Overview of
The Maureen Purdy-Aramino
Lung Cancer Clinical Trials Advocacy Program
Because of our Generous Supporters, ICAN patients involved in
The Maureen Purdy-Aramino Lung Cancer Clinical Trials Advocacy Program
have access to the following information services:
- A review and analysis of the patient's surgical pathology report relating to TNM staging ("Tumor Node Metastasis"); review of the patient's medical history, family history of non small cell lung cancer or small cell lung cancer, diet, lifestyle and risk factors, current condition as well as any co-morbid factors; and complete review of symptoms prior to presentation.
- Referrals, at the patient's request, to medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, surgical oncologists, radiologists, pulmonologists, interventional radiologists, anesthesiologists, and additional specialists relevant to the patient's ongoing care.
- Referrals to support groups that may be of assistance in handling the emotional impact that lung cancer has on the patient and the patient's family.
- Referrals to lung cancer-specific organizations that may be of assistance in addressing insurance issues or employment termination issues (because of diagnosis or disclosure of metastatic disease).
- Review of the nature/amelioration of specific side effects from chemotherapy (such as nausea and neuropathy) as well as from other treatment modalities.
- Discussion of the interaction of diet and cancer chemotherapy drugs based on recent studies.
- Delineation of the symptoms about which the patient should alert his/her oncologist.
- Discussion of relevant imaging technology.
- Discussion of pain management issues and treatment options that can be addressed with the patient's medical team.
- Review of chromosomal aberrations in familial lung cancer cases.
- Discussion with the patient about functional profiling of the patient's lung tumor or resected tissue from a metastatic site.
- Analysis of relevant lung cancer clinical trials options as well as the nature and purpose of clinical trials using Remission Coach®.
- Review of the relevant radiotherapy, interventional radiology, or stereotactic radiosurgery options which the patient, in turn, may discuss with his/her medical team.
- Analysis of patient's lab results that highlight specific cytogenetic and flow cytometry data in the context of lung cancer histology; review of specific cytogenetic aberrations in lung cancer tumor tissue; discussion with the patient about the field of DNA molecular diagnostics/DNA microarray studies and relevance to the clinic; review with the patient the EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) mutational result by direct sequence analysis on genomic DNA and via FISH (fluorescence in situ hybridization) as well as the KRAS mutational result obtained by direct sequence analysis on genomic DNA/analysis of codons 12 and 13 of the KRAS gene by single nucleotide primer extension.
- Review of the transforming EML4-ALK fusion gene results via reverse transcription PCR in NSCLC tumor tissue and FISH determination of gene and protein levels to ascertain if the patient is part of a molecular subset of NSCLC patients based on his/her ALK gene rearrangements who may not benefit from targeted therapies such as erlotinib (Tarceva) or other EGFR TKI's (tyrosine kinase inhibitors); review FISH data regarding additional targets; review and correlate, where possible, the patient's specific immunohistochemistries and gene expression results to available clinical trials so that the patient may explore all options with his/her medical team; discuss with the patient ALK inhibitors in preclinical development and clinical trials.
- Review of relevant lung cancer-specific drugs in the anticancer pipeline.
- Review of all relevant and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) avenues.
- Review of the merits of filing a "Single Patient IND for Compassionate or Emergency Use" for a specific experimental cancer drug, if relevant to the patient's situation.
The Maureen Purdy-Aramino Lung Cancer Clinical Trials Advocacy Program
is a vital part of ICAN's Cancer Patient Advocacy and Clinical Trials Program Advocacy Services.
For more information about this special program, please click on.....
ICAN is currently working on The Maureen Purdy-Aramino Lung Cancer Clinical Trials Advocacy Program. We are working to put together a Family and Friends Advisory Council for the The Maureen Purdy-Aramino Lung Cancer Clinical Trials Advocacy Program. If interested, please email us at MaureenPurdy-AraminoProgram@askican.org.
If you would like to become involved as a donor and supporter or a member of our Cancer Research Literature team as a Research Team Leader (medical school students, physicians, nurses, and post-docs only please), you may reach us at MaureenPurdy-AraminoProgram@askican.org.
Federal Tax I.D.: EIN 86-0818253 | WA Charities: 37195