Clinical Trials Explained

A breast cancer clinical trial is a research study that investigates new treatments, drugs, or medical procedures for breast cancer patients. These trials are conducted to determine the safety and effectiveness of these new approaches, and may involve testing the therapies on humans. Participation in a breast cancer clinical trial can provide patients with access to potentially life-saving treatments and may help advance scientific knowledge about breast cancer.

There are many ongoing clinical trials for metastatic breast cancer, and some of the newest ones include:

  1. Personalized Cancer Vaccines - These clinical trials aim to develop personalized cancer vaccines that can help to activate the immune system to fight cancer cells. The vaccines are developed using a patient's own cancer cells and are designed to stimulate the immune system to recognize and attack the cancer cells.
  2. Antibody-Drug Conjugates - These clinical trials are testing drugs that target specific proteins involved in the growth and spread of cancer cells. The drugs are designed to deliver a toxic payload directly to the cancer cells, minimizing the effects on healthy cells.
  3. PARP Inhibitors - These clinical trials are testing drugs that target a specific enzyme called poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) which is involved in DNA repair. PARP inhibitors are used to treat certain subtypes of metastatic breast cancer that have specific genetic changes.
  4. Bi-Specific Antibodies - These clinical trials are testing drugs that target two different proteins on cancer cells, leading to more effective cancer cell death.
  5. Immune Cell Therapy - These clinical trials are testing the use of immune cells, such as T cells, to attack cancer cells. The immune cells can be modified to target specific cancer cells and are then infused back into the patient.

It's important to note that the results of these clinical trials are not yet known and that the treatments may not be safe or effective for everyone. Additionally, participating in a clinical trial is a personal decision that should be made in consultation with a medical team. They can provide more information about ongoing clinical trials and help to determine if participation is a good option for you.