Lafayette General Medical Center Conducting Clinical Trial on Colorectal Cancer

Cancer Center of Acadiana (CCA) at Lafayette General Medical Center is seeking men and women, ages 18 and older, diagnosed with colorectal cancer to participate in a clinical trial.

This research study will evaluate the impact of support and education offered by health care providers to certain patients. These patients must show an absence of progression from metastatic colorectal cancer after being treated with the Bayer product Regorafenib.

This is a Phase 4 clinical trial. A Phase 4 clinical trial is an after-market evaluation of a drug’s impact while it is in active medical use.

CCA Oncologist Sal Malad, M.D., is principle investigator of this study, sponsored by Bayer, in cooperation with other CCA oncologists. The study will attempt to learn if educating physicians and patients changes patient outcomes. The education and support would be provided through an iPad application with links to grading, dose reduction and side effect management, as well as references for additional articles.

CCA participates in clinical trials and studies to help improve patient care and disease prevention. Clinical trials can offer several benefits, such as access to investigational treatments and drugs that might not otherwise be available. Trials also help expand knowledge about the best ways to treat cancer.

Clinical trials also empower a patient who may not be responding ideally to treatment to make his or her own decision. Physicians, nurses and other team members at CCA will thoroughly instruct a patient on potential risks and benefits of participating in a clinical trial. The staff will then closely monitor and assess the progress of the trial and continue this through follow-up care.

When patients participate in a clinical trial, they are not only advancing medical technology, they are providing a valuable benefit to future generations. The goal of clinical trials at CCAis to support the patient-centered approach to health care.

For more information on this and other clinical trials available at Lafayette General Medical Center, call (337) 289-8658.