Download Clinical Trial Patient Information

Clinical Trials and Research What is a clinical trial?
Clinical trials are research studies in which patients may volunteer to take part. This guide is for
patients who may be interested in participating in a clinical trial. Clinical trials are used to find better
ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat cancer.
Why are clinical trials important?
Clinical trials are important to develop new treatments to fight cancer. Many of today's standard
cancer treatments that are accepted and widely used by medical experts are based on the results of
previous clinical trials.
Types of clinical trials
There are several types of clinical trials, below is a listing of the kinds of clinical trials that may be
available.
Prevention Trials - study how healthy people may prevent cancer. People who are at high risk of
getting cancer may benefit from participation in a prevention trial.
Screening Trials - discover ways to find early-stage cancer.
Diagnostic Trials - find new and better ways to determine if someone has cancer, and, if so, where the
cancer is located in the body; how much cancer is present; and whether or not it has spread to other
parts of the body.
Treatment Trials - also called therapeutic trials, study how a specific anti-cancer treatment affects the
patients who receive it.
Quality of Life/Supportive Care Trials - seek to improve the comfort and quality of life in patients and
their families or caregivers.
What is informed consent?
Informed consent is the process of learning the key facts about a clinical trial before deciding whether
or not to participate. It is also a continuing process throughout the study to provide information to
participants. It includes details about the study such as purpose, duration, required procedures, key
contacts, risks and benefits. The consent is not a contract, and the participant may withdraw
at any time.
Coordination of clinical trials
CHRISTUS Schumpert Cancer Treatment Center works in coordination with the National Surgical
Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP), Cancer Trials Support Unit (CTSU), Gynecologic Oncology
Group (GOG), the Southwest Oncology Group, (SWOG), as well as pharmaceutical companies to offer
research studies to our patients.