Florida Cancer Specialists Clinical Trials Program Emphasizes Advantages For Both Current and Future Cancer Patients
- Amanda Bridges
- February 22, 2018
- News
Fort Myers, FL – February 19, 2018… According to the National Institutes of Health*, only about two percent of cancer patients participate in clinical trials in the United States. That’s a perplexing statistic for most oncologists, who recognize the critical role clinical research holds in the treatment of cancer. While virtually everyone acknowledges the benefit clinical research has for the advancement of promising cancer treatments in the future, the advantages for current cancer patients are often overlooked, according to the nearly 140 Physician Investigators who participate in Clinical Trials Research at Florida Cancer Specialists.
Florida Cancer Specialists has been a long-time advocate of clinical research in the community oncology setting. The practice’s pioneering work in this area resulted in a strategic partnership with the Sarah Cannon Research Institute, one of the leading clinical trial organizations in the world. Together, Sarah Cannon and FCS have forged a revolutionary clinical trial program within the FCS statewide network that sets a national benchmark for community oncology and rivals most academic medical centers.
The success of the FCS Clinical Trials Program can be attributed to the efforts of many dedicated physicians and senior leaders in the practice. Almost 70% of FCS oncologists are Physician Investigators participating in clinical trial research; there are also 124 Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners (ARNPs) and Physician Assistants (PAs) who take part in clinical trials research, as well as 100 full-time research staff, who work exclusively in the FCS Clinical Trials program.
Heading the FCS Clinical Trials Program, Dr. James Reeves, Jr., Director of Research Operations, and Dr. Manish Patel, Director of Drug Development for both FCS and Sarah Cannon, work closely with Director of Research Katie Goodman, RN, BSN, CCRP, to ensure , to ensure compliance with all Institutional Review Board (IRB) regulations and guidelines, which are designated to protect the rights, safety and well-being of humans who are participating in a clinical trial.
In 2017, the FCS Clinical Trials Program opened new Phase 2/3 research sites in Vero Beach, Ormond Beach, Ocala and Fleming Island, so that patients in those areas can participate in clinical trials in the community where they live. Overall, the Phase 2/3 trials accruals increased by 4% and FCS contributed to FDA novel drug approvals, with almost 70% of all new drugs approved in 2017 being studied in clinical trials with FCS participation. These drugs included Bavencio (avelumab), a treatment for an aggressive form of metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma, Idhifa (enasidenib), to treat adults with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia and Zejula (niraparib) for the maintenance treatment of adults with recurrent epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancer.
Dr. Reeves, who practices in Fort Myers, explained, “One of the greatest things is to be able to tell a patient ‘We have a new drug that is less toxic and it works better,’ and then to start that therapy and see it work. That all happens because of the research. It is so gratifying to know that we at FCS are contributing to improving treatment for our patients.”
Echoing his colleague’s sentiment, FCS Founder & President Dr. William Harwin says improving cancer care for his patients is the driving force behind his passion for clinical trials. As one of the leading Physician Investigators in the practice (Harwin was ranked #1 in patient accruals at FCS for eight out of the last ten years), the FCS Founder is extremely proud of FCS’ Drug Development Unit (DDU) in Sarasota, dedicated exclusively to Phase 1 clinical trials, that has significantly contributed to the international body of knowledge and the development of many advanced treatments for all types of cancer.
“Clinical trials have always been a very important part of our practice and the jewel of the FCS platform is our Phase 1 program,” Dr. Harwin stated. “Plans are currently underway to open a second DDU later this year in Lake Mary, Florida. It’s wonderful to give patients that alternative… and it’s one of the things that sets us apart from any other oncology practice.”
* Frontiers in Oncology. 2016; 6: 103.
Published online 2016 Apr 25. DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2016.00103
About Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute: (FLCancer.com)
Founded in 1984, Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute (FCS) is the largest independent medical oncology/hematology practice in the United States. With over 200 physicians, more than 170 nurse practitioners and physician assistants and nearly 100 locations in our network, we are committed to providing world-class cancer care in community-based settings close to home.
Recognized by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) with a national Clinical Trials Participation Award, FCS offers patients access to more clinical trials than any private oncology practice in Florida. 84% of new cancer drugs approved in 2016 for use in the U.S. were studied in clinical trials conducted with FCS participation*. Our physicians are consistently ranked nationally as Top Doctors by U.S. News & World Report.Trained in such prestigious medical schools and research institutes as Duke, Stanford, Harvard, Emory, M.D. Anderson, and Memorial Sloan-Kettering, the physicians of Florida Cancer Specialists provide leadership and consultation in the state’s leading hospitals.
FCS serves patients on the Gulf Coast from Naples to the greater Tampa Bay area, north as far as Tallahassee, in Orlando and surrounding Central Florida communities, and on the East Coast from Jacksonville/Fleming Island to Palm Beach County.
Florida Cancer Specialists has built a national reputation for excellence that is reflected in exceptional and compassionate patient care, driven by innovative clinical research and cutting-edge technologies that help advance targeted treatments and genetically-based immunotherapies, and embodied by our outstanding team of highly-trained and dedicated physicians, clinicians and staff.
* Prior to approval
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