Cancer Clinical Trials: The Way We Make Progress Against Cancer

Cancer Clinical Trials:The Way We Make Progress

Against Cancer

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What Are Cancer Clinical Trials?

• Research studies to find better ways to prevent, detect, or treat cancer

• Help doctors find ways to improve cancer care

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Why Are Cancer Clinical Trials Important?

• Most of the best cancer treatments we have today are based on what we learned from clinical trials

• People with cancer are living longer because of clinical trials

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Do Many People Take Part in Cancer Clinical Trials?

• Few people take part• The more people who

take part, the faster we will find better ways to treat and prevent cancer

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What Are the Different Types of Clinical Trials?

• Treatment• Prevention• Diagnostic• Screening/early

detection• Quality of life

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Treatment Trials

• What new treatments can help people who have cancer?

• What is the most effective treatment for people who have cancer?

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Treatment Trials

• Many treatment trials compare two or more different approaches to treating cancer

• Participants will take either:– The best accepted cancer

treatment– A new treatment

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Prevention Trials

What approaches can prevent a specific type of cancer from developing in people who don’t have cancer?

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Prevention Trials

Two kinds, that ask participants to either:

1. Do something

2. Take something

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Protecting Patients’ SafetyInformed Consent

Before agreeing to take part, patients have the right to understand all that is involved in a clinical trial:

• Procedures and treatments

• Tests

• Possible risks and benefits

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Protecting Patients’ SafetyInstitutional Review Boards

• Committee made up of experts

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Benefits of Taking Part

Possible benefits:• Patients will receive, at a minimum, the best

standard treatment• If the new approach is proven to work,

patients may be among the first to benefit• Patients have a chance to help others and

improve cancer care

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Risks of Taking Part

Possible risks:

• Unknown side effects or other risks

• New treatment may not help every participant

• Costs

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Where to Find Clinical Trial Information

• Your doctor or nurse

• National Cancer Institute

– www.cancer.gov

• Cancer Information Service

– 1-800-4-CANCER

– TTY- 1-800-332-8615