Understanding research
Whenever news of a promising development in prostate cancer research is reported, the hopes of many men with prostate cancer and their family members are raised. It is important to remember, though, that a treatment which has been successful in the laboratory or in animals must be tested very carefully in humans, and this process can often take years.
The information below offers some advice for interpreting news about medical research. There are descriptions of the different kinds of scientific studies you might hear about, and what they will mean to you. There is also a section on how to interpret statistics about risk in news reports, and some questions to ask yourself when reading about developments in prostate cancer research.
Understanding media stories on research
Types of research
Basic research means looking at small ‘cultures’ of cells from humans, or even at microscopic organisms like bacteria, viruses or yeasts. Experiments like this which take place in a test tube or Petri dish are called in vitro experiments. They can help scientists to understand how cells work, and what goes wrong with them to cause disease in humans. To see an example of basic research funded by Prostate Cancer Charity please look at Dr Munitta Muthana’s page Basic research allows scientists to find new targets for potential drugs and treatments for prostate cancer.
Translational research involves scientists looking to develop a treatment for a disease like prostate cancer, they will first test the effects of promising drugs on prostate cancer cells that have been removed from patients. To see an example of translational research funded by Prostate Cancer Charity please look at Professor Hing Leung’s page.
Once scientists have an idea of how both healthy and diseased cells react to a treatment, they can move on to look at what happens in the whole body. These experiments are called in vivo and animals are often used as ‘models’ to understand how the human body works. (For more information on the use of animals in medical research please look at our FAQ page.)
Before scientists can test whether a new drug or treatment will work in humans, they must first prove that it is safe in animals. This is required by law, and helps scientists to be as sure as possible that their treatment will not be dangerous to humans. If the treatment is safe in animals, scientists can begin tests in humans in a series of clinical trials.
Phases of clinical studies
There are usually four phases of clinical trials. Each trial has a different purpose and helps scientists to answer important questions
- Phase I trials test the new treatment in a small group of people (usually 20-80) to evaluate its safety. Scientists want to know what happens to the drug in the human body, and what side effects may occur.
- Phase II trials test whether the drug is effective by giving it to a larger group of people (around 100-300). This stage may last for several years. Scientists testing a new cancer drug will give one group of patients the experimental treatment, and the other ‘control’ group will be given the standard treatment for their condition.
- Phase III trials test the drug or treatment in even larger groups of people to confirm its effectiveness, compare the new treatment with standard treatments and monitor its side effects. Around 25% of experimental treatments pass phase I,II and III tests. When a drug or treatment passes Phase III, the manufacturer can request approval to make and sell the product.
- Phase IV trials are conducted once a drug is being used by patients. They gather additional information about the drug's risks, benefits and optimal use.
Psychosocial research
Being diagnosed with any form of cancer can be a traumatic event. Psychosocial research looks at how diagnosis and treatment of cancer affects patients, their families and carers. It looks at how improvements can be made in how health professionals communicate to patients and how they and their families are supported. It also examines whether mental health problems complicate treatment and reduce quality of life for cancer sufferers. Psychosocial research can help people to deal with cancer and life after cancer.
Understanding media stories on research
Media reports on research can often be confusing. Consider the two headlines below:
The headlines above both refer to the results of a single study but present it in very different ways. It is quite common for the media to make risk factors sound more dramatic or potential benefits sound more promising. It's important to be critical when reading or listening to reports of new medical findings. Some questions that can help you understand how relevant a story is to you include:
- Was the study in cells, animals or people?
The results of research in people are most likely to be meaningful for you. The earliest stages of prostate cancer research are carried out in small ‘cultures’ of cells. If you hear about positive results in cells, it is important to remember that the treatment must next be tested in animals, and then enter into clinical trials in humans.
- Did the study include men with prostate cancer?
Often cancer treatments are reported to have been successful in clinical trials, and the article suggests that they may be able to treat a number of cancers, including prostate cancer. While this may sound promising, it is important to remember that before a treatment can be given to men with prostate cancer, it must first go through the clinical trial phases, which could take years.
- Where was the research done?
If the research has been conducted outside of the UK, it might be that the drug would first become available abroad. This is because different countries have different authorities which allow a drug to be marketed.
- If a new treatment was being tested, were there side effects?
If the news was reporting a clinical trial, it is important to know whether the trial found side effects. Serious side effects might slow the clinical trial process down, as researchers would have to return to the first stages with any changes they make to a treatment.
It is important to know that any information about medical research in the media may not apply to you and it is best to discuss any issues with healthcare professionals.