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Cancer research through clinical trials and specialized studies is central to the Cancer Care Group mission of providing state-of-art cancer treatment. This commitment allows patients to receive the same research trials in their community that are available in university hospital centers around the country.
Cancer Care Group participates in the following research groups: RTOG (Radiation Therapy Oncology Group), ECOG (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group), and HOG (Hoosier Oncology Group). The following is a partial listing of the research trials available for patients. As these trials change constantly, the following is not a complete listing of all trials offered at our radiation centers:
RADIATION THERAPY ONCOLOGY GROUP PROTOCOLS (RTOG) Clinical Trials
Breast Cancer
RTOG 98-04: This study is for women with very early stage breast cancer. After your surgical removal of this cancer, your physicians will discuss with you the options for followup treatment. Radiation therapy, a treatment using high-energy x-rays may decrease the chance of cancer coming back in the affected breast. The anti-estrogen tamoxifen also may be appropriate to reduce the risk of the cancer returning and would be taken for five years. You and your physician will decide if your treatment will include the tamoxifen.
The options with this study are either I Observation with or without tamoxifen or II Radiation therapy with or without tamoxifen.
Prostate Cancer
RTOG 99-02: This study is for men in whom prostate cancer is considered high-risk of spreading outside the prostate. Standard therapy for this stage cancer would include both radiation therapy and hormone. In this study, you would receive both. In addition, half the patients will also receive chemotherapy drugs for about 3-4 months. It is hoped that the chemotherapy will be found to provide additional benefit, but chemotherapy does have side effects that would be explained by your physician.
The options for this study are either I Eight weeks of hormone therapy (timed -release injection and pills) followed by approximately eight weeks of radiation to your pelvis and prostate. Once radiation is completed, you will stop taking the pills, but continue the injections for 20 months;
Or II The exact treatment for treatment I plus, after 28 days after radiation ends, you will receive a combination of chemotherapy pills and intravenous medicines. These will be given every three weeks for four times. Your physician will explain information about radiation therapy, hormones and chemotherapy in detail.
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