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Cancer control studies look to curb side effects

Although many people think of cancer research as looking for the best treatment for disease, that is just one aspect of clinical oncology research. Researchers study ways to prevent cancer in the first place and researchers study the best treatments for cancer. The third type of study is called cancer control. "These studies look at ways to help control a side effect that may be caused by the cancer itself or its treatment," said Lori Fellenz, a research nurse with the Clinical Research Center. "Cancer medications may have side effects and we want to control those as much as possible to improve a person's quality of life. That's the whole goal."

Three trials currently recruiting participants are seeking ways to help with shortness of breath, fatigue and nausea. The studies are part of the Community Clinical Oncology Program (CCOP) through the National Cancer Institute. The first study is looking at whether a medication called buspirone can improve shortness of breath. "Shortness of breath can be caused by a tumor or by some of the treatments we have available," said Jane Zwaschka, a research coordinator. This study is divided into two treatment arms, with one group of patients receiving the medication along with chemotherapy and the second group - the control - receiving an oral placebo or inert pill along with chemotherapy.

A second study is trying to determine whether ginger improves nausea in people receiving treatment for cancer. "Ginger, a spice, has been around for generations and has been known to help calm the stomach," Zwaschka said. "It also has been used for treatment of nausea and vomiting related to motion sickness and pregnancy. We are trying to find out if it will improve this common side effect of cancer chemotherapy along with other prescribed medication." With other medications available, people have less nausea and vomiting, but some people continue to have such side effects. "People who do not have good control using other medications may want to participate in this trial," she said.

The third study is considering whether a drug that has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat the sleep disorder narcolepsy can improve fatigue, a troublesome side effect that may be from the cancer or its treatment. "There are many causes of fatigue in people with cancer, but so far, there are not any tools to successfully manage the issue," Fellenz said.

Marshfield Clinic is the only site in Wisconsin participating in these trials, said Tarit Banerjee, M.D., an oncologist and principal investigator of the CCOP program at Marshfield Clinic. "People may enroll in these important studies that are working to improve quality of life through any Marshfield Clinic center," he continued. "They do not have to travel far from home to participate in clinical research through Marshfield Clinic."

A fourth study is in the pilot phase, meaning there is not a randomized control group. This study is trying to determine whether training chemotherapy patients in mindfulness relaxation will improve their quality of life, fatigue, immune system response and symptoms such as pain and loss of sleep. For this study, participants must be trained in mindfulness relaxation before their first chemotherapy treatment. The training involves learning a combination of yoga breathing and guided imagery to focus the mind inward on to positive elements of life rather than the negatives of cancer and cancer treatment, said Judy Huber, R.N., research nurse on the study.

Marshfield Clinic is one of two sites in the United States conducting this pilot study. Huber appreciates that researchers are trying to control cancer symptoms through means other than medication. "Wouldn't it be exciting and more cost effective for patients if they could feel better without using more medication?" she asked. "That is a question we're trying to answer."

Marshfield Clinic has more than 400 open clinical trials studying prevention, treatment and symptom management for a wide variety of disorders and diseases. For more information on the clinical trials available through Marshfield Clinic, please visit our Web site at www.marshfieldclinic.org/crc. For more information on all cancer-related studies available through Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation, please call 1-877-438-1711.

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