SELECTED FUNDED PROJECTS

The NCI Best Case Series Program New Protocol: A Retrospective Review of Cases of Cancer Patients Treated with an Alternative Regimen

NCI is committed to finding innovative, promising treatments for people with cancer. A research protocol entitled “NCI Best Case Series Program: A Retrospective Review of Cases of Cancer Patients Treated with an Alternative Regimen” provides a process for independent review of medical records and medical imaging from patients treated with unconventional cancer therapies to determine if NCI-initiated research on a specific intervention is warranted. The program has been in existence since about 1991 and approval of a new protocol allows for more details of the reviews conducted to be made available to the public through scientific publications.

Primary Objectives

• To verify the pathological diagnosis of cancer
• To verify objective changes in the tumor measurements during the time period of the alternative intervention
• To verify the medical history

Secondary Objectives

• To verify the progression-free survival time of individual patients
• To verify the overall survival time of individual patients

Eligibility Criteria

• Pathologically or cytologically confirmed diagnosis of cancer
• Treatment with an alternative approach exclusively or ≥ 4 weeks after conventional treatment
• Detectable disease prior to the start of the alternative treatment
• Adequate documentation in the medical records of conventional and alternative regimens, and dates of interventions
• Identifiable, objective changes in the malignancy during time of treatment

Program Outcomes

• Potential recommendation for NCI-initiated research
• Potential publication of NCI review in a peer-reviewed journal

For more information, contact:
Dr. Oluwadamilola Olaku
Case Review and Intramural Science Program
Office of Cancer Complementary and Alternative Medicine (OCCAM)
6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 609
Bethesda, MD 20892-8339
Phone: 301-435-7980; Fax: 301-480-0075
www.cancer.gov/cam
ncioccam1-r@mail.nih.gov