Clinical Cancer Trials in West Alabama

What Are Clinical Trials and Why Do They Matter?

A clinical trial or research study is a way for physicians and scientists to apply the latest technology to how they care for a disease.

Often, studies or trials can be an option for patients when other treatments haven’t worked. Studies also collect important information that can benefit patients with similar diseases in the future. Less than 10% of adult cancer patients participate in cancer clinical trials in the United States. These low numbers are worse for underserved patients in impoverished areas (suburban and rural), further perpetuating a major health disparity.

For this reason, Manderson Cancer Center has joined the Gulf South Minority Underserved NCORP (NCI Community Oncology Research Program). By expanding the number of cancer studies and treatment locations available in the Gulf South region, the Gulf South Clinical Trials Network is working to improve the quality of patient care and reduce cancer mortality rates.

The goal is to give everyone in our region access to the best possible cancer care, no matter where they live or what kind of cancer they have. With the help of the Gulf South Clinical Trials Network, cancer patients can take part in National Cancer Institute-supported studies, closer to their home, family, and work.

About the Gulf South Clinical Trials Network

Formed in 2018, the Gulf South Clinical Trials Network is part of an NCORP grant funded by the National Cancer Institute to reach all cancer patients in the region, but especially those in minority and underserved communities.

This experienced network of four leading health care and research groups in the region — LSU Health New Orleans, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, Ochsner Health, and LSU Health Shreveport — works to improve patient outcomes by expanding access to prevention and treatment studies as well as community outreach and education programs.

Through additional partnerships, such as the partnership here at Lewis & Faye Manderson Cancer Center, these vital resources are offered at more than 50 locations. This has doubled the number of sites offering clinical trials in the Gulf South, allowing more patients and physicians access to cutting-edge cancer treatments.

During the months of January – December 2023, a total of 68 patients were accrued to trials.

Treatment Trials 8
Patient Registries 26
Economics of Care Related to Cancer 29
Cancer-specific biorepositories or tissue banks 5

ClinicalTrials.gov is a searchable database that provides patients, family members and the public with information about current ongoing clinical research studies.

For any questions or to learn if you qualify for a clinical trial, please contact our Clinical Research Coordinator by phone at (205) 759-6237 or by email at cancer.research@dchsystem.com

Below is a list of clinical trials that are currently offered at Manderson Cancer Center. We have attached the link for each study for ease in finding detailed information regarding these studies.

Gulf South Minority Underserved NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) Research Studies

This phase III trial compares stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), (five treatments over two weeks using a higher dose per treatment) to usual radiation therapy (20 to 45 treatments over 4 to 9 weeks) for the treatment of high-risk prostate cancer. SBRT uses special equipment to position a patient and deliver radiation to tumors with high precision. This method may kill tumor cells with fewer doses over a shorter period of time. This trial is evaluating whether shorter-duration radiation prevents cancer from coming back as well as the usual radiation treatment.	This phase III trial compares stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), (five treatments over two weeks using a higher dose per treatment) to usual radiation therapy (20 to 45 treatments over 4 to 9 weeks) for the treatment of high-risk prostate cancer. SBRT uses special equipment to position a patient and deliver radiation to tumors with high precision. This method may kill tumor cells with fewer doses over a shorter period of time. This trial is evaluating if shorter duration radiation prevents cancer from coming back as well as the usual radiation treatment.
DCP-001 – Use of a Clinical Trial Screening Tool to Address Cancer Health Disparities in the NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) Local Investigators – Grant Williams, MD, J. Curtis Tucker, MD, and John Crew, MD	The purpose of this project is to understand who participates in clinical trials and for those who do not participate, the reasons why. This information will help researchers design future studies. Also, to address the reasons people do not participate, especially young adults and teenagers, older people and minorities. In addition, personal and medical information will be collected to help understand differences in treatment and treatment outcomes among these populations.
URCC19178 (GEM-S) – Optimizing Functional Outcomes of Older Cancer Survivors after Chemotherapy Study Details \| Geriatric Evaluation and Management With Survivorship Health Education (GEMS) for Older Survivors of Cancer \| ClinicalTrials.gov Local Investigators – Grant Williams, MD, J. Curtis Tucker, MD, and John Crew, MD	This phase III cluster-randomized trial compares the effect of geriatric evaluation and management with survivorship health education (GEMS) to usual care on patient-reported physical function in older survivors of cancer. Survivorship care for older adults of cancer usually consists of getting advice from their doctor. GEMS may help improve the physical ability to perform activities of daily living, mental well-being, and memory in older survivors of cancer after chemotherapy. This study may help doctors learn if including GEMS in their practices improves physical,

The University of Alabama Research Studies

Comprehensive Characterization of Genetic and Molecular Drivers of Cancer in African Ancestry: Cancer Genome Cohort to Promote Health Equity
clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05697198

Principal Investigator – James Evans, MD

The objective of this Study is to collect, process, and transfer biologic samples such as blood and/or tissue biopsies to determine the concordance of detected alterations obtained through liquid biopsy analyses compared to next-generation sequencing of time-matched or archival tissue specimens from individuals with advanced solid tumors.

Industry Sponsored Research Studies

Connect® MM- The Multiple Myeloma Disease Registry
clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT01081028

Principal Investigator – James W. Evans, MD

The purpose of this study is to explore the natural history and real-world management of patients with newly diagnosed symptomatic multiple myeloma (MM) and provide unique insights into the management of MM and the impact of this hematologic disorder on patients.