When you hear the words “clinical trial,” you’re told it might be your breakthrough. But what most patients aren’t told is how clinical trials actually work — and what their limitations are.
In this episode of Outsmart Cancer, Dr. Dino Prato, founder of Envita Medical Centers, explains the good, the bad, and the uncomfortable truth about cancer clinical trials. Most trials are designed to test one drug against one marker, even though cancer uses dozens of pathways to survive, spread, and resist treatment. Patients with the same cancer and stage often have completely different molecular drivers — yet trials rarely account for that complexity.
Dr. Prato contrasts the traditional trial model with N-of-1 precision oncology, where treatment is custom-built around your biology using deep multi-omics testing: DNA sequencing, RNA transcriptomics, immune profiling, and spatial biology. Instead of slowing cancer temporarily with cytostatic drugs, this approach focuses on immune-centric, cytotoxic strategies designed to expose cancer to the immune system and eliminate it.
You’ll also learn why fewer than 10% of adult cancer patients ever enroll in trials, why many drugs fail late in development, and why maximum-dose testing often creates unnecessary toxicity. Precision oncology flips that model — using the smallest effective dose, the right combinations, and real-time monitoring to improve quality of life and long-term response.
🎯 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
• How cancer clinical trials are designed — and their built-in limitations
• Why most new cancer drugs are cytostatic, not cytotoxic
• Why two patients with the same cancer rarely need the same treatment
• What N-of-1 precision oncology really means
• How deep DNA, RNA, immune & spatial testing changes outcomes
• Why immune-centric care matters more than one “breakthrough” drug
• The right questions to ask before entering a clinical trial
📍 Envita Medical Centers – Scottsdale, AZ
🌐 Learn more: www.envita.com
📞 Speak with a care coordinator: 866-830-4576
“Clinical trials look for one drug that works for many. Precision oncology builds the right plan for you.”
Disclaimer
This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your licensed healthcare provider before making any medical decisions. Individual results will vary, and Envita Medical Centers does not guarantee outcomes. Some treatments discussed may not be FDA-approved or available in all locations. Testimonials are shared with patient consent and may not reflect typical results. Do not delay or disregard professional medical care based on the podcast's content. Certain treatments may be available only at Envita’s international clinic in Hermosillo, Mexico. No specific outcomes are promised or implied.
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Outcomes Disclaimer
The results referenced from Envita's Precision Cancer Care: 35-Fold Improvement in Response Rates are from a retrospective analysis of 199 late-stage cancer patients treated at Envita Medical Centers between 2021 and 2023, as published in the Journal of Cancer Therapy. These outcomes are not guaranteed and will vary based on individual factors such as cancer type, stage, genetics, immunity and prior treatments. Any comparisons to standard care or clinical trials are based on published data and internal analysis, not head-to-head studies. Individual results will vary.
You can read the full peer-reviewed study at:
https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation?paperid=132493
