OUR RESEARCH
WHAT IS A CLINICAL TRIAL?
Clinical trials are an important part of our health system and aim to determine if a new treatment is more effective than those currently accepted as the best available standard of care. All treatments used in the clinic today across Australia and New Zealand have been proven to be safe and effective through clinical trials research.
Our clinical trials involve a unique collaboration between our researchers, clinical trial participants and our supporters, who all play an important role in exploring new treatment options for people affected by this disease. The trials conducted by Breast Cancer Trials (BCT) are internationally recognised for their high-quality patient care and practice-changing results. Patient safety and outcomes are the highest priority for our researchers, with our clinical trials being designed to ensure that everyone is receiving the best quality treatment and care.
CASE STUDY
The FINER Clinical Trial
Madelaine is a participant in the FINER study.
Madelaine Atkins is a participant in the FINER clinical trial, which aims to find out if cancer will remain under control for longer in patients with advanced ER-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer. Madelaine was introduced to the FINER study through her medical oncologist and didn’t hesitate to join.
“We sat down and had many discussions and that gave me the opportunity to go away, digest the information, have those conversations with my family and ideally at the end of the day I made the decision to participate.”
Madelaine participated in a clinical trial for herself and for the greater good of all breast cancer patients and said how grateful she is for the opportunity to give back, for all the women who have previously participated in trials.
What are the different Phases of Clinical Trials?
Clinical trials are generally conducted in four phases, with each phase being designed to answer particular scientific questions.
01
Phase One Trials
Phase one clinical trials are conducted to test a new treatment for the first time in a small group of people, usually around 20 to 50 people. A phase one trial evaluates the safety and side effects of the new treatment or intervention.
02
Phase Two Trials
If the treatment of intervention is proven successful in phase one, it is then moved to a phase two clinical trial and tested in a larger group of people. A phase two clinical trial aims to see how well the new treatment or intervention works against cancer, and to monitor for side effects.
03
Phase Three Trials
Phase three clinical trials compare new treatments with the best currently available treatment, also known as standard treatment. This phase of clinical trials can also test standard treatment with a different dose of the same treatment, or a different way of giving the same treatment. Phase three clinical trials study the efficiency of a treatment or intervention in large groups of people, from several hundred to several thousand. It looks at which treatments work best for the disease, how the treatment affects quality of life and helps researchers learn more about the treatment or interventions side effects.
04
Phase Four Trials
A phase four clinical trial is conducted after the new treatment or intervention has been marketed and approved. A phase four clinical trial aims to learn more about the side effects and safety of a new treatment or intervention, the long-term risks and benefits of the new treatment, and how effective the treatment is when used in the general population over a longer period of time.