies.
New drugs and treatments are often evaluated
through a series of studies called clinical
trials. These are closely monitored and regulated
studies in which the effectiveness and safety
of new drugs and technologies are evaluated.
Clinical trials consist of three phases. The
purpose of phase 1 is to determine possible side
effects of a drug or treatment method. If results
from phase 1 trials are positive, the drug is
tested in a larger group of patients to determine
how it affects a specific disease and what its
short-term side effects may be. Phase 2 studies
focus on comparing the new treatment with the
current treatment or placebo. In phase 3 clinical
trials, the drug is further studied for safety
and efficacy in a much larger group of patients
who have the disease being studied.
For
ongoing clinical trials open for accrual, click
here.
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