University of Chicago physicians are currently involved in a number of clinical studies to evaluate new drug therapies and methods to treat diseases. The studies are described in more detail on the linked pages listed below.

• STAR Study (Study of Tamoxifen and Raloxifene)
• Ovarian Cancer Screening in High Risk Women
• BRCA1 Inactivation and Breast Cancer Risk
• Molecular Analysis of Solid Tumors/Tissues
• Mammographic Density & Risk of Breast Cancer
• Molecular Genetics of Aggressive Breast Cancer
  

Clinical trials are research studies conducted with people. Cancer prevention trials study ways of reducing the risk, or chance, of developing certain types of cancer. Prevention trials are conducted with healthy people who have not previously had cancer. Prevention trials are also conducted with people who have had cancer and are trying to reduce the chance of either developing a new type of cancer or preventing a reappearance of cancer (recurrence).

There are two kinds of cancer prevention clinical trials.

• Action studies (doing something) focus on finding out whether actions people take, such as exercising more or quitting smoking, can prevent cancer.
• Agent studies (taking something) focus on examining whether taking certain medicines, vitamins, minerals, or food supplements (or a combination of them) can prevent cancer.

Prevention clinical trials are conducted in phases.

• Phase I trials, the first step in testing a prevention agent in people, attempt to identify how best to give the study agent (e.g., by mouth), the dose, and side effects.
• Phase II trials focus on learning whether the agent has an effect in preventing cancer.
• Phase III trials randomly assign people to groups; an intervention group or a control group. The intervention group receives the promising preventive agent, and the control group receives a different agent or a placebo (a look-alike that contains no active ingredient).

Prevention clinical trials are important because through research, scientists hope to determine what steps are effective in preventing cancer or its recurrence.

There are benefits for volunteering in a clinical trial:

• High quality care from a comprehensive research team
• New treatment approaches
• Expert medical advise
• Free educational materials
• Some trails may offer free medication or financial compensation

On the other hand, there may be some drawbacks to participating in a trial:

• The side effects and risks may not be understood completely
• The method being tested may not prevent cancer
• Not everyone will receive the study agent
• People cannot choose the prevention approach they receive

Clinical trials at the University of Chicago Hospitals offer access to state-of -the-art techniques for finding and treating diseases. At our hospital you will receive care from leading specialists who have expertise in these diseases and are on the cutting edge of medical innovation.

Clinical trials are carefully monitored for participant safety. Trials must follow specific guidelines (protocols) about how the new medication is given or how new procedures are performed. Participants may choose to leave the study at any time.