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Clinical Trials for the Surgical Oncologist: Opportunities and Hurdles

Annals of Surgical Oncology volume 27, pages 2269–2275 (2020)Cite this article

Abstract

Advancements in clinical practice usually require level one evidence from clinical trials that directly compare new approaches to standard of care. While clinical trials have provided data to guide advances in practices across surgical oncology, all too often accrual to clinical trials is slower than anticipated, and once results are presented and published, adoption in clinical practice is slow. Why and how can surgeons be successfully involved with clinical trials? An expert panel discusses the basic infrastructure of clinical trials, investigator-initiated trials, the National Clinical Trials Network, and opportunities for surgeon involvement. Two national clinical trials, NSABP B-51/RTOG 1304 and PROSPECT N1048, are discussed to highlight the role of the surgical oncologist.

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Author information

Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA

    Ko Un Park MD

  2. Orlando Health UF Health Cancer Center, Orlando, FL, USA

    Eleftherios P. Mamounas MD, MPH

  3. Department of Surgical Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA

    Matthew H. G. Katz MD, Y. Nancy You MD, MHSc & Kelly K. Hunt MD

  4. Doctors Hospital of Laredo, Laredo, TX, USA

    Gary Unzeitig MD

  5. Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, University of Rochester School of Medicine, Rochester, NY, USA

    Darren Carpizo MD, PhD

  6. American College of Surgeons Cancer Programs, American College of Surgeons, Chicago, IL, USA

    Amanda Francescatti MS

  7. Department of Breast Surgical Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA

    Kelly K. Hunt MD

  8. Department of Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA

    Judy C. Boughey MD

Authors
  1. Ko Un Park MD
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  2. Eleftherios P. Mamounas MD, MPH
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  3. Matthew H. G. Katz MD
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  4. Gary Unzeitig MD
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  5. Darren Carpizo MD, PhD
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  6. Y. Nancy You MD, MHSc
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  7. Amanda Francescatti MS
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  8. Kelly K. Hunt MD
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  9. Judy C. Boughey MD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Judy C. Boughey MD.

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Disclosure

The follow authors have no relevant financial disclosures: Park, Mamounas, Katz, Unzeitig, Carpizo, You, and Francescatti. Judy C. Boughey reports the following disclosure: research funding to my institution—Lilly. Kelly K. Hunt reports the following disclosures: Medical Advisory Board—Armada Health and Merck & Co., research funding to my institution—Endomag, Lumicell, OncoNano, Darren Carpizo is the founder and president of Z53 Therapeutics, Inc.

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Park, K.U., Mamounas, E.P., Katz, M.H.G. et al. Clinical Trials for the Surgical Oncologist: Opportunities and Hurdles. Ann Surg Oncol 27, 2269–2275 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-020-08472-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-020-08472-z