1. What are clinical trials?

A clinical trial is a study designed to evaluate a new therapy that has shown promise in treating cancer. A study may involve a new cancer drug. Will this drug be effective in the treatment of cancer? What kind of side-effects will a patient experience while on this drug? How safe is this new drug? Other trials may compare a standard cancer treatment with a new treatment design. New treatments are developed with the hope of finding better and more effective methods of cancer control.

2. What kind of cancers are treated with clinical trials?

Many different types of cancer can be treated in clinical trials. Each trial is conducted according to a protocol, that is, patients receive a certain treatment according to the design of the study. Each protocol has its own criteria as to which patients can be entered into that particular trial.

3. Are clinical trials safe?

All cancer chemotherapy exposes patients to some level of risk. In clinical trials the treatment protocols have already been examined and studied carefully in order to insure that the design of the study is such that any risk to the patient is minimal.

4. Are clinical trials more effective in treating cancer than standard treatments?

This is the question clinical trials are designed to address. For some cancers, the "best" treatments are not as effective as would be preferred. Clinical trials offer patients alternatives that may have a more beneficial result. All standard treatments used today were once components of clinical trials. Through the use of clinical trials, some cancers today are now cured that once were considered incurable.

5. Are clinical trials available at DeKalb Medical?

Yes. DeKalb Medical participates in a number of clinical trials sponsored by some of the leading research groups in the country. If you are interested in knowing more about clinical trials, talk with your physician to see if you are eligible for a study. Our program is affiliated with many study bases, including the National Cancer Institute co-operative group studies. Studies are available for almost every disease site.

6. Why should patients consider a clinical trial?

Patients participate in clinical trials for many reasons. They may hope for a cure of their disease, a way to feel better, a longer time to live and the potential to help others. Patients in a clinical trial are among the first to receive a new research treatment. This new treatment may prove to be of more benefit to the patient. During and after the treatment phase of a clinical trial, the patient is carefully monitored to see how the treatment is working. This information becomes part of a network of information from doctors and researchers around the country. Patients in these studies receive the benefit of their expertise.