Our site is designed to be a resource both for patients interested in participating in clinical trials and for research professionals. Aberrations in this signaling process have been shown to cause a variety of serious diseases. Each clinical trial is designed to find new or better ways to treat cancer. This feature presents an overview of some presently available clinical trials. The Coalition of National Cancer Cooperative Groups is dedicated to ensuring the continued opportunity for cancer patients to participate in clinical trials.
Patients face many barriers to participating in clinical trials.
The Coalition is trying to break down these barriers by working with patient advocate organizations, physicians, nurses and other oncology professionals to improve and enhance the way we conduct research. Clinical trials answer specific questions about a new treatment or a new way of using existing treatments. Volunteer participation by men and women of all races and ethnicities is essential, if researchers are to find the best treatment regimens. Each study tries to increase medical knowledge and to find new and better ways to help cancer patients. Besides studying new anticancer drugs, clinical trials study new combinations of drugs already used in cancer treatment, new ways of giving treatment, and how changes in lifestyle can help cancer patients or prevent cancer from occurring.