常见问题
What is the Clinical Trial Finder and how is it curated?
Originally created by the late Dr. Tom Marsilje as a curated spreadsheet of high-impact clinical trials, the Clinical Trial Finder is a resource to find promising clinical trials for which you may be eligible. Trained curators regularly filter through trials sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov following criteria developed by Dr. Tom Marsilje. Currently, the Clinical Trial Finder features trials studying treatments with the highest potential benefit and lowest risk for failure for patients with stage IV (metastatic) colon or rectal cancer with either MSS or MSI status.
Patient values are at the center of our curation. Treatment safety, efficacy (effectiveness), and durability of response are key considerations for curation. Trials investigating immunotherapy (phase I, II, or III) and novel targeted therapies and/or techniques (phase II or III, CRC-directed) are prioritized in curation.
The Clinical Trial Finder is intended to reduce the number of trials presented, offering a carefully selected list of promising colorectal cancer clinical trials for patients and caregivers to search. The Trial Finder is not a comprehensive list of all available trials. A complete list of all clinical studies from around the world can be found on ClinicalTrials.gov, maintained by the National Library of Medicine.
How do I use the Clinical Trial Finder?
The Clinical Trial Finder can be used to identify trials based on various clinical or trial factors using the provided filter options. Searches can be refined based on microsatellite status (i.e. MSS or MSI) and focused on trials that are immunotherapy-centered and/or allow patients who received previous immunotherapy treatment. Patients can also look for trials by location, phase, drug, and/or recruitment status. The advanced search option includes a title key word search that can be used to further refine searches (e.g., biomarkers). Once results from a search are generated, results can be expanded to view curator comments, helpful links, inclusion criteria, exclusion criteria, trial contacts, and specific site locations.
What types of trials are included in the Clinical Trial Finder?
The trials featured on the Clinical Trial Finder must investigate a treatment for metastatic, stage IV colon or rectal cancer and meet the criteria listed above. Other types of clinical trials (e.g., screening, prevention, diagnostic) are 不 included in the Clinical Trial Finder.
What geographical regions are covered by the Clinical Trial Finder?
The Clinical Trial Finder covers trials worldwide. Using the geographic filter options, the Clinical Trial finder can be used to identify trials within a specific country or state.
How often is the list updated?
The Clinical Trial Finder is updated regularly by our expert curators to ensure that the list of trials provided is up to date and reflects the most current treatment options available. Recruitment status and other trials details, including helpful links and preliminary results, are also updated regularly as they are made available.
Who curates for the Clinical Trial Finder?
The Clinical Trial Finder is now curated by Fight CRC’s Lead Curator, Maia Walker, and research advocate Annie Delores, and is overseen by Fight CRC’s Research Advocacy Team and members of the Immunotherapy Workgroup. We are grateful to our research advocates and medical experts for donating their time and expertise to the curation of the Clinical Trial Finder.
All curators are trained to follow the criteria described above to ensure the listed trials reflect trials with the highest potential for success and lowest chance for failure.
What if a trial isn’t listed?
Our trials are curated based on specific criteria, developed by Dr. Tom Marsilje, to capture trials studying treatments with the highest potential for success and lowest chance for failure for patients with stage IV colorectal cancer. If you are searching for a trial that is not listed, it is because it does not meet the criteria listed above. A complete list of all clinical studies from around the world can be found on ClinicalTrials.gov, maintained by the National Library of Medicine.
Are trials removed from the list? Why?
Trials are removed from the Clinical Trial Finder if they are suspended (paused) for a prolonged period, terminated/withdrawn (stopped early), or completed.
I found a trial(s) I think I qualify for, what next?
Fight CRC strongly recommends that you discuss your desire to participate in a clinical trial and any potential trials you have found with your healthcare team. The results from The Clinical Trial Finder can be printed or exported and taken with you to your next appointment to guide your discussion.
