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TCSC < Clinical Trials
| History of Clinical Trials at TCSC |
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Thompson Cancer Survival Center (TCSC) opened its doors in December 1988 with the mission to provide the highest quality, most up-to-date care to cancer patients in East Tennessee. TCSC initiated the area's first cancer clinical trials program in 1989 with one research nurse. Since that time, approximately 1200 patients have participated in both treatment and prevention trials at Thompson Cancer Survival Center. TCSC participates in large National Cancer Institute (NCI) sponsored cooperative research groups, such as the Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG) and the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP), as well as several pharmaceutical companies in order to provide the area with access to the best research trials available in the country. The majority of clinical trials open at TCSC are for the treatment of all types of cancer (List of Current Open Trials). In addition to the cooperative trials available through affiliations with SWOG and NSABP and individual studies through pharmaceutical companies, TCSC joined the Sarah Cannon Cancer Center Network in 1999 in order to expand its access to new studies. Over 560 protocols have been approved by the IRB at Thompson Cancer Survival Center since 1988. In addition to cancer treatment trials using chemotherapy or radiation, The Laser Center at Thompson Cancer Survival Center has made significant advances in the area of Photodynamic Therapy. Patients from around the world have come to TCSC to receive laser treatment for cancers such as skin, breast, lung, Kaposi's Sarcoma, and Barrett's Esophagus. Thompson has been involved in several cancer prevention trials. In May 1992, Thompson Cancer Survival Center became the premier site for the NSABP's Breast Cancer Prevention Trial (BCPT). Over 80 women from the Knoxville area participated in this groundbreaking study that proved tamoxifen helped to reduce a woman's risk of developing breast cancer by 50%. In 1993, TCSC became involved in the Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial (PCPT). Approximately 35 men from this area are still being followed on this study. Most recently in 1999, Thompson began participation in the STAR trial (Study of Tamoxifen and Raloxifene) as a continuation of the earlier BCPT. Approximately 60 women have begun participation in this study; active recruitment is ongoing! Please see the STAR area of this web site if you are interested in more information. For the future, TCSC has submitted a grant application to SWOG seeking approval for the new SELECT trial (Selenium and Vitamin E Chemoprevention Trial) for prostate cancer prevention. Estimated opening for SELECT will be September 2000. Please contact Jamie Breeden, RN, in the Clinical Trials Department if you are interested in more information. Call (865) 541-2421 or email jbreeden@covhlth.com The Clinical Trials Department at Thompson Cancer Survival Center has come a long way since 1989. The department now employs four full time research nurses, one data manager, and a part-time project coordinator at the TCSC downtown site. Recently, the TCSC Clinical Trials Department entered into a research partnership with oncologists at Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge in order to provide greater access to cancer research studies to people within the region. One full time research nurse currently coordinates clinical research at Methodist Regional Cancer Center (MRCC) in Oak Ridge. Patients may have access to cancer clinical trials within Covenant Health at TCSC downtown, TCSC West, MRCC, and Blount Memorial Hospital in Maryville. Thompson Cancer Survival Center looks forward to a future of continued service in the East Tennessee area and improvement in the fight against cancer. |
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