FRAMINGHAM, MA - The final phase of drug or medical therapy testing usually involves "clinical trials" -- testing on human beings who volunteer to participate.

The U.S. National Institute of Health closely monitors these trials and publishes information about such programs on their www.ClinicalTrials.gov website.

Metrowest Medical Center, (the former "Framingham Union Hospital"), hosts several cancer related trials. A recent search of the site found several trials which are currently recruiting subjects for studies ranging from "observational" (no therapy or drug is administered, subjects are examined or monitored in hopes of discovering new information about a particular medical study), to clinical trials for as-yet (FDA) unapproved therapies or medicines.

If you are interested in participating, it is suggested that you first visit the www.ClinicalTrials.com website and review the criteria for participants, then consult your doctor before contacting the recruiter for a particular trial.

Below is a list of some of the trials which are currently recruiting in Framingham:

Radiation Therapy With or Without Optional
Tamoxifen in Treating Women With Ductal
Carcinoma in Situ
Contact: Teresa A. Van Buren, MD 508-383-1260
(Trial ID#: NCT00003857)

Radiation Therapy in Preventing CNS Metastases
in Patients With Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Contact: Allison H. Sacher, MD 508-383-1000
(Trial ID#: NCT00048997)

Anastrozole Compared With Tamoxifen After
Lumpectomy in Treating Postmenopausal Women
With Ductal Carcinoma in Situ
Contact: Madhavi L. Venigalla, MD 508-383-1000
(Trial ID#: NCT00053898)

Radiation Therapy With Either Capecitabine or
Fluorouracil Before Surgery in Treating Patients
With Resectable Rectal Cancer
Contact: Madhavi L. Venigalla, MD 508-383-1000
(Trial ID#: NCT00058474)

Suppression of Ovarian Function Plus Either Tamoxifen or
Exemestane Compared With Tamoxifen Alone in Treating
Premenopausal Women With Hormone-Responsive Breast Cancer
Contact: Madhavi L. Venigalla, MD 508-383-1000
(Trial ID#: NCT00066690)

Comparison of Combination Chemotherapy Regimens
With or Without Cetuximab in Treating Patients Who
Have Undergone Surgery For Stage III Colon Cancer
Contact: Madhavi L. Venigalla, MD 508-383-1000
(Trial ID#: NCT00079274)

Combination Chemotherapy in Treating Women Who Have
Undergone Surgery for Node-Positive Breast Cancer
Contact: Madhavi L. Venigalla, MD 508-383-1000
(Trial ID#: NCT00093795)

Docetaxel and Prednisone With or Without Bevacizumab
in Treating Patients With Prostate Cancer That Did Not
Respond to Hormone Therapy
Contact: John G. Krikorian 508-383-1000
(Trial ID#: NCT00110214)

For more information visit: www.clinicaltrials.gov

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