For over 50 years, Guthrie has been conducting oncology clinical trials and we are proud to have been affiliated with multiple institutions, including University of Rochester, Cornell University and Vanderbilt. Our current collaborator for National Cancer Institute (NCI) trials is the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. This collaboration allows access to trials through the NCI’s National Clinical Trials Network (NCTN), a research network that provides treatment, screening, and diagnostic trials to over 3,000 clinical sites across the nation. Through this partnership, we’re able to begin clinical trials quickly, reach conclusions faster and offer studies that incorporate precision medicine and novel therapies that otherwise may not be available.
Leading-edge research delivered locally - As a Guthrie patient you may have the unique opportunity to take part in one or more of nearly 100 clinical research trials that involve new investigational treatments for many cancer types, and the potential to participate in select trials of novel cancer drugs. If you’re at risk for certain types of cancer, screening and prevention trials are also available. Guthrie research scientists are investigating several projects designed to explore cancer trends in our region and how they may affect the next generation of residents.
Clinical Trials
Clinical trials study new ways to prevent, detect and treat cancer. The NCI approves, oversees and provides funding for a large percentage of oncology clinical trials conducted each year in the United States. Guthrie’s participation in this network provides you access to valuable clinical trials without the burden and expense of traveling to a major metropolitan area.
As a result, you receive excellent care locally from the Guthrie Cancer Center team, while still being able to access cutting edge investigational therapies that are offered in large university settings and metropolitan areas. Clinical cancer trials might involve preventive measures and/or treatments, including chemotherapy, biotherapy, supportive care medications, radiation, experimental surgical techniques or devices, lab draws and/or alternative medicines.
Your physician can present you with options and help you determine whether a clinical trial is right for you. Most clinical trials offered at Guthrie are phase 2 or phase 3 studies which measure safety and efficacy (whether the investigational treatment benefits a specific group of patients).
We work with multiple labs, pharmaceutical groups, biotech companies, and the NCTN to offer you the chance to get innovative treatments, novel therapies and to assist with the future of cancer care.