Phase I Cancer Studies

UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh is proud to offer early phase clinical trials for patients with relapsed and refractory cancers through our participation in the Children’s Oncology Group Pediatric Early Phase Clinical Trial Network (PEP-CTN) and the Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium. Working collaboratively with government, the medical community, and the pharmaceutical industry, PEP-CTN prioritizes and streamlines development of innovative, targeted therapies for children with cancer. UPMC Children’s Hospital is one of 21 sites in the country participating in PEP-CTN trials. Similarly, we are one of 11 academic centers and children’s hospitals in the U.S. that make up the Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium, which also pursues early phase research initiatives.

The development of new therapies goes through multiple phases of testing. Phase I trials are the earliest and most experimental in nature, and therefore are conducted with the smallest groups of volunteers. They are initiated after drugs have passed animal and cell studies and are offered to those children for whom standard care and other clinical studies have already failed. Although Phase I experimental therapeutics present hope for such situations, as with any experimental treatment, there are no guarantees.

At UPMC Children’s, quality of life, especially at this stage of treatment, is a top priority for medical and research team members, who are acutely tuned to the needs of patients and their families. Families who come from outside the Greater Pittsburgh region may incur travel costs. For Phase I studies in particular, UPMC Children’s can help through support it receives from Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation. Lodging for family members may be provided through the Ronald McDonald House.

The tab below shows Pilot and Phase I studies being done at UPMC Children’s. These are also found within separate categories listed at the left. Physicians or parents/guardians of pediatric patients who might be eligible are encouraged to ask about enrollment. Contact information is provided in each study description. Thank you for exploring these opportunities and helping us find cures for childhood cancer.

For More Information

Our clinical trial options vary frequently. For more information, please call 412-692-8864 and ask for a member of the Phase I or Neuro-Oncology program teams. Learn more about clinical studies, including frequently asked questions and how to participate.