A clinical trial is a research study designed to answer specific questions about ways to prevent, detect, diagnose and/or treat an illness. Participants may include either healthy individuals or those with a disease, depending upon the nature of the study.

Participation in a clinical trial is voluntary. Following a thorough explanation of the risks and benefits of the study, informed consent is obtained in writing. Even so, a Participant in a clinical trial may withdraw from the study at any time without prejudicing their subsequent medical care in any way.

Cancer clinical trials allow physicians to evaluate new approaches to cancer treatment. This may involve surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, biologic therapy, or a combination of these modalities. Methods of prevention, detection, and diagnosis also may be the subject of a trial.

The Cancer Center of Paoli Hospital provides the most advanced treatment and prevention clinical trials through its affiliation with Fox Chase Cancer Center as a Network Hospital and through its National Cancer Institute (NCI) designation as a Community Clinical Oncology Program (CCOP).

The Main Line Health Community Clinical Oncology Program
More than 80% of patients with cancer are diagnosed and treated in their local communities. In 1983, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) began the Community Clinical Oncology Program (CCOP) so that these individuals could benefit from the latest developments in cancer research.

Community hospitals throughout the country compete for CCOP federally funded awards. Since 1994, the Cancer Center of Paoli Hospital has been part of the Main Line Health CCOP (along with the cancer programs at Bryn Mawr and Lankenau Hospitals). The Main Line Health CCOP serves nearly one million people in an area extending from northwest Philadelphia into Montgomery, Delaware and Chester counties. Through the CCOP, area residents have access to nationally recognized cancer prevention and cancer treatment clinical trials right in their own community.

The Main Line Health CCOP is also affiliated with six nationally and internationally known research organizations:

• M.D. Anderson Cancer Center at the University of Texas
• Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG)
• National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP)
• Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG)
• Fox Chase Research Base (FCRB)

Through these organizations, Paoli Hospital offers innovative cancer prevention trials as well as state-of-the-art cancer treatment trials to our community.

Although clinical research trials have provided the answers to many questions about how to treat and/or prevent cancer, only 2-3% of all adult cancer patients take part in clinical trials. With clinical trials available to the community through the CCOPs, community members have the opportunity to join the war against cancer. Through their increased willingness to participate in clinical research trials, critical questions about cancer will be answered.

For additional information on cancer clinical research trials at Paoli Hospital,
contact Rosheen McCutcheon 610-648-1637.

Current Cancer Clinical Trials

Take Part in Our Newest Clinical Trial...and Kick the Habit! The Main Line Health CCOP has opened a new clinical trial on Smoking Cessation. We're looking for smokers who want to quit to take part in this important study. Get Details!

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