scholarly journals Ethical guidelines for deliberately infecting volunteers with COVID-19

2020 ◽  
Vol 46 (8) ◽  
pp. 502-504 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adair D Richards
Keyword(s):  
Phase Ii ◽  
Development Time ◽  
Ethics Committees ◽  
Phase Iii ◽  
Ethical Standards ◽  
Ethical Guidelines ◽  
Phase Iii Trials

Global fatalities related to COVID-19 are expected to be high in 2020–2021. Developing and delivering a vaccine may be the most likely way to end the pandemic. If it were possible to shorten this development time by weeks or months, this may have a significant effect on reducing deaths. Phase II and phase III trials could take less long to conduct if they used human challenge methods—that is, deliberately infecting participants with COVID-19 following inoculation. This article analyses arguments for and against such methods and provides suggested broad guidelines for regulators, researchers and ethics committees when considering these matters. It concludes that it may be possible to maintain current ethical standards yet still permit human challenge trials in a context where delay is critical. The implications are that regulators and researchers need to work together now to design robust but short trials and streamline ethics approval processes so that they are in place when applications for trials are made.

scholarly journals Ethical Guidelines for Deliberately Infecting Volunteers with COVID-19

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adair D Richards
Keyword(s):  
Development Time ◽  
Ethics Committees ◽  
Ethical Standards ◽  
Phase 2 ◽  
Ethical Guidelines ◽  
Phase 3

Global fatalities related to COVID-19 are expected to be high in 2020-21. Developing and delivering a vaccine may be the most likely way to end the pandemic. If it were possible to shorten this development time by weeks or months, this may have a significant effect on reducing deaths. Phase 2 and Phase 3 trials could take less long to conduct if they used human challenge methods – that is, deliberately infecting participants with COVID-19 following inoculation.This article analyses arguments for and against such methods and provides suggested broad guidelines for regulators, researchers and ethics committees when considering these matters. It concludes that it may be possible to maintain current ethical standards yet still permit human challenge trials in a context where delay is critical. The implications are that regulators and researchers need to work together now to design robust but short trials and streamline ethics approvals processes so that they are in place when applications for trials are made.

Biofeedback

2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Lehrer
Keyword(s):  
Phase Ii ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Phase Iii ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
Clinical Environment ◽  
Phase Ii Trials ◽  
Research Support ◽  
Phase Iii Trials ◽  
Psychosomatic Problems ◽  
Biofeedback Research

Although evidence supports the efficacy of biofeedback for treating a number of disorders and for enhancing performance, significant barriers block both needed research and payer support for this method. Biofeedback has demonstrated effects in changing psychophysiological substrates of various emotional, physical, and psychosomatic problems, but payers are reluctant to reimburse for biofeedback services. A considerable amount of biofeedback research is in the form of relatively small well-controlled trials (Phase II trials). This article argues for greater payer support and research support for larger trials in the “real life” clinical environment (Phase III trials) and meta-analytic reviews.

scholarly journals Targeting Angiogenesis in Prostate Cancer

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (11) ◽  
pp. 2676 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zsombor Melegh ◽  
Sebastian Oltean
Keyword(s):  
Prostate Cancer ◽  
Phase Ii ◽  
Phase Iii ◽  
Refractory Disease ◽  
Phase Ii Trials ◽  
Angiogenic Activity ◽  
Angiogenic Therapy ◽  
Resistant Refractory ◽  
Castration Resistant ◽  
Phase Iii Trials

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among men in the Western world. Although localized disease can be effectively treated with established surgical and radiopharmaceutical treatments options, the prognosis of castration-resistant advanced prostate cancer is still disappointing. The objective of this study was to review the role of angiogenesis in prostate cancer and to investigate the effectiveness of anti-angiogenic therapies. A literature search of clinical trials testing the efficacy of anti-angiogenic therapy in prostate cancer was performed using Pubmed. Surrogate markers of angiogenic activity (microvessel density and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) expression) were found to be associated with tumor grade, metastasis, and prognosis. Six randomizedstudies were included in this review: two phase II trials on localized and hormone-sensitive disease (n = 60 and 99 patients) and four phase III trials on castration-resistant refractory disease (n = 873 to 1224 patients). Although the phase II trials showed improved relapse-free survival and stabilisation of the disease, the phase III trials found increased toxicity and no significant improvement in overall survival. Although angiogenesis appears to have an important role in prostate cancer, the results of anti-angiogenic therapy in castration-resistant refractory disease have hitherto been disappointing. There are various possible explanations for this lack of efficacy in castration-resistant refractory disease: redundancy of angiogenic pathways, molecular heterogeneity of the disease, loss of tumor suppressor protein phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) expression as well as various VEGF-A splicing isoforms with pro- and anti-angiogenic activity. A better understanding of the molecular mechanisms of angiogenesis may help to develop effective anti-angiogenic therapy in prostate cancer.

scholarly journals Anti-Angiogenic Agents in Management of Sarcoma Patients: Overview of Published Trials

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pierre-Yves Cren ◽  
Loïc Lebellec ◽  
Thomas Ryckewaert ◽  
Nicolas Penel
Keyword(s):  
Soft Tissue ◽  
Soft Tissue Sarcoma ◽  
Phase Ii ◽  
Progression Free Survival ◽  
Phase Iii ◽  
Phase Ii Trials ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Multikinase Inhibitors ◽  
Randomized Phase Ii ◽  
Phase Iii Trials

We reviewed all fully published clinical trials assessing anti-angiogenic agents in sarcoma patients (last issue, January 13, 2020). Anti-angiogenic macromolecules (e.g., bevacizumab or ombrabulin) provide disappointing results. Many multikinase inhibitors have been assessed with non-randomized phase II trials with limited samples and without stratification according to histological subtypes, therefore interpretation of such trials is very challenging. On the contrary, pazopanib, regorafenib, and sorafenib have been assessed using double-blind placebo-controlled randomized phase II or phase III trials. Compared to placebo, sorafenib demonstrates activity in desmoid-type fibromatosis patients. Based on results of phase 3 trial, pazopanib had obtained approval for treatment of pretreated non-adipocytic soft tissue sarcoma. Regorafenib is currently assessed in several clinical settings and provides significant improvement of progression-free survival in pre-treated non-adipocytic soft tissue sarcoma and in advanced pretreated osteosarcoma. Multikinase inhibitors are a breakthrough in sarcoma management. Many trials are ongoing. Nevertheless, predictive factors are still missing.

Phase II Trial of 4′-Epi-Doxorubicin in Locally Advanced or Metastatic Gastric Cancer

1988 ◽  
Vol 74 (3) ◽  
pp. 313-315 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eduardo Cazap ◽  
Roberto Estevez ◽  
Mario Bruno ◽  
Daniel Levy ◽  
Carlos Algamiz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gastric Cancer ◽  
Gastric Adenocarcinoma ◽  
Phase Ii ◽  
Response Rate ◽  
Phase Ii Trial ◽  
Locally Advanced ◽  
Metastatic Gastric Cancer ◽  
Phase Iii ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Phase Iii Trials

Patients with locally advanced or metastatic gastric adenocarcinoma received an i.v. bolus of 4′-epi-doxorubicin, 75/mg/m2/cycle, every 21 days. Partial responses were observed in 5 of 23 evaluable patients (21.7%). Treatment was generally well tolerated and toxicity was mild. The response rate to epirubicin appears to be very similar to that reported for doxorubicin. Larger doses of epirubicin could be safely used in future studies, and further evaluation of epirubicin in phase III trials is indicated.

scholarly journals Pooled Analysis of external-beam RADiotherapy parameters in phase II and phase III trials in radiochemotherapy in Anal Cancer (PARADAC)

2019 ◽  
Vol 121 ◽  
pp. 130-143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eleonor Rivin del Campo ◽  
Oscar Matzinger ◽  
Karin Haustermans ◽  
Didier Peiffert ◽  
Robert Glynne-Jones ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phase Ii ◽  
Anal Cancer ◽  
External Beam Radiotherapy ◽  
Pooled Analysis ◽  
Phase Iii ◽  
External Beam ◽  
Phase Iii Trials

Capecitabine and irinotecan (XELIRI) in first-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC): A systematic review of controlled clinical trials

2009 ◽  
Vol 27 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e15100-e15100
Author(s):  
S. Sukumaran ◽  
N. Pavlakis ◽  
K. B. Pittman ◽  
K. Patterson ◽  
T. J. Price
Keyword(s):  
Phase Ii ◽  
Phase Iii ◽  
Line Treatment ◽  
Phase Ii Trials ◽  
First Line ◽  
Hand Foot Syndrome ◽  
Phase Iii Trials ◽  
Grade 3 ◽  
Phase Ii And Iii ◽  
First Line Treatment

e15100 Background: Irinotecan and 5-Fluorouracil based combination is an effective regimen for mCRC. Capecitabine, an oral fluoropyrimidine, is a convenient alternative to intravenous 5- Fluorouracil. This study aims to systematically review all published and unpublished controlled phase II and III trials of XELIRI combination, used in first line treatment of mCRC, reported from 2000–2008, to describe its efficacy and safety. Methods: A literature search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and proceedings from ASCO, ESMO and WGIC was conducted. The primary end point was response rate (RR), secondary endpoints include: time to progression (TTP), overall survival (OS) and toxicity. Results: Thirty non-randomised phase II trials (n = 1380) along with 6 randomised phase II and 3 phase III trials, were included (pooled n = 1478). The daily dose of capecitabine ranged from 1,800 mg/m2 to 2,500 mg/m2 for 7 to 14 days per cycle and the dose of irinotecan varied from 180mg/m2 to 350 mg/m2, over a 3 week period per cycle. Amongst the non-randomised studies, the median patient age was 61 years (53–72).The median RR was 46.75% (25–78%). The median reported TTP was 7.9 months (mo) (5- 9.9 mo) and the median OS was 15.6 months (7–24.8 mo). Grade 3–4 toxicity incidence was: diarrhoea (21.5%), neutropenia (12%), vomiting (12.5%), fatigue (6%) and Hand-foot syndrome (6%). The pooled incidence of febrile neutropenia was 2.5%. Amongst the randomised trials, the comparator regimens were XELOX or FOLFIRI. Median age was 65 years (61–74). RR for XELIRI was 39% (34–56%) compared to 47% (27–61.8%) for the non XELIRI comparator arms. Median reported TTP was 8.2 mo (5.7–12.5 mo) for the XELIRI arms and 9.2 mo for the comparator arms. Conclusions: XELIRI is an effective and feasible regime in the first line management of mCRC. However the optimal role of this combination remains to be established. No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Multitrial evaluation of progression-free survival (PFS) as a surrogate endpoint for overall survival (OS) in previously untreated extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC): An Alliance-led analysis.

2013 ◽  
Vol 31 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 7510-7510 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathan R. Foster ◽  
Lindsay A. Renfro ◽  
Steven E. Schild ◽  
Mary Weber Redman ◽  
Xiaofei F. Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phase Ii ◽  
Primary Endpoint ◽  
Cox Model ◽  
Progression Free Survival ◽  
Surrogate Endpoint ◽  
Phase Iii ◽  
Least Squares Regression ◽  
Patient Level ◽  
Phase Iii Trials ◽  
Using Data

7510 Background: We previously demonstrated that PFS may be a candidate surrogate endpoint for OS in ES-SCLC using data from 3 randomized trials (Foster, Cancer 2011). Here, we sought to formally assess the patient- and trial-level surrogacy of PFS using data from 9 additional randomized phase II and III trials conducted by the NCI-funded cancer cooperative groups since 1986. Methods: Individual patient data from all 12 trials (3178 patients: 9 phase III and 3 phase II) were pooled. OS was the primary endpoint in all phase III trials; 3 phase III and 1 phase II trial were positive per protocol. Patient-level surrogacy (Kendall’s tau) was assessed using the Clayton copula bivariate survival model. Trial-level surrogacy was assessed via association of the log hazard ratios on OS and PFS across trials, including: weighted (by trial size) least squares regression of Cox model effects (R² WLS) and weighted (by trial size) correlation of the copula effects (R² Copula). One trial had 4 treatment arms thus 14 total two-arm comparisons were made. Results: With a median follow-up of 41.8 months in the 106 patients still alive, the median OS and PFS across trials were 9.7 months (95% CI: 9.5, 9.9) and 5.7 months (95% CI: 5.5, 5.8), respectively. There were 3120 PFS events in total (2564 disease progressions and 556 deaths without progression). The median time from progression to death was 4.1 months (95% CI: 3.9, 4.3). PFS showed modest association with OS at the patient-level (tau= 0.56) and at the trial-level (R² WLS = 0.58; R² Copula (standard error) = 0.55 (0.29)). The 95% CIs for the predicted HR for OS given observed HR on PFS under a weighted leave-one-out prediction always included the observed HR for OS; however such intervals were wide, suggesting uncertainty on the practical use of PFS as a surrogate for OS in this setting. Conclusions: PFS failed to demonstrate surrogacy for OS in ES-SCLC based on this large pooled analysis. Given that the difference in the median PFS and OS is less than 6 months, we recommend using OS as the primary endpoint in phase III trials of previously untreated ES-SCLC.

The prevalence of objectively measurable disease in phase III trials of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC).

2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (2_suppl) ◽  
pp. 215-215 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ankit Madan ◽  
Mary K Baker ◽  
Jori E May ◽  
Gurudatta Naik ◽  
Sejong Bae ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phase Ii ◽  
Bone Scan ◽  
Strong Association ◽  
Specific Antigen ◽  
Phase Iii ◽  
Disease Rate ◽  
Phase Ii Trials ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Measurable Disease ◽  
Phase Iii Trials

215 Background: Given the historical low prevalence of measurable disease in mCRPC, phase II trials have employed suboptimal endpoints accounting for prostate specific antigen (PSA) and bone scan changes. Changes in bone scan and PSA have not always translated to survival improvement. Improved computerized tomography technology may be increasing the proportion of men with measurable disease, suggesting that measurable changes need to be reconsidered. We analyzed phase III trials of mCRPC to systematically quantitate the proportion of mCRPC with measurable disease. Methods: Data from the both arms of published phase III trials of mCRPC were eligible for analysis. Baseline characteristics were required including the number enrolled, setting (pre-docetaxel [D], D-based, post-D), proportion of patients with measurable disease and the year of completion of trial accrual. General Linear Model was used to evaluate the difference in measurable disease rate based on setting and year of completion of accrual. Results: Seventeen phase III trials totaling 17,609 men with mCRPC were evaluable; 5160 were pre-D, 7573 were D-based and 4876 were post-D. The trials completed accrual between 2002 and 2012. Ten trials used RECIST 1.0, 5 trials used RECIST 1.1 and 2 trials used other criteria. The overall proportion of men with measurable disease was 47.8%. The measurable disease rate (range) in trials in the pre-D setting was 40.5% (30.5-57), in the D-based setting was 51.9% (29.1-87.5), and in the post-D setting was 48.9% (38.8-56.6). There was no statistical difference in the proportion of men with measurable disease based on setting or year of completion of accrual. Conclusions: The proportion of men with measurable disease in phase III trials of mCRPC completing accrual between 2002 and 2012 was 47.8%% with no significant difference based on setting or year of completing accrual. Given these higher measurable disease rates compared to historical rates and recent demonstration of strong association of RECIST changes with OS in mCRPC, RECIST changes need to be considered as a co-primary endpoint in phase II trials to obtain a firm signal of efficacy before launching phase III trials.

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