What is experimental treatment?
A treatment is said to be experimental if it is not part of established treatment practice, does not feature in current treatment guidelines or has not yet been subject to extensive clinical studies.
When direct medical research evidence is not available, experimental treatment is based on all other available medical knowledge and on the experience of the physician in charge of treatment. The risks and benefits of treatment are assessed individually on a case-by-case basis. Experimental treatment is not justified if the benefits cannot be properly assessed.
At Docrates Hospital, particular attention is always given to the treatment rationale and to documenting treatment efficacy and any adverse effects, especially if the treatment is experimental. Effective, correctly timed imaging and other assessments make it possible to avoid unnecessarily continuing with treatment that is not adequately effective.
Imaging is not useful if the cancer has been completely eliminated by surgery or radiotherapy. This means that the effectiveness of adjuvant chemotherapies given after such treatments cannot be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Adjuvant chemotherapy is therefore based on reliable evidence that the treatment in question prolongs patient survival or distinctly delays cancer recurrence compared to untreated patients.
Oncolytic viral treatments >>
Clinical studies >>
When direct medical research evidence is not available, experimental treatment is based on all other available medical knowledge and on the experience of the physician in charge of treatment. The risks and benefits of treatment are assessed individually on a case-by-case basis. Experimental treatment is not justified if the benefits cannot be properly assessed.
At Docrates Hospital, particular attention is always given to the treatment rationale and to documenting treatment efficacy and any adverse effects, especially if the treatment is experimental. Effective, correctly timed imaging and other assessments make it possible to avoid unnecessarily continuing with treatment that is not adequately effective.
Imaging is not useful if the cancer has been completely eliminated by surgery or radiotherapy. This means that the effectiveness of adjuvant chemotherapies given after such treatments cannot be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Adjuvant chemotherapy is therefore based on reliable evidence that the treatment in question prolongs patient survival or distinctly delays cancer recurrence compared to untreated patients.
Oncolytic viral treatments >>
Clinical studies >>