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Patient Daily | Aug 19, 2024

Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center launches Phase 1 Clinical Trial Program

Baylor College of Medicine’s Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center has launched the Albert and Margaret Alkek Foundation Center for Experimental Therapeutics, a Phase 1 clinical trial program. This initiative will allow patients to enroll in early-phase clinical trials targeting various malignancies. The first trial, which involves a novel therapy aimed at a mutation common in pancreatic and colorectal cancers, enrolled its first patient earlier this month (NCT06445062).

“Clinical trials are critical for advancing the field of oncology and improving outcomes for cancer patients. Phase 1 trials are the first step in bringing innovative therapies to the clinic,” said Dr. Benjamin Musher, Barry S. Smith Endowed Professor at Baylor and medical director of medical oncology at the Duncan Cancer Center McNair Campus. “Our new program will build on the success of previous phase 1 trials at Baylor and provide robust infrastructure to offer more clinical trial opportunities to our patients.”

The primary objective of Phase 1 trials is to demonstrate the safety and feasibility of promising therapies that have shown potential in laboratory settings. These trials will explore treatments developed by scientists both within and outside Baylor College of Medicine. Patients will receive care at Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center’s O’Quinn Medical Tower.

“Phase 1 oncology clinical trials provide patients early access to cutting-edge therapeutics and immunotherapies that are not widely available. Patients in these trials are often selected because their tumors have a molecular feature that is targeted by these therapies,” said Dr. S. Gail Eckhardt, who holds Baylor’s Albert and Margaret Alkek Endowed Chair and serves as associate dean for experimental therapeutics at Baylor.

The Phase 1 program's team includes experts from various specialties, allowing Duncan Cancer Center patients to continue care with their subspecialty providers while participating in a trial. Physicians from outside Baylor can also refer patients through an expedited referral process.

“We are excited to offer novel research treatment options to our cancer patients at our state-of-the-art unit,” said Dr. Pavan Reddy, director of the Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center and senior associate dean of cancer programs at Baylor.

“This program is another example of how Baylor is at the forefront of research and patient care," said Dr. Carolyn Smith, interim dean of research and dean of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at Baylor.

The Albert and Margaret Alkek Foundation Center for Experimental Therapeutics honors the foundation that provided initial support for the program.

“The Albert and Margaret Alkek Foundation has been one of Baylor’s strongest supporters," said Dr. Paul Klotman, president, CEO, and executive dean of Baylor.

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