Drug trials Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology Clinical trials are research trials involving patients, carried out to find new or better treatments. Not all clinical trials involve using medicines, some look at other forms of treatment or how they affect people’s daily lives.

Trials are the only way of finding out if one method of treating cancer is better than another.

The aims of the treatments being tested may be to:

• Improve cure rates
• Improve survival rates
• Control or relieve cancer symptoms
• Relieve treatment side-effects
• Improve patient’s quality of life

There are many clinical trials cancer patients can take part in, and they’ll be offered one if there is something suitable available. Randomised trials generally compare a new treatment to the current standard treatment. Patients are allocated to the standard treatment or new treatment by a computer, so no one can influence which treatment a patient receives. This makes sure each group in a trial is evenly matched, with patients from each sex and age group so the results from each group can be compared accurately.

Patients do not have to take part in clinical trials and have the right to say no without giving a reason. For some, taking part in a clinical trial is too much to cope with at an already stressful time, while others feel it's a positive step. Even if a patient decides to take part in a clinical trial, they can decide to stop taking part at any time, and this will not affect their future treatment. Some patients may wish to take part in a trial which their doctor is not involved in and in this situation they will be referred to another doctor.

What are the benefits?

• Patients may be able to get a treatment which is only available in a trial.
• Patients may be more closely monitored, with more tests, scans and check-ups.
• Taking part in a clinical trial which may benefit future cancer patients can give patients a sense of satisfaction.

What are the possible drawbacks of taking part?

• There may be more hospital visits.
• There may be more tests, scans and check-ups which can make some patients worry more.
• Side-effects from new treatments – although new treatments have had a lot of research done on them before they are given to patients, there is a risk of unexpected side-effects and there are no guarantees that new treatments will be better.

If offered a clinical trial, patients should ask the doctor or trials nurse:

• What are the potential benefits for me taking part?
• What are the known side-effects of this new treatment?
• How many extra visits and or tests will be needed?
• How long will the trial last?

Patients offered a clinical trial will be given contact numbers for the doctors and nurses involved and should contact them if they are unsure or have further questions.

More information on cancer trials is available from Cancer Research UK.

This article was first published in February 2009.