Research & Clinical Trials
What Clinical Trials are underway? How can I find out if I am an appropriate participant for a study? How can I find out which studies or researchers I may want to support through a donation?
Relatively few research dollars are dedicated to thyroid cancer, as compared to other cancer sites and other diseases. It is one of the goals of TCC to set up a research fund once we have the financial ability to do so. In the meantime, we suggest that if you want to search for specific clinical trials related to your disease type and/or make a donation to directly fund thyroid cancer research, you search available databases for clinical trials, and/or consult with your local hospital to inquire directly about local clinical research in the area of thyroid cancer.
Cancer databases
Canadian Cancer Society Funding Database www.cancer.ca
The NCIC Clinical Trials Group (NCIC CTG) http://www.ctg.queensu.ca/public/Clinical_Trials/clinical_trials.html
U.S. National Institutes of Health www.clinicaltrials.gov (note: most of these are multi-national)
SimplicityPharma www.localclinicaltrials.com
Current Studies Recruiting Patient Participants
From time-to-time Thyroid Cancer Canada (TCC) makes its members aware of outside clinical or research studies recruiting participation from thyroid cancer patients. The lead clinician is required to submit a description of the study to TCC. The description is subsequently evaluated by TCC as to whether it meets the requirements of principles of Health on the Net (HON). If it meets these requirements the Board of Directors (or its Executive Committee) may agree to let members of TCC know about the study via this website, the Thry’vors News newsletter and/or the TCC Online Forum. TCC does not necessarily endorse any studies listed here, nor benefit directly in any way from them, but rather simply lets our members know about the research.
Patient members of TCC who wish to participate in any study do so under their own prerogative. They are instructed to contact the corresponding researcher directly to participate and/or follow their directions to a website with further details.
Website Study
Thyroid cancer physicians at University Health Network in Toronto are recruiting individuals with papillary thyroid cancer who have had their thyroid completely removed at surgery (surgery on or after September 1, 2009) for a randomized controlled trial comparing the use of educational website about radioactive iodine treatment, compared to usual medical care (without seeing the website). The investigators are interested in learning whether the website may improve patients' knowledge about radioactive iodine treatment. Potentially eligible individuals should be aged 18 years or older and be able to communicate in English and be able to use a computer. Participants should not have received radioactive iodine treatment for thyroid cancer in the past and may be eligible whether they plan to receive radioactive iodine or not. Participants would need to provide a copy of their thyroid surgical pathology report or allow investigators to contact their physician to review their pathology report (to confirm eligibility). This study involves one visit to Toronto General Hospital and 1 or more telephone interviews. The total reimbursement for completion of the visit and phone follow-up(s) is $200 per participant.
If interested in this study, please contact Dr. Sawka at (416) 340-4800 ext 5886.
The study is registered at the NIH trial website and the website is listed below:
How can I learn about the results of clinical studies that are already complete and relevant to me?
TCC suggests the following research study articles may be of interest to you:
Thyrogen studies:
Thyrogen for Ablation - Evidence Based Report to Cancer Care Ontario
International randomized study on the use of Thyrogen for ablation
Intraindividual Comparison of Clinical Effects and Implications of Daily LIfe -- a study comparing patients experiences using Thyrogen vs. Withdrawal from T4 (with or without temporarily taking T3)
Ultrasound studies:
Ultrasound features of abnormal neck lymph nodes Part One and Part Two
Which Patients Require RAI treatment?
After-Effects of RAI treatment:
Salivary obstruction & blocked tear ducts after-effect
Salivary obstruction after-effect
Regional Differences & General Outcomes
What's New
Thyroid Cancer Canada is having its 10th Anniversary this year! In 10 years we've grown from less than a dozen members to now over 3,000! To learn how we got started, view our history HERE.
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