St. Joseph's/Candler Health System has initiated a pioneering clinical trial investigating personalized dosing strategies for CDK4/6 inhibitors in metastatic breast cancer treatment. The study is being conducted at three locations, including the Nancy N. and J.C. Lewis Cancer and Research Pavilion in Savannah, and St. Joseph's/Candler South Carolina Cancer Specialists in Bluffton and Hilton Head.
The CDK4/6 Inhibitor Dosing Knowledge Study aims to address a critical challenge in cancer treatment: finding the optimal balance between drug efficacy and patient tolerability. The trial explores two distinct dosing approaches - a titrated strategy beginning with lower doses that gradually increase, and a standard dosing protocol with subsequent dose reductions as needed.
"These drugs, when they're developed, are typically developed to the maximum tolerable dose, instead of like the minimum therapeutic dose," explains Dr. Leonard Henry, Medical Director for the Lewis Cancer and Research Pavilion and principal investigator of the study. "So, these drugs have side effects, and that can truncate treatment and adversely impact outcomes."
Advancing Local Cancer Care
The selection of St. Joseph's/Candler locations for this trial was based on their strong track record of patient enrollment success. This initiative is part of the health system's broader commitment to bringing cutting-edge cancer research directly to local communities, eliminating the need for patients to travel to distant medical centers for advanced treatment options.
"One of the major barriers to accruing patients to clinical research is historically they have to travel to centers where the studies are open," notes Dr. Henry. "We're fortunate here. It's very important to us to be one of those centers where we have a pipeline of good trials straight from the National Institute of Health to open them for people in our communities."
Real-World Impact and Research Portfolio
The study addresses daily challenges faced by patients undergoing breast cancer treatment. It represents one of nearly 50 clinical trials currently underway at the Lewis Cancer and Research Pavilion, demonstrating the institution's commitment to advancing cancer care through research.
The trial has already begun enrolling patients, with the first participant recently joining the study. Dr. Henry expressed optimism about the potential outcomes, citing encouraging results from similar dosing approaches currently employed by clinical oncologists.
This research initiative exemplifies how regional medical centers can contribute to advancing cancer treatment while ensuring local communities have access to state-of-the-art clinical trials and comprehensive cancer care without the burden of long-distance travel.
