Oncology Clinical Trials

What is a clinical trial? 

Clinical trials are research studies in which people help doctors find ways to improve health and cancer care.  Each study tries to answer scientific questions and to find better ways to prevent, diagnose, or treat cancer.

Why are clinical trials important?

New cancer treatments must prove to be safe and effective in scientific studies before they can be made widely available.  Through clinical trials, researchers learn which approaches are more effective than others.  This is how new and better ways to fight cancer are developed.

Who can participate in a clinical trial?        

Each clinical trial clearly states who can participate based on the type of cancer or other disease, prior treatments, overall health status, and a number of other factors specific to each trial.  People who participate in a clinical trial must also give their consent after learning about the trial.  Only patients who give informed consent and meet all the eligibility criteria are entered into clinical trials.

Where do clinical trials take place?

Clinical trials are conducted at hospitals and clinics across the country. A number of clinical trials are available at the Goldschmidt Cancer Center. 

How can I find out more?

Talk to your doctor to find out if participating in a clinical trial is the right option for you.

For information about cancer clinical trials available at Capital Region, contact:

Sue Wooden, RN, OCN
Oncology Clinical Trials Nurse
Phone: (573)632-4814
E-mail: swooden@mail.crmc.org

For more information about cancer clinical trials, visit:

National Cancer Institute 
www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials