{"title":"Latest Results from Immunotherapy Clinical Trials in Triple Negative Breast Cancer","authors":"A. Strimpakos, K. Tsigaridas, M. Avgoustidou","doi":"10.17140/ctpoj-2-105","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.17140/ctpoj-2-105","url":null,"abstract":"Cancer immunotherapy has evolved enormously in the recent years with better understanding of immune reactions, immune microenvironment and immunosurveillance. Breast cancer is characterized by large heterogeneity, a fact which rather complicated the development and the approval of novel therapeutic options in comparison to the majority of other solid tumors since each subtype has required a unique scientific approach and different targets and goals. Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is considered the most aggressive of the breast cancer subtypes with limited treatment options and worse outcome compared to others. This article summarizes some of the early clinical studies and the recently presented phase III clinical study of immunotherapy checkpoint inhibitors in this difficult setting","PeriodicalId":259842,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Trials and Practice – Open Journal","volume":"1 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-12-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"133268413","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Clinical Research: The Future of Medicine Stuck in the Digital Past","authors":"Elizabeth Del Mastro Benincasa","doi":"10.17140/ctpoj-2-107","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.17140/ctpoj-2-107","url":null,"abstract":"Opinion | Volume 1 | Number 1 | 34 Copyright 2019 by Benincasa EDM. This is an open-access article distributed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0), which allows to copy, redistribute, remix, transform, and reproduce in any medium or format, even commercially, provided the original work is properly cited. cc T past eight years I’ve spent working at clinical research sites have been gratifying in countless ways. From seeing direct patient improvement as a result of their involvement in a trial to learning about Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of a therapy on which we’ve conducted trials, the observable outcomes of contributing to the forefront of scientific knowledge are continuously rewarding. However, despite tangible medical field advances, day-to-day operations are often performed in an antiquated fashion. In this article, I highlight four outdated and inefficient methods still utilized in common clinical trial operations and offer suggestions for updated digital replacements.","PeriodicalId":259842,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Trials and Practice – Open Journal","volume":"26 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-12-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"125883032","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Cluster Randomized Controlled Trials: A Quick Update on Concepts and Types","authors":"B. Egbewale","doi":"10.17140/ctpoj-1-103","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.17140/ctpoj-1-103","url":null,"abstract":"Cluster randomized controlled trials have certain complexities both at design and statistical analysis stages of the experiment. Although, this experimental study approach offers solutions in situations where it would be inappropriate to randomize individuals into treatment arms its design and statistical analysis are not without certain unique challenges. Compared to individual randomized controlled trials, very limited understanding of the design concepts in cluster randomized controlled trials exists, this perhaps explain reasons it is not as popular as the former. This short note presents a quick description of cluster randomized controlled trials with a view to enhance capacity in its design, conduct and management. It will also provide students and researchers with ready-made information necessary to make appropriate choices regarding type of cluster randomized trials given a prevailing research environment.","PeriodicalId":259842,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Trials and Practice – Open Journal","volume":"26 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2017-12-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"134255793","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Clinical Investigations on Medical Devices, after the New European Regulation (2017/745)","authors":"S. Bianco, A. Nunziata, G. Pozzoli","doi":"10.17140/ctpoj-1-102","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.17140/ctpoj-1-102","url":null,"abstract":"Medical devices (MDs) include different products and their importance in the healthcare industry is truly remarkable. The recently issued Regulation 2017/745 (Reg. 2017/745) introduced several major changes concerning planning, conducting and reporting of clinical investigations (CIs). Manufacturers and independent researchers would have to adapt quickly to this complex regulation, as the transition period from the previous regulations to the new one would last only three years. The present study having analysed Reg. 2017/745, provides a reference guide for researchers willing to conduct a CI. In particular, this study focused on six aspects of practical interest: (1) significance of CIs in the clinical evaluation of MDs, (2) aims of a CI, (3) cases where a CI is mandatory and exceptions to this rule, (4) application procedure for a CI, (5) requirements for conducting CI, (6) serious adverse events (AE) reporting (7), CI results. The regulations governing CI are influenced by different international, national and regional laws and guidelines. The aim of the paper is to create awareness among the readers about complex regulations and provide the readers a reference to the EU regulations. In addition to that, the authors stress on some issues that they consider to be of particular importance. Even though this paper does not serve as a substitute or replacement of the regulation; it acts as a guide for the reference of the readers with respect to the EU, national and local regulations. The authors conclude that the design and conducting of CIs demands that the personnel in charge have the relevant training and expertise in the field of MDs.","PeriodicalId":259842,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Trials and Practice – Open Journal","volume":"210 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2017-12-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"133494990","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Model Based vs. Rule Based Designs in Phase I Dose Finding Clinical Trials","authors":"Yunfei Wang, Jichuan Wang","doi":"10.17140/ctpoj-1-e001","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.17140/ctpoj-1-e001","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":259842,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Trials and Practice – Open Journal","volume":"33 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2017-12-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"121383620","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Distribution and Conduct of Clinical Trials Involving Music Therapy: Registered Clinical Trials in the Last 15 Years","authors":"K. Yukawa, H. Fuji, H. Sato","doi":"10.17140/ctpoj-1-101","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.17140/ctpoj-1-101","url":null,"abstract":"Objective: This study aimed to conduct an evaluation of music therapy clinical trials worldwide, to understand what trials have been conducted and to show the chronological changes. Additionally, we sought to clarify issues related to providing clinical trial registration information. Methods: We searched the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) database for “music therapy,” and identified the disease target for each article found. Results: A total of 150 clinical trial studies were found in the ICTRP using the term “music therapy.” In these trials, music therapy was used for improvement of social functioning in schizophrenia and/or serious mental disorders, anxiety and depressive symptoms, and cancer symptoms. Twenty-five clinical trials were actively recruiting. Sixteen of the 25 trials were registered in the United States at ClinicalTrials.gov, of which 9 trials were conducted in the US. Seven trials were conducted in other countries such as Spain, Taiwan, and China. Conclusion: A search for music therapy clinical trials retrieved 150 trials from the ICTRP, and the number of clinical trial registrations has increased yearly. Music therapy is widely used in patients with various diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease, anxiety, and arthritic pain and has the potential to improve certain disease outcomes, but there is not enough evidence to substantiate its efficacy. It is important to enlighten researchers and pharmaceutical companies on the proper management of the quality of such clinical trial information, as this is an important issue.","PeriodicalId":259842,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Trials and Practice – Open Journal","volume":"630 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2017-12-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"116408094","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}