Research at California Protons
California Protons offers clinical trials for many treatment sites, with more studies opening all the time. Each clinical trial tries to find answers to a specific question. Clinical research studies are a means of improving our understanding of disease and treatments, and evaluating the effects on health outcomes.
What research studies are available at California Protons?
Clinical trials currently enrolling at California Protons:
- Phase II Protocol of Proton Therapy for Partial Breast Irradiation in Early Stage Breast Cancer
Clinicaltrials.gov identifier #NCT 01766297
Site Principal Investigator: Dr. James Urbanic - Pragmatic Phase III Randomized Trial of Proton vs. Photon Therapy for Patients with Non-metastatic Breast Cancer Receiving Comprehensive Nodal Radiation: A Radiotherapy Comparative Effectiveness (RADCOMP) Consortium Trial
Clinicaltrials.gov identifier #NCT 02603341
Site Principal Investigator: Dr. James Urbanic
Enrolling with UCSD - Phase II Randomized Trial of Radiotherapy With Concurrent and Adjuvant Pembrolizumab (Keytruda®) Versus Concurrent Chemotherapy in Patients With Advanced/Intermediate-Risk p16+ Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (KEYCHAIN)
Clinicaltrials.gov identifier #NCT 03383094
Site Principal Investigator: Dr. Loren Mell
Enrolling with UCSD
Participating clinical trials closed to accrual:
- A Prospective Comparative Study of Outcomes with Proton and Photon Radiation in Prostate Cancer (COMPPARE)
Clinicaltrials.gov identifier #NCT 03561220
Site Principal Investigator: Dr. Carl Rossi
What is a Registry?
A registry is a database composed of information obtained from individuals. This information is collected in a standardized way so that it can be used for research purposes. California Protons offers registry databases for children and adults.
Registries currently open for enrollment at California Protons:
- Evaluation Tracking Project: A Prospective Chart Review of Patients Treated with Radiation Therapy
Clinicaltrials.gov identifier #NCT 01255748
Site Principal Investigator: Dr. James Urbanic - Proton and Photon Consortium Registry (PPCR): A Multi Center Registry of Pediatric Patients treated with Radiation Therapy
Clinicaltrials.gov identifier #NCT 01696721
Site Principal Investigator:Dr. Iain MacEwan
Am I eligible for any clinical trials at California Protons?
All clinical trials have guidelines spelling out who can participate. These are called eligibility criteria. The factors that allow you to participate in a clinical trial can include age, gender, the type and stage of your disease, previous treatment history, and other medical conditions.
Following eligibility criteria helps us keep you safe and ensures that researchers learn the information they need. If your doctor thinks that you might qualify for a study, he or she may ask if you want to take part. The first step to determine eligibility is to schedule a consult.
Will it cost me anything to take part in a research study?
Typically, the patient or his or her insurance company is asked to pay for any routine tests, treatments, or procedures that would be required as part of standard cancer treatment. Before you join a clinical trial, you will receive an informed consent document that spells out exactly what you’ll have to pay for and what you won’t.
How does being on a research study affect my insurance approval?
Approval rates for privately insured patients seeking to enroll in oncology clinical trials increased after the passage of the Affordable Care Act, according to results of a study published in Clinical Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research. Our dedicated team will facilitate communication with your insurance provider to make a case for your treatment.
Research Department
James Urbanic, MD
Clinical Research Director
Alex Crawford, MPH
Clinical Research Manager
For more information on current research opportunities through California Protons, please contact Alex Crawford, MPH, at (858) 549-7431 or Alexandra.crawford@californiaprotons.com.