CLINICAL TRIALS


In cancer research, a clinical trial is a study conducted with cancer patients, usually to evaluate a new treatment. Each study is designed to answer scientific questions and to find new and better ways to help cancer patients.

The search for good cancer treatments begins with basic research in laboratory and animal studies. The best results of that research are tried in patient studies, hopefully leading to findings that may help many people.
At this time there is no single place to get information on all of the government and privately sponsored clinical trials now enrolling patients. However, there are several resources you should be aware of:

  • The National Cancer Institute (NCI) sponsors the majority of government-funded cancer clinical trials. A list of current clinical trials can be obtained by calling the National Cancer Instititute’s Cancer Information Service toll-free at 1.800.4.CANCER or visiting the NCI web site atwww.cancer.gov.

  • The National Institurtes of Health (NIH) maintains a large database of clinical trials at www.clinicaltrials.gov, but not all of these are cancer-specific.

  • The Coalition of National Cancer Cooperative Groups (CNCCG) provides a list of cancer studies being conducted at member institutions on their Web site at www.cancertrialshelp.org. You can search the list with or without registering at the site.

  • Cambridge Regional Cancer Center can offer information of the clinical trials being conducted through their center. Reach them at 740-439-2771.

  • The American Cancer Society’s Web site at www.cancer.org can locate the closest NCI designated center.

  • Private companies, such as pharmaceutical or biotechnology firms, may list the studies they are sponsoring on their Web sites.