Executive Summary
Clinical trials are conducted for all types of adrenal tumors and stages of adrenal cancer. The individuals focus on new treatments to analyze if new treatments are safe, effective, and maybe superior to existing ones. These clinical trials evaluate the efficacy of new drugs, therapies, radiation therapy or surgery approaches, and unique treatments. The people participating in clinical trials might become the first to receive treatment before made public. But, clinical trials for adrenal gland tumor carry some risks, including possible side effects and the possibility that new treatments may not work. Several clinical studies explore new ways to reduce symptoms and side effects during treatment.
Possibilities and Risks
However, clinical trials for adrenal gland tumor might carry some risks, including possible side effects and the possibility that new treatments may not work. That is why people are encouraged to be in touch with their health team about the pros and cons of participating in a particular study. Several clinical studies explore new ways to reduce symptoms and side effects during treatment 1. Others are looking for ways to treat the long-term effects that can occur long after treatment. So, talk to your health practitioner about clinical trials for symptoms and side effects.
Doctors and scientists usually look for better alternatives to care for people with adrenal tumors. To advance science, doctors work with volunteers to carry out research, so-called clinical research. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves all drugs tested in clinical trials. Researcher conduct clinical trials for all types of adrenal tumors and stages of adrenal cancer. Many people focus on new treatments to see if new treatments are safe, effective, and maybe superior to existing ones. These studies evaluate new drugs, therapies, radiation therapy or surgery approaches, and unique treatments. The people participating in clinical trials may be the first to receive treatment before becoming public.
Choosing Clinical Trials
People mostly choose to participate in clinical trials for many reasons. For some people, clinical trials are the best treatment option available. Hence, patients are often willing to face additional uncertainties in clinical trials to get better results, as standard treatments are not perfect. Other patients volunteer for clinical trials, knowing that these trials are the only way to advance the treatment of adrenal tumors. Their participation may benefit future patients with adrenal tumors, even if they do not benefit directly from clinical trials. Insurance coverage and clinical trial costs vary by location and trial. So, some of the costs of participating in clinical trials are reimbursed for some programs. Others do not.
It is vital to first consult with your research team and insurance company to see if your treatment is covered in clinical trials and how it is covered. As a matter of fact, some are worried that they may not be treated with placebo or “sugar pills” in clinical trials. When placebos are used, they are mostly combined with standard treatment in most clinical cancer studies. Research participants will always get notification before using a placebo in a study.
Also Read: Screening of Adrenal Cancer
Patient safety and informed consent
To participate in Clinical Trials, patients must participate in informed consent 2. In the process of informed consent, doctors need to:
- Explain all treatment options to understand how new treatments differ from standard treatments.
- Lists the risks of new treatments that may or may not differ from the dangers of standard therapy.
- Explain what each patient needs to participate in a clinical trial, including the number of visits, tests, and doctor’s treatment plans.
- Explain the purpose of the clinical trial and what the researchers are trying to learn.
Clinical trials for adrenal gland tumor also have specific “qualification criteria” rules that help structure the study and ensure patient safety. So, you and your research team will carefully examine these criteria together. People participating in a clinical trial may terminate their participation for personal or medical reasons. It may include new treatments that do not work or have serious side effects.
Experts closely monitor the clinical trials while looking for questions in each test. Individuals participating in a clinical trial may talk to doctors and researchers about who will provide treatment and care during and after the clinical trial and whether the patient will complete the clinical trial early 3.
References
- 1.Kopf D, Goretzki PE, Lehnert H. Clinical management of malignant adrenal tumors. Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology. Published online February 16, 2001:143-155. doi:10.1007/s004320000170
- 2.Schteingart DE, Doherty GM, Gauger PG, et al. Management of patients with adrenal cancer: recommendations of an international consensus conference. Endocr Relat Cancer. Published online September 2005:667-680. doi:10.1677/erc.1.01029
- 3.Mansmann G, Lau J, Balk E, Rothberg M, Miyachi Y, Bornstein SR. The Clinically Inapparent Adrenal Mass: Update in Diagnosis and Management. Endocrine Reviews. Published online April 1, 2004:309-340. doi:10.1210/er.2002-0031