Understanding Clinical Trials

Clinical trials are research studies conducted with people who volunteer to participate in the testing of new therapies.  These studies can lead to the development of better therapies for cancer treatment.

Clinical trials are a critical component in expanding treatment options for people with all types of cancer. Because all new therapies must be evaluated through clinical trials, the greater the number of people who participate, the faster new anticancer therapies can be brought to patients.  Clinical trials are also important because they offer hope to people with cancer by providing access to promising new therapies not yet available outside the study.

Clinical trials are designed by physicians and researchers and are conducted according to strict scientific and ethical principles.  Before the study begins, a protocol is developed describing what will be done in the study, how it will be conducted, and why each part of the study is necessary.  This research protocol is reviewed by third-party experts to make sure that study is conducted fairly and that patients are well-informed of their rights.  Each study has eligibility criteria regarding who can or cannot participate in the study, which may include type of cancer, age, gender, medical history, and current health status.

Patients considering participation in a clinical trial will receive important facts about the study’s purpose and what is involved, such as the tests and other procedures used, possible risks, and benefits.  Should a patient decide to participate, he or she will be asked to sign a written consent form that outlines the details of the study prior to beginning the trial.  However, participation in the trial is completely voluntary and patients may stop at any time.

If you would like more information, you may speak to your physician about the available clinical trials or contact our research team by phone at 540-662-1108 or by email by clicking here.

Additional information on clinical trials can be found on the NCI website at www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials.

Research Participant Information

The decision to participate in a cancer research study is an important one. Human research participants provide an essential service by helping potentially develop new medical treatments for cancer. The US Oncology Network has gathered information and resources to help inform you about human research and understand the rights of a human research participant. Learn more about research participation here.