Early Clinical Trials - unrealistic patient expectations

Longtermsurvivor

Cancer patients are overly optimistic that early trials will shrink their tumors

Cancer patients are keen to jump into Phase I clinical trials, but their expectations are unrealistic, according to a study coming out later today in Cancer. Such trials are mostly about assessing drug safety; they use low drug doses to minimize risk. Typically only 4 to 20 percent of patients see their cancer shrink, and the median overall survival is six months. Researchers interviewed 396 cancer patients in the U.K. and found that nearly half thought their tumors would shrink in a Phase I trial, even after speaking with clinical staff. Fourteen percent expected a cure. The lead researcher called the findings "sobering."

from https://www.statnews.com