Will I Receive Treatment and Not Placebo? Ask a Scientist about Clinical Trials

In this video, Dr. Michael Postow of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center answers questions from our patient community about the placebo effect in a clinical trial. #ClinicalTrials #AskAScientist #Immunotherapy

A placebo is a type of treatment that is not an active drug, and it is very rare for a clinical trial to have a placebo. Almost all clinical trials are testing some form of active treatment, such as a new drug against the standard of care or a new combination of drugs against the standard of care. Patients and doctors should discuss whether a trial contains a placebo, the role it plays in the trial, and the pros and cons of trials that include a placebo. https://www.cancerresearch.org/patien...

Michael Postow, M.D., is a board-certified medical oncologist and part of the Melanoma and Immunotherapeutics Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. He has an interest in developing clinical trials for patients with melanoma involving immunotherapeutic strategies. His specific areas of interest include studying the immunologic effects of radiotherapy and characterizing pharmacodynamic biomarkers associated with ipilimumab outcomes. Dr. Postow received his M.D. from New York University School of Medicine and completed his residency at Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School and his fellowship in medical oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, where he served as Chief Fellow. He is the author of Pocket Oncology, a handbook on all aspects of oncology care.

This video series is made possible with generous support from Regeneron.

Each week in June 2017, as part of Cancer Immunotherapy Month, we published a response to patient questions about cancer immunotherapy clinical trials. #CIM17

Help us raise awareness of the lifesaving potential of immunotherapy for all types of cancer. Let's fuel the next scientific discoveries and breakthrough treatments through learning, engagement, and storytelling. https://www.cancerresearch.org/join-t...

Established in 1953, the Cancer Research Institute (CRI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is dedicated to harnessing our immune system's power to control and potentially cure all cancers. To accomplish this, we rely on donor support and collaborative partnerships to fund and carry out the most innovative clinical and laboratory research around the world, support the next generation of the field's leaders, and serve as the trusted source of information on immunotherapy for cancer patients and their caregivers. Our Mission: Save more lives by fueling the discovery and development of powerful immunotherapies for all types of cancer. https://www.cancerresearch.org