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Recorded on July 12, 2015
Sumit K. Subudhi, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Genitourinary Medical Oncology, Division of Cancer Medicine The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Jeri Kim, MD
Associate Professor, Department of Genitourinary Medical Oncology, Division of Cancer Medicine The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Jeff Folloder:
So we’ve been talking about cutting-edge investigations. That falls under the big giant heading of clinical trials. And I know that MD Anderson is a center for clinical trials. But let’s be realistic. A lot of people sitting out there in the audience right now, they hear the words “clinical trial,” and they think guinea pig.
I’m gonna be a lab rat. I’m gonna be experimented on. Is that what happens? I’m asking you straight up.
Dr. Subudhi:
That’s a great question. So the answer—from a literal answer, the answer is yes. But all those drugs that are FDA- approved right now, everyone was a guinea pig at some point, and that’s where we’ve come to.
I think it’s—so just to combine the next question, when should patients consider a clinical trial? I think when you’re coming to a place like MD Anderson, you’re coming because you’re looking for other options besides the standard of care. Because we know the standard of care for advanced prostate cancer is, right now, we cannot cure it. So MD Anderson is looking for ways to cure or even allow our patients to live longer. We’ve talked about there [are] only six drugs that are FDA- approved that improve survival.
On average, these drugs work for approximately six months. So six drugs times six is 36 months, or three years. If I told you or your loved ones that you’ve got three years, you’d probably punch me in the face, as I would to my doctor if they said that to my father. And so, we have to push the envelope. And I think clinical trials allow us to do that. I think it’s very important for every one of you to ask, what is the current standard of care that I qualify for?
And how does this clinical trial change that, and why would you recommend it now as opposed to later?
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Jeff Folloder:
That’s a question I’m gonna play to you, that when. We have the standard of care. Some people will call it the gold standard of care. When should a patient consider that the gold standard might not be the right thing? When is it a good time to consider a clinical trial?
Dr. Kim:
Well, I think if you’re coming to a big research hospital like ours, I think most patients come in having in mind clinical trials. And I think actually anytime in your cancer management; I think participating in a clinical trial is a good time, or the right time. And I think that I really encourage patients to participate in clinical trials, and because this is how we make advances in science and also improving patient care.
And from a patient’s perspective, by participating in clinical trials, you can get access to new drugs. And really, you’ll be really getting access to the cutting edge, the science and the new drug development. So I would really encourage that to our patients.
Jeff Folloder:
Dr. Subudhi, is there a downside to participating in a clinical trial?
Dr. Subudhi:
I think the only downside that I see from a patient perspective, if I was a patient, is the time commitment—meaning that the visits, they’re usually more frequent visits to MD Anderson when you’re on a clinical trial. But I believe the upside is similar to what you experience yourself on a clinical trial, and I believe a lot of my patients that have been on clinical trials feel like they’re getting the next emerging drugs, or the drugs of the future early on, and hopefully seeing a benefit.
Jeff Folloder:
How many people have participated in a clinical trial here? Raise your hand. That’s more than I expected. I expected just a few hands up. When MD Anderson recommended to me that it was a good idea to consider a clinical trial, I asked the question that I kind of sort of asked here. Why?
Doctor looked me straight in the eyes, and he said, “Because I believe that the clinical trial is going to provide you with the best outcome with the least amount of damage to your body. It’s as good as we can hope for with the least amount of side effects. If this was me, this is what I’d be doing.” And then he went to great lengths to let me know, “And I will not be your doctor during the process so that I can maintain arm’s length.”
This is not just about doctors pushing their research goals. This is about MD Anderson or any research hospital providing the best possible route to a great outcome for you. So always ask about clinical trials, right?
Dr. Kim:
Yes.
Jeff Folloder:
Always.
Dr. Kim:
Yes.
Dr. Subudhi:
Some of our patients that come to see us, and you guys probably interact with other patients outside of MD Anderson, and maybe you can pass the message. They come to see us after they’ve used all of the FDA-approved drugs, and then they’re expecting a clinical trial or a miracle. And at that point, it becomes a lot more difficult, because there [are] clinical trials that are pretty much designed for every aspect of prostate cancer.
But they may not be designed, or there may not be one available when the patient comes to see us. And that’s why I think day one that you come to MD Anderson, you should be asking about clinical trials, and we should be talking about it.
Published By :
Patient Power
Date :
Sep 22, 2015
