Great Lakes Cancer Management Specialists is a major participant in national clinical trials in the field of oncology. It is a major affiliate of the Michigan Cancer Research Consortium (MCRC). This organization is a network of large community hospitals in Michigan that participate in National Cancer Institute (NCI) sponsored trials. Recently the NCI named the Michigan Cancer Research Consortium as one of only 10 organizations in the country to have unprecedented access to clinical trials. This offers patients of GLCMS more options than even the major academic medical centers in the area. Dr. Robert Leonard serves as the Principal Investigator for clinical trials at the Van Elslander Cancer Center at St. John Hospital & Medical Center and represents both the hospital and GLCMS in matters with the MCRC. This association provides access to the following major national groups:

• National Surgical Adjuvant Breast Project (NSABP)
• Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG)
• Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG)
• Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG)
• North Central Cancer Treatment Group (NCCTG)

Major national trials are now underway in virtually all major cancer types including breast cancer prevention (the STAR trial) as well the sentinel node trial for breast cancer. Participation in clinical trials offers patients a valuable option to consider in their cancer treatment. These protocols have eligibility criteria which are strictly defined and the treatment program has been designed by national experts in that particular tumor type. GLCMS must strictly comply with these standards assuring top quality control in order to continue their participation. Studies have clearly demonstrated that physicians that participate in this clinical research provide more updated quality care to all patients even those who chose not to enroll or are not eligible.

GLCMS primarily participates in 2 types of trials:

Phase II - a single arm treatment trial, which is trying to define a promising treatment program for types of cancer types where there is no clearly established standard of care.

All patients enrolled receive the same treatment.

Phase III - a trial that involves more than 1 treatment arm which compares the "standard of care" to new treatment options which have been defined in previous Phase II trials.

Neither the patient nor the doctor can pick a specific therapy. The national office coordinating the study randomly assigns the particular treatment program for an individual patient. This is essentially done by the equivalent of flipping a coin.

Treatment within the context of such a clinical trial is not always possible or the best option in a specific situation. Your physician at GLCMS can explore this possibility with you as your treatment plan is formulated.