Our Mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families.

Research Programs Community Services Advocacy Professional Education Patient Services Volunteers

Since 1949, LLS has awarded more than $600 million to fund research Research funding and support

Co-Pay Assistance Program Patient and family support programs Patient Financial Aid First Connection Program Family Support Groups

Resources

What to expect In this program, you will learn: –How new blood cancer treatments are developed and approved –About recent and ongoing advances in the treatment of blood cancers –To distinguish between myths and facts about clinical trials –About benefits and risks of clinical trials –To ask the right questions to help you decide if a clinical trial is right for you –How to locate clinical trials that may be right for you –The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society can help

What are cancer clinical trials? Cancer clinical trials are research studies conducted by medical scientists to improve the care and treatment of cancer patients Cancer clinical trials test new ways to: –Diagnose and treat cancer in people –Prevent or reduce disease or treatment side effects –Prevent a recurrence of cancer –Improve the comfort and quality of life of people with cancer

The promise of clinical trials Progress through research has helped people with blood cancers: –Live longer –Have greatly improved quality of life

Drug discovery: The journey from lab to patient Discovery of new drug in lab Drug tested in lab and animals Food and Drug Administration approves Investigational New Drug (IND) application The drug can now be tested in humans through a clinical trial

Drug discovery: The journey from lab to patient Phase 1 clinical trials –What method of drug delivery and dosage is safest? –How does the drug affect the human body? Phase 2 clinical trials –Does the drug have an effect on the cancer?

Drug discovery: The journey from lab to patient Researchers submit New Drug Application (NDA) to FDA –FDA decides whether to approve the drug for use in all patients –Is it more effective or does it have fewer side effects than standard treatment? Phase 3 clinical trials –Is the new drug or combination of drugs better than the best current treatment?

Drug discovery: The journey from lab to patient FDA approves new drug for sale and marketing in the United States New drug available by prescription for all patients who need it Phase 4 clinical trials –Ongoing research –Study the effectiveness or side effects of an FDA-approved drug over time in a large population of patients

Treatment advances for leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS): From clinical trials to FDA approval Some of the drugs that were tested in clinical trials and then approved by the FDA in the last decade to treat leukemia include: Acute Myelogenous Leukemia: gemtuzumab ozogamicin (Mylotarg ® ) Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia: clofarabine (Clolar ® ) Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: alemtuzumab (Campath ® ) and bendamustine HCI (Treanda ® ) Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia: imatinib mesylate (Gleevec ® ), dasatinib (Sprycel ® ) and nilotinib (Tasigna ® )

Treatment advances for leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS): From clinical trials to FDA approval Some of the drugs that were tested in clinical trials and then approved by the FDA in the last decade to treat lymphoma, myeloma and MDS include: Lymphoma: rituximab (Rituxan ® ), iodine131-tositumomab (Bexxar ® ), yttrium-90 ibritumomab tiuxetan (Zevalin ® ), bortezomib (Velcade ® ), bendamustine HCI (Treanda ® ) and denileukin diftitox (Ontak ® ) Myeloma: thalidomide (Thalomid ® ), lenalidomide (Revlimid ® ) and Velcade ® MDS: Revlimid ®, azacitidine (Vidaza ® ) and decitabine (Dacogen ® ) Stem Cell Transplantation: plerixafor (Mozobil ® )

Finding better therapies for blood cancers Door is opened to discovery of other promising new targeted therapies now being tested

Participation is crucial The more people who take part in clinical trials, the faster we will find better ways to treat blood cancers

Participation in clinical trials: What gets in the way? People with cancer may… –Not have access to clinical trials –Fear or distrust medical research –Face practical obstacles –Worry about cost –Not want to ask their current doctor about clinical trials or not want to go against their doctor’s wishes –Be less likely to participate in clinical trials if they are an ethnic minority or an older patient, even though there may be many clinical trial options for them

Participation in clinical trials: What gets in the way? Doctors might… –Be unaware of appropriate clinical trials –Believe that standard therapy is best –Be concerned about administrative burdens –Be unwilling to “lose control” of a patient’s care –Be concerned about how a patient will react to the suggestion of a clinical trial “The physician is the most trusted, primary source of awareness and influence in decisions concerning cancer clinical trials. Lack of physician communication and commitment may be the greatest barriers to clinical trial participation.”

Learning the facts about clinical trials

True or false? If I enter a clinical trial, there’s a good chance that I could receive a placebo FALSE

Clinical trial study design or protocol Fact: Placebos are rarely used in cancer clinical trials –Participants usually receive: The best known, most widely accepted treatment, called the standard treatment (control group) Or The new treatment being studied (investigational or study group)

Clinical trial study design or protocol Each cancer clinical trial has a written detailed study design called a protocol that includes: –Background of why the clinical trial is needed –Purpose of the clinical trial –What drug or drug(s) are being tested, along with a treatment and follow-up schedule –Safety measures throughout the clinical trial program –How outcomes will be measured –Who is eligible for the clinical trial –How the clinical trial will be organized, that is, one site or multiple sites If the clinical trial is a multi-site trial, then all participating physicians must follow the same protocol

Phase 3 clinical trials: Getting assigned to a group Control group gets standard treatment Investigational or study group gets new drug being tested Randomization You have an equal chance of being assigned to one group or the other

True or false? Clinical trials are the treatment of last resort FALSE

Eligibility Facts: Clinical trials… –Are not only for people with the most advanced disease –Can also be for people with newly diagnosed or very limited disease –Are appropriate for different types of people, depending on the purpose and phase of the trial –Take into account age, gender, race, stage of disease, other treatments used, and presence of any other illness

True or false? If I enter a clinical trial, I’ll be treated like a “guinea pig” FALSE

Safety Fact: Each clinical trial is managed according to a strict set of rules to protect patients –Protocols regulate: Quality of care Safety of participants

How is a patient’s safety protected? Sponsor asks outside experts to review merit of study Institutional Review Board (committee made up of experts) –Are risks minimized and reasonable vs anticipated benefits? –Is informed consent process in place and documented? (no coercion or “undue” influence to participate) –Does data monitoring include patient safety data? –Is there a process to protect privacy of patients?

How is a patient’s safety protected? Researchers must tell you the purpose, benefits, and risks of a clinical trial before you sign up –Must be in language you understand –Is called the process of informed consent –Ask questions if anything is unclear –Ask for a language interpreter if needed –Bring an advocate Take your time in reading and signing the informed consent form

True or false? Care and treatment received are free Both TRUE and FALSE

Costs Facts: Some costs may be covered by the sponsor of a clinical trial Other costs may or may not be covered by health insurance plans It is important to learn ahead of time what will be covered

What’s covered, what’s not Costs that are usually covered by the sponsor at no cost to the patient: –Research doctor and nurse time –Cost of drug being studied Costs that may not be covered by your private or public health insurance (costs that you would have whether or not you were in a clinical trial): –Hospitalizations –Doctor visits –Laboratory tests –Drugs that are not part of the study design

What’s covered, what’s not A growing number of U.S. states have passed legislation or instituted special agreements requiring health plans to pay the cost of routine medical care in clinical trials. For information on your state go to: Not all of these laws are the same in defining what coverage is required To get involved with advocacy efforts through LLS, contact our Office of Public Policy at or visit or the National Cancer Institute’s Web site, clinicaltrialswww.cancer.gov/

What’s covered, what’s not Discuss treatment costs with the clinical trial team and your insurance provider to find out –What costs will be covered by the clinical trial sponsor, your insurance provider or by you if you have no insurance or your health insurance will not pay all routine care costs –How to process an appeal with your clinical trials team if your claim is denied by the insurance company because the treatment is in a clinical trial Check out The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Financial Health Matters booklet, speak with your chapter patient services manager or contact the LLS Information Resource Center at to find out about sources of support

True or false? I’m too old to enter a clinical trial Increasingly, FALSE

Age Fact: A growing number of clinical trials are seeking to include older adults

Older adults and clinical trials Cancer treatment decisions, and decisions about clinical trials, should no longer be based on age alone –Age alone is not a predictor of how well a cancer treatment will work –Many clinical trials are targeted to older adults that address treatment challenges throughout the cancer journey Previously untreated patients Patients resistant or intolerant to current treatment Patients who have relapsed

My Clinical Trials Journey

Clinical trials: Weighing the pros and cons Possible risks –Compared with standard treatment, the new treatment being studied may: Not be better than, or as good as, standard treatment Have more serious side effects than standard treatment Not work for everyone –Costs may not be covered

Clinical trials: Weighing the pros and cons Possible benefits –Receive, at minimum, the best standard treatment available –Be among the first to benefit from a new treatment –Receive high-quality care –Have access to doctors with extensive experience in your type of cancer

Clinical trials: Talking with your doctor Be an active partner in your treatment Ask your doctor about all available treatment options, including clinical trials Consider bringing someone with you to help listen and ask questions Have you discussed clinical trials as a treatment option with your oncologist? Tell us why you are or why you are not comfortable asking about clinical trials at your next visit. Models are used for illustrative purposes only.

Ongoing clinical trials for blood cancers Thousands of clinical trials are ongoing for leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, myelodysplastic syndromes and other cancers Whether you are newly diagnosed or further along in the journey of cancer, there might be a new drug or combination of drugs being tested to improve outcomes or quality of life The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s ongoing national education and chapter education programs report on the most current disease-specific clinical trial programs Contact your local LLS chapter or the LLS Information Resource Center to stay current at , or

Finding a clinical trial that might be right for you Talk with your doctor about clinical trials as a treatment option Speak with an Information Specialist at LLS Use the free LLS-supported TrialCheck ® to find clinical trials near you through the LLS Web site available at

How The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society can help Resources –Handouts in your workbook How to narrow your search to find a clinical trial that’s right for you Questions to Ask Your Healthcare Provider About Clinical Trials –LLS booklets Understanding Clinical Trials for Blood Cancers Financial Health Matters Co-Pay Assistance Program –LLS Web-based educational programs My Clinical Trials Journey & other Journeys at Archived teleconferences on emerging therapies at To order these materials, contact the IRC at or visit

Leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma: The road to discovery is through clinical trials “The results of clinical trials have directly changed treatment regimens, the way we think about these diseases, improved the quality of life for patients, and improved survival for countless numbers of people…” David Porter, MD June 2008 “Clinical trials can include studies of commercially available drugs, novel agents, or combinations of new and old drugs. Clinical trials sometimes also investigate ways to optimize the dose or schedule of approved drugs. Finally, clinical trials can include stem cell transplant, non-chemotherapy treatments, management of side effects, measuring quality of life and many other aspects of treatment which are important for patients. All patients can think about clinical trials because a clinical trial doesn't necessarily mean you're getting a completely novel drug or new treatment.” Gail J. Roboz, MD June 2009

Local clinical trial opportunities Local Clinical Trial Opportunities

Road to discovery: Emerging therapies Time for your questions!