PCI Research News

Dr. Trevor Feinstein, Medical Oncologist with Piedmont Cancer Institute was a facilitator and contributor at the Georgia Core research seminar - The For the Benefit of ALL. This seminar was an opportunity to look at new strategies and tools to enroll more patients from under-represented populations into clinical trials.

Clinical trials are important in helping determine if new interventions are safe, work better than others, have fewer side effects than existing treatments and test new methods of screening, prevention, and diagnosis. Only about 50% of people meet the specific criteria to participate in a clinical trial. Racial and ethnic minorities only account for 2-16% of clinical trials. The FDA recommends that clinical trial sites should be in areas with higher concentrations of underrepresented racial and ethnic patients and Indigenous populations, as well as within neighborhoods where these populations receive their health care but that is not always possible.

Challenges remain in reaching under-represented populations. Barriers include lack of information about clinical trials, fear and stigma of participation, logistical issues, time constraints and understanding the value of clinical trials.

Diversity in research programs is important for several reasons. First, where we live, how we live, and our background can all affect our health. Second, many groups of people have been left out of research in the past. This means researchers know less about their health.

Discussions among clinical trial managers, cancer researchers and physicians at the event explored the value of diversity in trials and how to advance equity in cancer clinical trials through effective communication and community awareness.

Discuss with your physician if you might be a candidate for a clinical trial.

PCI's Clinical Trials

Piedmont Cancer Institute (PCI), well-known for high standards in patient care, has excelled in offering patients the latest clinical trials. The doctors and staff at PCI are engaged in 20 clinical trials and continue investigating a broad spectrum of cutting edge and treatment strategies.  According to Dr. Rajni Sinha, a principal investigator at PCI, “we are staying at the forefront of cancer treatment by developing innovative strategies which gives us insight into cancer”.

Piedmont Cancer Institute, with Dr. Trevor Feinstein as principal investigator, completed a clinical trial in extensive stage small cell lung cancer utilizing carboplatin, etoposide, atezolizumab with and without trilaciclib. The trial led to trilaciclib’s FDA approval as the first and only myeloprotective therapy to decrease the incidence of chemotherapy induced myelosuppression. 

Recently, Piedmont Cancer Institute presented a pooled analysis from 3 randomized trials utilizing trilaciclib in the Journal of Cancer Medicine, Cancer Med. 2021;00:1– 9. https://doi.org/10.1002/cam4.4089. Together with MD Anderson, Thomas Jefferson University, Hungary, and Spain, we demonstrated trilaciclib prior to chemotherapy reduced the need for supportive care.

Katie Adams PCI Research Manger stated “It’s a great honor that we conduct clinical trials with such high standards and employ a research team that always goes above and beyond for our patients. I am proud that our research team at PCI, consisting of coordinators and regulatory, offering over 52 years of combined experience in managing clinical trials.”

“It is PCI’s mission to exceed conventional understanding and treatment methodologies of cancer by utilizing the most advanced, personalized therapies available - with compassionate care throughout” commented Research Director Dr. Vasily Assikis. Our research team takes great pride in exceeding the rigorous standards involved with clinical trials to bring the best care to our patients. For more information regarding clinical trials at PCI please contact 678-298-3235.