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Ongoing NCI CER-related activities

  • Blood and Marrow Transplant (BMT) Clinical Trials Network logoBlood and Marrow Transplant (BMT) Clinical Trials Network (CTN)Exit Disclaimer: BMT CTN was established in October 2001 to conduct large multi-institutional clinical trials. The trials will address important issues in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), thereby furthering understanding of the best possible treatment approaches. Participating CTN investigators collaborate through an organizationExit Disclaimer designed to maintain continuity of operations, to facilitate effective communication and cooperation among participating transplant centers and with collaborators at the National Institutes of Health, and to offer trials participation to patients in all regions of the U.S.
  • Cancer Intervention and Surveillance Modeling Network logoCancer Intervention and Surveillance Modeling Network (CISNET): CISNET is a consortium of NCI-sponsored investigators that use statistical modeling to improve our understanding of cancer control interventions in prevention, screening, and treatment and their effects on population trends in incidence and mortality. These models can be used to guide public health research and priorities.
    Contact: Eric J. (Rocky) Feuer, Ph.D.
  • Cancer Research Network logoCancer Research Network (CRN): The HMO Cancer Research Network (CRN) consists of the research programs, enrolled populations, and data systems of 14 health maintenance organizations nationwide. The overall goal of the CRN, and the NCI initiative under which it was funded, is to use this consortium of delivery systems to conduct research on cancer prevention, early detection, treatment, long-term care, surveillance, and cancer communication and dissemination and implementation research. A portfolio of research studies encompasses cancer control topics ranging from modification of behavioral risk factors such as smoking to cancer care at the end of life.
    Contact: Martin L. Brown, Ph.D.
  • part of the NCI Community Cancer Centers Program logoNCI Community Cancer Centers Program: The NCI Community Cancer Centers Program (NCCCP) is a three-year pilot program to test the concept of a national network of community cancer centers to expand cancer research and deliver the latest, most advanced cancer care to a greater number of Americans in the communities in which they live. The NCCCP extends the reach of NCI research into more U.S. states, cities, and towns, including rural areas and inner cities.
    Contact: Frank Blanchard
  • SEER-Medicare Health Outcomes Survey (MHOS) Linkage Project: The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare Health Outcomes Survey (SEER-MHOS) linked database is a research resource designed to improve our understanding of the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of cancer patients and survivors enrolled in Medicare health plans. SEER-MHOS is sponsored by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
  • SEER-Medicare Linked Database: The SEER-Medicare data reflect the linkage of two large population-based sources of data that provide detailed information about elderly persons with cancer. The data come from the SEER program of cancer registries that collect clinical, demographic and cause of death information for persons with cancer and the Medicare claims for covered health care services from the time of a person's Medicare eligibility until death.
    Contact: Elaine Yanisko

Featured Clinical Trials

  • Adjuvant Bisphosphonates for Breast Cancer Trial: Drugs called bisphosphonates have been shown to slow the progression of bone metastases and reduce skeletal complications in women with metastatic breast cancer. Bisphosphonates may also prevent the development of bone metastases in newly diagnosed patients with no evidence of metastasis. Breast cancer cells stimulate bone cells called osteoclasts, and these osteoclasts in turn stimulate the growth of breast cancer cells. A bisphosphonate called clodronate has been shown to interrupt the relationship between osteoclasts and breast cancer cells in early stage breast cancer. With this trial, the researchers are comparing clodronate with two newer, more-potent bisphosphonates-zoledronate and ibandronate.
  • part of the National Lung Screening Trial logoNational Lung Screening Trial: Compares two ways of detecting lung cancer: spiral computed tomography (CT) and standard chest X-ray. Both chest X-rays and spiral CT scans have been used to find lung cancer early. So far, neither chest X-rays nor spiral CT scans has been shown to reduce a person's chance of dying from lung cancer. This study will aim to show if either test is better at reducing deaths from this disease.
  • Prophylactic Removal of Ovaries to Reduce Cancer Risk Trial: This trial examines the impact of preventive surgery (Salpingo-oophorectomy – to remove the ovaries) on quality of life, and the consequences of premature menopause in women at high-risk for ovarian cancer. In addition, there will be genome-wide association studies evaluating polymorphisms in BRCA mutations to refine the model of risk based on specific BRCA mutations. This trial is important because women with mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes (genes that normally help to suppress cell growth) face cumulative risks of developing ovarian cancer of 16-40%. For these women, preventive removal of the ovaries and fallopian tubes lowers the risk of ovarian and breast cancer, but the magnitude of these reductions is still uncertain.
  • Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial: The PLCO, is a large-scale clinical trial to determine whether certain cancer screening tests reduce deaths from prostate, lung, colorectal and ovarian cancer. The underlying rationale for the trial is that screening for cancer may enable doctors to discover and treat the disease earlier.
  • TAILORx: Testing Personalized Treatment for Breast Cancer The Trial Assigning IndividuaLized Options for Treatment (Rx), or TAILORx, is examining whether genes that are frequently associated with risk of recurrence for women with early-stage breast cancer can be used to assign patients to the most appropriate and effective treatment. TAILORx seeks to incorporate a molecular profiling test (a technique that examines many genes simultaneously) into clinical decision making, and thus spare women unnecessary treatment if chemotherapy is not likely to be of substantial benefit. TAILORx is one of the first trials to examine a methodology for personalizing cancer treatment.

Search for other Clinical Trials that may be CER.


Last Updated: November 1, 2011
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