October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The National Breast Cancer Foundation estimates one in eight women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime.1 Most of us know a friend or family member who has faced a diagnosis of breast cancer. On average, every two minutes a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States.2
The high incidence continues to highlight the critical importance of continuing breast cancer research. A quick review of clinicaltrials.gov suggests that there are currently 3,692 active breast cancer studies3. These studies, along with prior research, have led to exciting advances in technology and medicine that are resulting in increased cancer survival rates.
As previously noted in our World Cancer Day Blog, oncology research studies are incredibly complex. Variations in treatment regimens such as chemo, radiation, surgery, hormone replacement, etc., can shift or be halted at any point in the study based on a patient’s response. Combination therapies can also add complexity to the research effort. It’s not uncommon for a woman to undergo surgery and then be prescribed radiation, based on the outcomes of the surgery. These types of adaptive requirements are common in breast cancer research and demand a flexible technology to fuel the trial.
The National Institute of Health (NIH) is part of the US Department of Health and Human Services. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) is the NIH’s principal agency for cancer research. NCI facilitates breast cancer trials and hundreds of other oncology trials each year with funding and support services. Currently, there are 94 active breast cancer trials funded through the NIH/NCI.4 Interventions range from radiation, combination drug and/or hormone therapies to acupuncture. This broad range of approaches illustrates the level of flexibility that breast cancer research demands. Even the trial objectives vary to include prevention, detection, treatment, and/or curing patients. If ever there was a need for technological flexibility, breast cancer research embodies and demands it.
The process of building and conducting breast cancer trials within a technology solution must be simple and straightforward. The technology must be powerful enough to support complexity but flexible enough to support evolving trial requirements. iMednet empowers researchers by putting the power of a robust and integrated technology platform in the hands of the clinical research team. The purpose-built environment simplifies complexities without compromising on advanced capabilities.
The Mednet team has supported hundreds of oncology research trials around the globe. These trials run the gamut, from small, early-stage studies to large, global, registry trials. Clinical research teams that take advantage of our expertise and our flexible technology platform, recognize the efficiency that we bring to each trial.
In addition to practical trial expertise, we can offer expertise in the application of CDISC data standards throughout the study, including the use of the standards in alignment with the CDISC Breast Cancer Therapeutic Area User Guide. We understand the specifications and the detailed nuances of supporting regulatory submissions with SDTM and ADaM data sets.
The annual campaign to raise awareness about the impact of breast cancer is important because it also reminds us that there are over 100 types of cancer, the five major types being carcinoma, sarcoma, melanoma, lymphoma, and leukemia. There is still so much work to be done in the fight against breast cancer and all oncology diseases.
The iMednet team acknowledges the hard work that our sponsor and CRO partners are doing in this challenging and high-risk therapeutic area. We are committed to continuing to deliver strategic, practical and flexible solutions that help researchers identify promising new treatments in the fight against breast cancer.
In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month (October), Lung Cancer Awareness Month (November), Stomach Cancer Awareness Month (November) and Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month (November), Mednet is offering a new program to support research organizations conducting any type of oncology related research. New contracts signed prior to January 31, 2022, are eligible for a 25% discount on all iMednet software fees and service fees. For more information contact us.