Oncology Clinical Trials Information for Patients

Clinical trials (also called medical research and research studies) are conducted to determine whether new drugs or treatments are both safe and effective. They answer specific questions about new therapies or new ways of using known treatments.

All patients in clinical trials are closely watched by a team of experts to monitor their progress very carefully. Studies are designed to pay close attention to the study participants. While there are risks and benefits of every clinical trial, it is important to keep in mind that even standard treatments have risks and benefits.

The Purpose of Clinical Trials

Researchers conduct studies of new treatments to answer important questions:

• Does this treatment work?
• How does this new type of treatment work?
• Does it work better than other treatments already available?
• What side effects does the treatment cause?
• Are the side effects greater or less than the standard treatment?
• What other risks are involved?
• Do the benefits outweigh the risks?
• In which patients is the treatment most likely to be helpful?

Types of clinical trials

Clinical Trials are usually conducted in three phases:

• Phase I determines safety and side effects
• Phase II determines whether the treatment works and provides more information on safety
• Phase III determines if it’s better than current therapies

Deciding to Enter a Clinical Trial

Perhaps the best way to feel confident about participating in a clinical trial is to learn as much as possible about cancer clinical trials, about the study itself, and about how other people have made the decision. A comprehensive cancer resource list is available to help you in your learning.

Find a Clinical Trial Near You

View the NCCN Cancer Resource Links

To learn more about clinical trials, the clinical trials process, and available clinical trial opportunities please click on one or more of the NCCN Member Institution clinical trials sites or on the available links to other organizations.