Recent lung cancer research is looking at a therapy called targeted therapy. Targeted therapies are the foundation of precision medicine, which uses information about a person's genes to help doctors decide which therapy is most likely to be effective. The hope of precision medicine is that cancer treatments can be tailored to the genetic changes unique to each cancer patient.
Targeted therapy drugs focus on specific genes and proteins associated with cancer. They are a type of chemotherapy that is a bit more exact or "targeted" than traditional chemotherapy. Most targeted therapies stop cancer cells from reproducing, instead of killing existing cancer cells (and sometimes normal cells) like many traditional chemotherapies.
Our study is testing a targeted therapy to see if it can help prevent the return of
non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after it has been treated.
Without research studies, we wouldn't have scientifically tested treatments for conditions like lung cancer. Research studies provide an organized blueprint for testing the effectiveness and safety of an investigational medication or treatment.
Research studies can also be called clinical trials, clinical studies, clinical research, or other things. They are designed to answer specific questions about an investigational medicine or treatment.
Some questions that research studies can help us answer include:
Is the investigational medication effective?
Is the investigational medication safe?
What are the side effects of the investigational medication?
This is a phase 3 research study. These studies take place after the investigational medication's safety has been tested in a small group of people. Phase 3 research studies are usually the first to look at an investigational medication's effectiveness and safety compared to the standard treatment for a disease or condition.
Learn more about the four-step drug approval process, including what is commonly involved in each phase.
The goal of phase 1 research studies is to see if the investigational medication is appropriately safe to keep testing in people. Scientists test the safety and dosing range of an investigational medication or treatment in a small group of healthy people. If the clinical trial is successful, the investigational medication moves to phase 2 clinical trials.
70%
Months
20-100 healthy volunteers
The goal of phase 2 research studies is to see if the investigational medication works and to note side effects. Scientists test whether an investigational medication works in a larger group of people with a specific disease or condition. If the clinical trial is successful, the investigational medication moves to phase 3 clinical trials.
33%
Months to Years
100-300 people with the specific disease or condition
The goal of phase 3 research studies is to compare the investigational medication to the standard treatment. Scientists test whether an investigational medication is more effective than the standard treatment in people with a specific disease or condition. If the clinical trial is successful, the investigational medication becomes eligible for approval to be prescribed and sold and moves to phase 4 clinical trials.
25%-30%
Months to Decades
300-3000 people with the specific disease or condition
The goal of phase 4 research studies is for the potential medication to become the new standard treatment. Scientists collect data about the real-world experiences of people taking the new drug, over a long time. If the clinical trial is successful, the potential medication can continue to be prescribed and sold, possibly for new uses.
Not Applicable
Months to Decades
Several thousand people with the specific disease or condition
