Avera Cancer Institute is broadening its reach by expanding access to cancer clinical trials, including Phase 1 studies, to patients in rural locations. This initiative aims to provide advanced treatment options without the need for patients to travel to major urban centers.
Enhancing Rural Access to Novel Therapies
Avera's care delivery model ensures consistent, evidence-based protocols across its six regional cancer centers. "When it comes to standard of care, patients receive top-quality care at Avera, just as they would at a larger academic cancer center," said Dr. Heidi McKean, Avera medical oncologist and gastrointestinal oncology medical director. The expansion of clinical trials, particularly Phase 1 trials, represents a significant step forward.
The Significance of Phase 1 Trials
Phase 1 trials are the first step in testing new drugs in humans, focusing on safety and dosage. "Many community cancer centers like Avera offer Phase 3 clinical trials. But for a community cancer center like Avera Cancer Institute to offer Phase 1, first-in-human clinical trials – this is extremely rare," said Dr. David Starks, Avera gynecologic oncologist and clinical director of research at Avera Cancer Institute. These trials offer the most novel treatment options available, potentially providing hope for patients with advanced or treatment-resistant cancers.
Building Expertise and Infrastructure
Avera has strategically developed the expertise and infrastructure required to conduct Phase 1 trials safely and effectively. This includes rigorous training for physicians, nurses, advanced practice providers, pharmacists, and laboratory staff. "Our responsibility to the study is to make sure we’re conducting the study as cleanly and as precisely as possible," Starks said. This commitment to precision ensures patient safety and the integrity of study results.
Avera's Growing Reputation
Avera's dedication to advancing cancer care has garnered recognition, with referrals now coming from academic programs and large cancer centers. Dr. McKean, for example, enrolled the first U.S. patient and is the highest enroller globally in a Phase 1 clinical trial. "Avera has proven to be competitive with larger academic cancer centers that have been doing this work for decades," McKean noted. "This is happening at Avera because we care enough about our patients to offer them these opportunities to have more options for effective treatment."
The Future of Cancer Care at Avera
With oncology leading in the number of approved drugs, Avera is motivated to stay at the forefront of cancer care. The goal is to cure cancer whenever possible through various treatments, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, cellular therapy, and immunotherapy. For patients with advanced-stage cancer, the focus shifts to maintaining and extending their time cancer-free or in remission, thanks to the continuous emergence of new drugs.
