New Hope for Patients . . .
New Hope for a Cure

Today, more than 50 percent of cancer patients can be cured with conventional treatments – that is, therapies with a proven response rate. However, many patients who do not respond to standard treatment may be eligible for participation in our Phase I clinical trials program.

Phase I trials are the cornerstone for advancement of new therapies. A Phase I trial represents the clinical starting point for all new drugs undergoing clinical evaluation in patients. It is a critical step in medications that ultimately receive FDA approval and often represents the first time a drug or compound is being tested in humans. San Antonio has been a leader in Phase I clinical trials with 15 of the last 20 new agents approved by the FDA for cancer treatment undergoing their first clinical evaluation in this city.

A Phase I study is designed to understand many aspects of an anticancer compound that has shown promising results in the laboratory.

For researchers, the goal is to evaluate the compound’s overall safety, determine a safe dosage range, and identify side effects. It also allows researchers to study how the drug will act in the body and whether or not it gives benefit to patients.

For patients, participating in a Phase I clinical trial gives them access to some of the latest cancer treatments. Patients who go on these studies are true pioneers as their participation may lead to groundbreaking data that can ultimately lead to newer and better drugs for patients with advanced cancer.

This is where START is making true inroads into the advancement of cancer care as our research efforts are resulting in the accelerated development of such therapies.