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What Is a Clinical Trial?
A clinical trial is a study that uses humans to test the safety and effectiveness of a new drug or medical procedure. Clinical trials also test the safety and effectiveness of new methods that help prevent, detect, diagnose, or determine the extent of a disease.
Not all clinical trials test new drugs, procedures and methods; many trials test the safety and effectiveness of existing drugs, procedures and methods. Clinical trials also help doctors determine if existing treatments, procedures and methods can be used in different ways or for other diseases. For instance, cancer clinical trials may test existing cancer drugs to determine if they are safe and effective in treating multiple types of cancer.
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Who Can Participate in a Cancer Clinical Trial?
Every cancer clinical trial is different and has different eligibility criteria, or conditions that must be met. To determine if you qualify for a clinical trial, the trial research coordinator often considers the following:
- The type of cancer you have
- The stage of your cancer (how advanced it is)
- If you have had previous cancer treatments
- How long it has been since your last cancer treatment
- Laboratory test results
- Current medications
- History of cancer and other medical conditions
- Activity level (also called performance status
)
- Gender and age
- Other conditions specific to the clinical trial
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Is a Cancer Clinical Trial Right for Me?
Participating in a cancer clinical trial can be a very difficult decision. Your doctor can help you determine if a clinical trial may be right for you. You need to consider the risks and benefits of the clinical trial, cost issues, how the length of the trial may affect you and your loved ones, your expectations of the trial, and other factors.
You also may want to talk to family and friends about your interest in a clinical trial. While you are the one who makes the final decision, it may be helpful to hear the opinions and concerns of your loved ones.
If you decide a clinical trial is right for you, contact the clinical trial research coordinator or principal investigator to learn more about the clinical trial and eligibility criteria.
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Who Conducts Cancer Clinical Trials, and Who Pays for Them?
Cooperative groups (networks of U.S. institutions and doctors specializing in cancer) usually conduct cancer clinical trials, and researchers (usually doctors) lead the clinical trials. These researchers are called principal investigators. The main cooperative groups conducting clinical trials in the United States include the following:
- American College of Radiology Imaging Network (ACRIN)
- American College of Surgeons Oncology Group (ACOSOG)
- Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB)
- Children's Oncology Group (COG)
- Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG)
- Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG)
- National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP)
- North Central Cancer Treatment Group (NCCTG)
- Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG)
- Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG)
- National Cancer Institute (NCI)
The government organization called the National Cancer Institute sponsors, or pays for, a large number of cancer clinical trials in the United States. Other sponsors include pharmaceutical companies, other government organizations, and nonprofit organizations.
Your insurance company may cover certain portions of cancer clinical trial costs, but every insurance company is different. It is important for you and your doctor to discuss clinical trial costs with the study sponsor and your insurance company.
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How Can I Learn More About Cancer Clinical Trials?
To learn more about cancer clinical trials, contact the American Cancer Society at 800-ACS-2435 (www.cancer.org) or the National Cancer Institute at 800-4 CANCER (www.cancer.gov).
If you are interested in getting help finding a cancer clinical trial that may be right for you, consider contacting one of the following organizations offering clinical trial matching services:
