Clinical Trials - Frequently Asked Questions

Deciding to join a clinical trial can be a big decision for any cancer patient, especially when making many treatment decisions. It’s important to realize that nearly all cancer therapies available today resulted from thousands of cancer patients like yourself participating in past clinical trials.

A clinical trial is a scientific study in which new treatments – drugs, diagnostic procedures, and other therapies – are tested in patients to determine if they are safe and effective. In most trials, people receive either today's best available care or a new treatment that is hoped to be better. Such trials help scientists answer questions about new cancer therapies, including what diseases they should be used for, what doses are most effective, and which patients can benefit most.

A clinical trial is a scientific study in which new treatments – drugs, diagnostic procedures, and other therapies – are tested in patients to determine if they are safe and effective. In most trials, people receive either today's best available care or a new treatment that is hoped to be better. Such trials help scientists answer questions about new cancer therapies, including what diseases they should be used for, what doses are most effective, and which patients can benefit most.

In most cases, the costs related to treating your cancer is considered to be routine or usual care (meaning you would receive this care whether or not you are in a clinical trial). This includes office visits and/or hospitalizations, biopsies or other tests to diagnose your cancer, standard cancer treatments (chemotherapy or radiation), treatments to reduce or eliminate symptoms of cancer or side effects from treatments, lab tests, x-rays or other imaging tests, or other procedures you receive related to your cancer. The charges for routine or usual care are billed to you or your insurance company.

The study sponsor will pay for treatments or tests that are being done solely for research purposes. These could include treatments or drugs that are experimental (not yet approved by the FDA for your diagnosis), special test(s) or procedures that you would not normally have as part of your cancer care, the costs associated with conducting the clinical trial, such as data collection and management, and organizing and running the trial.

Before you join a clinical trial, you will receive an informed consent document that will explain what treatment(s) or test the study may cover. In addition, the research coordinator will review the expected research costs with you.

All clinical trials have guidelines that explain who can participate. These are called eligibility criteria. The factors that allow you to participate in a clinical trial can include age, gender, the type and stage of your disease, previous treatment history, and other medical conditions. Following eligibility criteria helps us keep you safe and ensures that researchers learn the information they need.

Patients can find some of the eligibility criteria on the clinical trials listing page. If you have found a clinical trial that you think you want to join, talk to your doctor to see if you are eligible to take part. Please keep in mind that just because you may meet some of the criteria listed, this does not mean that you will be able to enroll into the trial. More screening, tests, or labs may need to be completed before determining your eligibility.