Clinical Trials Resources and Information

Alpha Cancer Information Resource -- The Coalition of National Cooperative Cancer Groups: http://www.alphacancer.com/

Brings "into one organization areas of common interest and initiative among the National Cancer Institute sponsored cancer clinical trials cooperative groups. Its programs are designed to ensure the continued opportunity for patients to participate in clinical trials. The Coalition focuses its efforts in the following four program areas: Patient, Payer and Government Relations; Health and Economic Outcomes; a Clinical Trial and Site Management Unit; and International Relations. The Coalition by nature of its organization operates outside the restrictions of the NCI yet remains complementary to their structure and programs. The Coalition web site can be visited at http://www.ca-coalition.org."

Breast Cancer Trials Home Page: http://cancertrials.nci.nih.gov/...  

Clinical Trials Search Form (PDQ): http://cnetdb.nci.nih.gov/trialsrch.shtml

Visitors to this site can "search for clinical trials using recent enhancements that will allow individuals to: Search by stage of disease; Search for open/active or closed trials; Select multiple options for stage, phase, and other data fields; Display search results (trial abstracts) in the patient or health professional version and easily move between them".

The Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG): Home Page: http://ecog.dfci.harvard.edu/  

Breast cancer trials page: http://ecog.dfci.harvard.edu/~...

"Established in 1955 as one of the first cooperative groups launched to perform multi-center cancer clinical trials. A cooperative group is a large network of researchers, physicians, and health care professionals at public and private institutions across the country who are members of the group. Currently, ECOG has more than 80 active clinical trials in all types of adult malignancies. Annual accrual is 6,000 patients, with more than 20,000 patients in follow-up."

European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC): http://www.eortc.be/default.htm

Established "to conduct, develop, coordinate, and stimulate research in Europe on the experimental and clinical bases of treatment of cancer and related problems. The ultimate goal of the EORTC is to improve the standard of cancer treatment in Europe, through the development of new drugs and other innovative approaches, and to test more effective therapeutic strategies, using drugs which are already commercially available, or surgery and radiotherapy. Research is accomplished mainly through the execution of large, prospective, randomized, multicenter, cancer clinical trials. In this way the EORTC facilitates the passage of experimental discoveries into state-of-the-art treatment.

FDA Cancer Liaison Program: http://www.fda.gov/oashi/cancer/cancer.html

The Cancer Liaison Program provides information and help to cancer patients and cancer patient advocacy programs about the FDA drug approval process, cancer clinical trials and access to investigational therapies.

National Cancer Institute: http://cnetdb.nci.nih.gov/trialsrch.shtml

Offers information on clinical trials for several types and stages of cancer.

National Cancer Institute (NCI) CancerNet: http://cancernet.nci.nih.gov/

The National Cancer Institute's CancerNet "includes a variety of sources to help meet your cancer information needs: Selected information from PDQ®, NCI's comprehensive cancer database, including summaries on cancer treatment, screening, prevention, and supportive care, and information on ongoing clinical trials; CANCERLIT®, NCI's bibliographic database; And fact sheets, news, and other resources. Visit cancerTrials(tm), NCI's comprehensive clinical trials information center. Information is reviewed regularly by oncology experts and is based on the latest research." This site offers information in both English and Spanish.

National Cancer Institute of Canada Clinical Trials Group (NCIC CTG): http://www.ctg.queensu.ca/

"A cooperative oncology group which carries out clinical trials in cancer therapy and supportive care across Canada and internationally. It is one of the national programs and networks of the National Cancer Institute of Canada (NCIC). The information contained in this web site is intended for use by NCIC Clinical Trials Group members at participating centers. If you are a cancer patient, your doctor can explain how this information applies to you, or you can call the Cancer Information Service of the Canadian Cancer Society at 1-888-939-3333."

National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP): Main page: http://www.nsabp.pitt.edu/default.htm Breast cancer trials page: http://phaxp1.gsph.pitt.edu/...

"The National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP) is a cooperative group that was formed in 1971 to conduct clinical trials in breast and colorectal cancer research. The members of this cooperative group had been involved in collaborative research as early as 1958."

North Central Cancer Treatment Group (NCCTG): http://ncctg.mayo.edu/

"An affiliation of approximately 20 community clinics throughout the United States with a research base located at Mayo Cancer Center in Rochester, Minnesota. The NCCTG's philosophy is based on the premises that quality cancer research can be conducted by community clinics, and that community clinics provide the ultimate proving ground for applying new cancer treatment and cancer control procedures to the general population. The main activity of the NCCTG is the development and implementation of clinical cancer research studies. It is one of the National Cancer Institute's Clinical Trials Cooperative Groups and has four primary goals to: 1) improve survival and quality of life for cancer patients by conducting high-quality cancer treatment research studies; 2) facilitate high-quality translational research in collaboration with laboratory scientists at the research base and other organizations; 3) provide cancer patients access to the highest quality of cancer care at a research setting in or near their home community; and 4) provide a framework for a full spectrum of cancer control activities."

Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG) Breast Cancer Protocol List: Main page: http://www.swog.saci.org/ Breast cancer trials page: http://www.oo.saci.org/Breast3.html

"Formed in 1956 and is the largest clinical cancer trials organization in the world. The Group membership and network consists of over 5,000 of the nation's leading physicians, at 377 institutions throughout the United States and Canada. Since its inception, The Southwest Oncology Group has directly touched the lives of more than 150,000 patients enrolled in clinical trials."

Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR): http://www.ahcpr.gov/

Part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the lead agency charged with supporting research designed to improve the quality of health care, reduce its cost, and broaden access to essential services. AHCPR's programs of research bring practical, science-based information to medical practitioners and to consumers and other health care purchasers.

California Healthline: http://www.chcf.org/currentchl.cfm

A service of the California HealthCare Foundation, providing daily state and national healthcare news updates on healthcare policy issues and relevant current events. Visitors to the site can register on-line for the Healthline and other foundation publications.

Journal of the National Cancer Institute: http://jnci.oupjournals.org/

"Keeps you up to date with: peer-reviewed reports on major oncology studies from around the world; editorials and commentary by leading experts on key articles and current controversies in cancer; the latest news from the oncology community, book reviews, and conference and position announcements."

Kaiser Family Foundation E-Mail Alert Sign-Up: http://www.kff.org/register/

Updated daily with health policy news headlines, the Kaiser Daily Reproductive Health Report and the Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report and newly released Kaiser Family Foundation publications.

National Library of Medicine (NLM): http://www.nlm.nih.gov/

"The world's largest medical library. It collects materials in all areas of biomedicine and health care, as well as works on biomedical aspects of technology, the humanities, and the physical, life, and social sciences."

New England Journal of Medicine: http://www.nejm.org/content/index.asp

"The abstracts of Original Articles (reports of original clinical research) and Special Articles (reports of research on health policy) are available on-line, along with the names and institutional affiliations of the authors."

On-Line Journals: http://uhs.bsd.uchicago.edu/~...Provides links to a variety of medical journals.

Physician Data Query (PDQ): http://cancernet.nci.nih.gov/pdq.htm

PDQ, NCI's comprehensive cancer database, contains peer-reviewed summaries on cancer treatment, screening, prevention, and supportive care; a registry of approximately 1,700 open and 10,300 closed cancer clinical trials from around the world; and directories of physicians, genetic counselors, and organizations that provide cancer care.

Center for Disease Control (CD) National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP): http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/...index.htm

Provides critical breast and cervical cancer screening services to underserved women, including older women, women with low incomes, and women of racial and ethnic minority groups. Funded comprehensive early detection programs provide:
1. Breast and cervical cancer screening services to women who are low income and/or racial/ethnic minorities.
2. Appropriate referrals, and when necessary, appropriate diagnostic follow-up, case management and assurances for medical treatment.
3. Public information and education programs to increase the use of screening services.
4. Education to health professionals to improve the screening process.
5. Mechanisms to monitor the quality of the screening process.
6. Appropriate surveillance and epidemiological systems.
7. Linkages with key partnerships. CDC funds all 50 state health agencies, the District of Columbia, 15 tribal organizations, and 5 territories to conduct comprehensive breast and cervical cancer early detection programs.

CDC Links Page: http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/linksalt.htm

CareCounsel’s Healthcare Assistance Program: http://www.carecounsel.com

"An integrated information, resource, counseling and assistance program that empowers consumers by providing convenient, expert solutions for today’s healthcare, elder care and child care needs. Access to the specialized Cancer Quality Care Review is handled through a unique relationship with the worldwide experts at renowned Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York. No matter where you receive your care, members of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering medical staff will review your medical records and will prepare a comprehensive written report for you to use in evaluating your care and treatment options. There is a fee for these services. The Cancer Quality Care Review charge is based on the types of materials submitted for review, regardless of disease or diagnosis. These materials may include any combination of slides, medical records, and radiographic reports such as MRIs, CT Scans, and general radiography. For most people, the charge will be $800. The charge for individuals who have had progressive disease, who have been ill for a longer period of time and/or received multiple treatment modalities will not exceed $1,350. CareCounsel will let you know the actual charge before you make a decision to proceed with the Quality Review."

The City of Hope: http://cityofhope.org/

The H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute: http://www.moffitt.usf.edu/

The Johns Hopkins Breast Center: http://www.med.jhu.edu/breastcenter/

The Mayo Clinic Cancer Center: http://www.mayohealth.org

"Reliable information for a healthier Life".

Mayo Clinic Health Oasis On-line Cancer Center: http://www.mayohealth.org/mayo...

Provides information on several issues pertaining to several cancer types including breast cancer.

National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN): http://nccn.org

"An alliance of the world's leading cancer centers established to enhance the leadership role of member institutions in the evolving managed care environment. It seeks to support and strengthen the mission of member institutions in three basic areas to : 1) provide state-of-the-art cancer care to the greatest number of patients in need; 2) advance the state of the art in cancer prevention, screening, diagnosis and treatment through excellence in basic and clinical research; 3) enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of cancer care delivery through the ongoing collection, synthesis and analysis of outcomes data."

Oncolink: A University of Pennsylvania Cancer Center Resource: http:www.oncolink.upenn.edu/

"Founded by Penn cancer specialists with a mission to help cancer patients, families, health care professionals and the general public get accurate cancer-related information at no charge. Through OncoLink you can get comprehensive information about specific types of cancer, updates on cancer treatments and news about research advances".

The UC Davis Cancer Center -- Breast Cancer Support Groups in the United States & Canada: http://cancer.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/...