More may not be better: reconsidering early clinical trial design in the era of targeted cancer therapeutics

Abstract

The advent of a new generation of targeted cancer drugs requires a radically different design of early clinical trials. Here, René Bernards discusses why new clinical trial designs are needed and what is being done to achieve this. Such innovative trials can lead to similar outcomes for cancer patients with fewer side effects while at the same time reducing the cost of cancer care.

Keywords

• drug development
• phase 1 trials
• targeted cancer drugs