Madison Reporter

Early phase clinical trials are essential in the development of new cancer treatments, moving promising discoveries from the laboratory to human testing. Traditionally, Phase I trials have been used to determine safe dosages of new cancer treatments. As cancer treatment evolves, more precise methods such as immunotherapy and targeted therapies are being developed.

"Two or three decades ago, we were not expecting to see much [treatment] activity in phase I trials, but this has changed in the last decade," said Dr. Nataliya Uboha, a gastrointestinal medical oncologist at the UW Health | Carbone Cancer Center. She noted that the FDA has approved treatments based on Phase I studies, allowing patients to continue with treatments for longer durations than previously possible, showing that newer therapies are effective.

Carbone Cancer Center’s Early Phase Oncology Therapeutics team oversees treatment research, bringing together researchers from various specialties. Dr. Vincent Ma, Dr. Zhubin Gahvari, and Dr. Jeremy Kratz provide expertise in immunotherapy, immune cell therapies, stem cell transplant care, and research on targeted treatment approaches.

Ongoing research includes trials for KRAS gene mutations in pancreatic, colorectal, and lung cancers, a theranostics trial targeting the GD2 biomarker, and cellular therapies for solid tumors. The infrastructure at Carbone supports these trials, with specialized units and staff facilitating their execution.

"Really all members of our cancer center are involved in many ways," Uboha said. "They are dedicated to making sure that we can have these treatments available to our patients."

Dr. Ma highlighted Carbone’s ability to host complex early phase clinical trials, making the center a destination for patients seeking emerging treatment options. "We’ve been primed to open very complex studies, like immunotherapy-based studies, cellular therapy-based studies, and theranostic studies...many of which aren’t available elsewhere in the Midwest or in the U.S.," Ma said. "This is why Wisconsin is one of the best cancer centers in the U.S. with dedicated phase I research."