Roanoke Cancer Center Brings Cutting-Edge Treatment Trials

Cancer patients in Southwest Virginia are getting a lifeline they didn't have before.

Carilion Clinic is launching new clinical trials at its Taubman Cancer Center in Roanoke, bringing cutting-edge treatments directly to patients who might otherwise have to travel hundreds of miles to access them. The trials focus on radiopharmaceutical therapies, a form of precision medicine that uses radioactive isotopes to target and destroy cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue.

The new studies will test treatments for three challenging conditions: cancer pain, kidney cancer, and glioblastoma, an aggressive brain tumor. These trials build on earlier research that led to FDA approval of two therapies now helping patients nationwide.

"The opportunity to expand access to these much-needed, innovative therapies for patients is exciting," said Dr. Lana Wahid, vice chair for research in Carilion's Department of Medicine. The clinic is actively seeking more trials to make Roanoke a destination for cancer research and leading-edge care.

Clinical trials give patients access to promising treatments years before they become widely available. They also play a crucial role in bringing new therapies through the FDA approval process and into standard care.

In June, Carilion partnered with Virginia Tech's Fralin Biomedical Research Institute to host a workshop bringing together researchers and doctors from around the world. The event focused on radiopharmaceutical therapy and featured findings on astatine, a radioactive isotope being studied as a treatment for brain, prostate, and other cancers.

The workshop was part of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging's "Mars Shot" initiative, aimed at accelerating progress in nuclear medicine. Carilion currently runs about 150 clinical trials across more than 20 medical specialties.

The Ripple Effect

When a community gains access to advanced clinical trials, the benefits extend far beyond individual patients. Families no longer face the financial and emotional strain of traveling to distant medical centers for treatment. Local doctors gain expertise in cutting-edge therapies, raising the standard of care for everyone. And patients who participate in trials help researchers gather the data needed to approve treatments that will save lives across the country.

Roanoke is becoming a place where hope doesn't require a plane ticket.