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factor to consider is. Ideally, we look for a treatment that does at least three things: improve overall survival, improve response rate to treatment and offer progressionfree survival. Ferraro: It���s also vital to note if a treatment improves a patient���s quality of life because a better prognosis often is tied to a better quality of life. Q What is the most significant obstacle to applying clinical research to the treatment of patients? How can this be resolved? Ferraro: Patients of ten are illinform e d a b o ut what a s tu dy actually entails. They think being in a trial is like being a lab rat. But most clinical research is Phase II and has already been through prior Phase I animal testing and small patient samples. As a result, patients in studies such as ours are really helping compare today���s best treatment against what could be tomorrow���s best. We need to help patients see research as a win-win with real benefits for them ��� or they won���t want to participate in it. Dr. Dakhil: Lack of insurance coverage for patients participating in trials also is a major issue. We���ve had patients who wanted to be part of a trial but couldn���t because of their insurance companie s��� restrictions. Currently, 6%-9% of area patients are able to participate in clinical trials. Nationally, that figure is just 2%, and most participants are middle-aged Caucasian males with higher education. We need to get through that barrier to include a wider diversity of participants. Q What clinical investigative goals are Via Christi and WCCOP planning to pursue in the coming years? Dr. Dakhil: Our goal has always been to produce good, clean research and reach our participation targets, so we bring the forefront of research to Wichita and the state of Kansas. Ferraro: It���s important to know we���ve been working with CCK since 1983 to bring state-of-the-art treatment from the best centers in the country to our region. In the next few years, WCCOP will have the opportunity to become a National Cancer Institute-designated center and a national community oncology research program, which bring a new level of care to our patients, m elding clinic al re sea rch a n d patient care. That will mean more patientspecific regimens and more Phase I studies focusing on patient navigation, cancer genetic s, tobacco use, palliative care, survivorship and end-of-life issues. Additional studies will focus on ways to reduce cancer disparities, such as ways to increase access to screening tools, including mammograms and colonoscopies. For more information about clinical trials in the Wichita area, call (316) 268-5784 or 1-800-362-0070, ext. 5784. ��� claudio Ferraro Executive Leader of Oncology Services for Via Christi Hospitals in Wichita, Including the Via Christi Cancer Institute mdnews.com ��� md news Greater Kansas | 13