How a Cancer Trial Ended in Betrayal
Author(s)
Departments of Pharmacology, Biomedical Engineering, and Medicine
University of California Davis
ychenizu@ucdavis.edu
Abstract
In this case study, students learn about the complexities and issues associated with clinical trials. After reading a newspaper story about a fraudulently conducted clinical trial involving a treatment for skin cancer, students simulate their own small-scale “clinical trial” in class. The simulation involves a secret breaching of a blind test and manipulation of data to favor a positive effect for a particular proprietary drug. As part of the simulation, students examine “before” and "after” photographs of skin lesions from “patients.” Developed for first- or second-year college students, the case focuses on the scientific method, with special attention to the issues of objectivity and ethics in scientific research. The case study can be adapted to emphasize other topics, such as the pathophysiology and treatment of cancer. It can also be tailored to specific student populations, such as health professional students , by including in the case more information on the drug approval process (pre-clinical and clinical trials), T-cell lymphoma, and the effects of the immunosuppressive drug, BCX-34.
Objectives
- To demonstrate the basics of drug testing in a clinical trial.
- To teach the principles of the scientific method.
- To discuss the ethical issues involved in clinical trials.
Keywords
Drug approval process; drug testing; clinical trial; science fraud; cancer; cutaneous T-cell lymphoma; BioCryst; BCX-34Topical Areas
Ethics, Scientific method, Regulatory issuesEducational Level
High school, Undergraduate lower division, Undergraduate upper division, Professional (degree program)Format
PDFType / Methods
Role-PlayLanguage
EnglishSubject Headings
Science (General) | Medicine (General) | Pharmacy / Pharmacology | Biology (General) |
Date Posted
12/13/02Teaching Notes
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