FINDING A CLINICAL TRIAL

For patients who don’t respond to standard treatments, a clinical trial may be the answer.

Jennifer Phillips, whose 16-year-old son, Skylar Martin, is in remission thanks to CAR T, didn’t learn about the new treatment from her son’s doctor. A friend who worked at the drug company that was testing CAR T in clinical trials told her about it. Physician Jeff Backer, who received CAR T therapy after chemotherapy failed to keep his cancer at bay, learned about the new treatment—in clinical trials at the time—only when he went for a second opinion. “There are no billboards announcing clinical trials,” says Dr. Backer. “When you’re fighting a disease like this, you have to be your own advocate. You have to search and ask and learn as much as you can.”

Hundreds of clinical trials are currently testing experimental cancer treatments, including new uses of CAR T. Finding them isn’t always easy. The National Institutes of Health maintains a website that lists all federally and privately funded clinical trials. The searchable site (clinicaltrials.gov) indicates which trials are enrolling patients and who is eligible to participate. But beware: Understanding the complex scientific details of clinical trials can be daunting. If you’re interested in participating in a trial, talk to your doctor. If you’re not satisfied with the answers, go for a second opinion.