Engaging referring physicians in the clinical trial process.

By building relationships with referring physicians and educating them about the clinical trial process, oncologists can help increase trial accrual among patients with cancer.

A new look at informed consent for cancer clinical trials.

Informed consent is fundamental to the conduct of clinical trials. Prospective participants need to be adequately informed and given the opportunity to ask questions and consult with relatives or friends without feeling pressured or rushed.

The clinical research team.

Developing and maintaining an exemplary research team is essential to the success of a quality clinical research program.

Clinical investigator responsibilities.

When conducting a clinical trial, it is important that clinical investigators successfully meet all research expectations, including regulatory requirements and the Guidelines for Good Clinical Practice.

Part 2: implementing clinical trials: a review of the attributes of exemplary clinical trial sites.

Part two of this series focuses on the remaining three exemplary attributes: quality assurance, multidisciplinary involvement in the clinical trial process, and clinical trials awareness programs.

Achieving Exemplary Attributes With AccrualNet.

The AccrualNet Web site is a helpful compilation of resources for sites aspiring to improve trial accrual.

Donating tissue for research: patient and provider perspectives.

This article illustrates common patient and provider concerns about donating tissue for the purpose of research, discusses best practices, and provides answers to common patient questions.

Issues surrounding biospecimen collection and use in clinical trials.

As the need for patient participation in biospecimen and correlative research increases, challenging ethical and potentially legal questions are emerging.

Challenges to National Cancer Institute-Supported Cooperative Group Clinical Trial Participation: An ASCO Survey of Cooperative Group Sites.

Anecdotal information regarding clinical research sites limiting participation in NCI-funded cooperative group studies prompted ASCO to collect data on and investigate the reasons behind this trend.

Cancer genomics: conducting exemplary trials with biospecimen and biomarker components.

Translating research on genomic changes into novel interventions for patients with cancer requires increased analysis of biospecimens and biomarkers in cancer clinical trials, which involve certain procedural requirements.

Negotiating for success: navigating the contracting process for an exemplary research program.

Developing successful contracts is imperative for research sites conducting company-sponsored or investigator-initiated clinical trials. Good contracts help ensure sustainability and guide how research will be conducted.

Clinical research site infrastructure and efficiency.

Increasing efficiency in the clinical trials development process ensures a vibrant clinical trials system that makes best use of resources, and keeps pace with scientific discoveries in the field of cancer research.

Implementing clinical trials: a review of the attributes of exemplary clinical trial sites.

In this two-part series, members of the Exemplary Attributes Working Group outline in detail the seven attributes of exemplary clinical trial sites, as described in the ASCO Statement.