What to Expect

We are pleased that you have chosen to come to our center. Our goal is to provide you the best care possible. Our Phase I clinical trials often involve experimental drugs in the early stages of testing. Therefore, we must take the necessary precautions each time you come to carefully evaluate your unique medical situation.

Several members of our team will reassess you each time you come to see us. A lot of work will be done behind the scenes while you wait to be seen by your treating physician.

It will take 2 to 3 weeks to perform your workup, find a study, get insurance clearance and begin treatment
You may be required to travel frequently to Houston, Texas or even stay in Houston, particularly in the first 1 to 2 months of the trial
There is no guarantee that we can find a study for an individual patient, and we cannot select a study before the patient is seen here. However, we have many studies and we have a high success rate for matching patients with an appropriate trial.

Our goal is to provide the highest possible standard of care while ensuring your safety in a Phase 1 clinical trial. These trials involve early experimental drugs. Therefore we must take necessary precautions each time you come to our Center to carefully evaluate your unique medical situation. Several members of our team will reassess you each time you come to see us. Some of this will be done behind the scenes while you wait. This entire process should take about 1-2 hours for each visit.

Clinic Visits

Your first appointment to the clinic will require thorough planning and ongoing re-evaluation. This will include a whole team approach each time you come to visit us.

The entire process by which the team evaluates you may take 2 hours or more for each visit.

At each clinic visit, you may be seen by one or more (or even all) the following healthcare team member.

Clinic Nurse will:

Take your pulse, temperature and blood pressure
Take your medication history

Physician’s Assistant, Advanced Practice Nurse or Fellow will:

Review your records
Take your medical history and physical
Review your laboratory test results

Research Nurse or Study Coordinator will:

Determine your eligibility for all current studies being conducted in the Center, and during follow-up visits will review your records for medication side effects and outcomes

Phase 1 Physician will:

Meet with each of the above team members to discuss results, treatment changes or continuation plans
May consult with your referring physician
Review all scans, clinical dictation and laboratory tests
Perform measurements on tumors seen on X-rays and scans
Determine which study you are eligible for and which is best for you

After all this is done, your Phase 1 Attending Physician will see you, review your relevant medical history, and discuss your Phase 1 treatment options, possible benefits and side effects. During follow-up visits, your Phase I Physician will review the information collected by the other team members above, monitor your response to treatment, side effects and will plan for continued therapy or new options.

Financial Considerations

Experimental medication is free of charge to patient or insurance. FDA approved drugs used in our clinical trials are generally not free. Standard services, including but not limited to doctor visits, scans and blood work are not free while on a clinical trial, even if the drugs used are experimental. However, many insurance carriers cover these services. Before you begin a trial, our Patient Access Specialist will check with your insurance for coverage. We will let you know of any services that are not covered by your insurance for which you will be financially responsible.

For additional questions regarding insurance coverage, please contact the Clinical Center for Targeted Therapy Patient Access Services at 713-792-1160. We will be happy to help you decipher what your benefits will most likely cover according to the verification of benefits provided to us by your insurance company.