Clinical Trials are carefully monitored cancer treatments or research studies that test new treatments in cancer patients. It has been widely reported that practically every advancement in cancer treatment resulted from Clinical Trials. Dr. Michael Samuels, Radiation Oncologist, and Clinical Trials Co-Investigator with Mount Sinai Comprehensive Cancer Center, specialist in head, neck and lung cancers, is one of many Clinical Trial proponents who lectures nationwide regarding the subject of drugs which protect normal tissues from the effects of radiation therapy and the benefits of testing those drugs in Clinical Trials.

THE CLINICAL TRIAL ADVANTAGE
“When I see a new patient, I always think about what clinical trial that patient could possibly be enrolled in,” explains Dr. Samuels. “I tell them about the clinical trials that they are eligible for and I remind them that almost everything that we know about treating our cancer patients - no matter what the modality: radiation, chemo or surgery - comes from other patients having participated in Clinical Trials. As an example, right now, we just completed putting a rather large series of patients on a head and neck cancer trial that involves chemotherapy and radiation therapy and is asking very interesting questions about how the radiation should be given. The people who participated just a few years ago in trials that came earlier helped us to answer equally important questions about the use of chemotherapy in head and neck cancer. So when I explain that to patients that they are directly benefiting from that last generation of patients participating in trials, I think that it motivates them to want to do their part and participate in a trial so that future patients can benefit from what we learn from this group.”