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Clinical Trials

Clinical Trials2026-08-31T13:06:14-07:00

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Cancer Clinical Trials

Research is changing the way cancer is being treated. If you’ve been diagnosed with cancer, a clinical trial may offer access to the latest and most promising science, while helping to light the path for future survivors.

Learn more and talk to your doctor to see if a clinical trial may be the best choice for you.

Finding Better Treatments

Cancer clinical trials allow researchers to study innovative and potentially life-saving new treatments. The goal is to find treatments that are better than what’s currently available.

Placebos are rarely used in cancer treatment clinical trials. If participants don’t receive the study medication, they are always given the best available treatment for their particular cancer. This helps the researchers determine whether the study medication is better than the standard treatment.

Why Participate

Virtually every other therapy currently on the market was studied and made possible by people participating in clinical trials. Very few adult cancer patients join a trial. Many cancer clinical trials don’t get completed because not enough people participate. Without enough patient data, a promising treatment might never get approved.

Clinical trials offer a source of hope—for you and those who follow in your shoes. But without volunteers, advances in therapy are stalled. It’s important that trials include people from all ethnicities, backgrounds and walks of life so researchers can see how different people respond to a study treatment.

Types of Treatments

Chemotherapy
Systemic drugs that kill cancer cells by destroying cells in the body that grow rapidly
Targeted Therapy
A more focused attack against cancer cells that may also limit side effects
Therapeutic Vaccines
Therapeutic Vaccines that can help prevent or treat cancer
Immunotherapy
Unlocking the power of the body’s immune system to fight cancer
EPIGENETICS
Switching key genes ON or OFF to help destroy cancer cells
Combination Therapy
Help avoid drug resistance, and disrupt cancer in different ways that can ultimately be more powerful than one drug alone

Everyone is on their own unique cancer journey.
Those who join a trial do so for their own reasons…

“Knowing that I was receiving the most advanced treatment regimen for myself and also providing invaluable information to the medical community gave me a great sense of ease during one of the most difficult times in my life.”
Wes Schertz, Melanoma Survivor, Clinical Trial Participant
“Cancer clinical trials = standard of care + hope.”
Carlos L. Arteaga, MD, UT Southwestern Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center Stand Up To Cancer Scientific Advisory Committee
“I didn’t know at the time whether it was going to help me or not, or whether I would still be around afterwards, but I felt like participating in a clinical trial could help the women that came after me.”
Jamie Crase, Stage IV Ovarian Cancer Survivor, Phase I Trial Participant

Common Questions

Can I be treated locally?2026-07-25T07:05:52-07:00

Many trials are offered in community cancer centers. Often trials are conducted in a particular location where a researcher is located.

If you are interested in finding a trial or have found a specific one, talk to your doctor to learn more.

How is my treatment paid for?2026-07-25T07:05:51-07:00

The cost of a study treatment is typically provided free of charge. Most special tests done specifically for the trial, such as extra blood tests, are paid for by those running the trial. Other costs associated with your care are handled as they would be if you weren’t in a trial.

The study center may have a financial navigator or social worker who can answer your questions and give you suggestions or access to resources that may be of help.

Could I get a placebo?2026-07-25T07:05:50-07:00

Placebos are rarely used in cancer clinical trials. Participants always receive at least the current standard of care for their type of cancer. When a placebo is used, it’s usually combined with the standard treatment.

Are trials a last resort?2026-07-25T07:05:49-07:00

For some people, clinical trials are a great first option. Waiting longer could ultimately hinder the ability to qualify for a trial, either because they have already been exposed to other treatments or they are no longer healthy enough to meet the eligibility requirements of the trial.

Are trials safe?2026-07-25T07:05:48-07:00

The safety of clinical trial participants is of the utmost importance. Each trial is watched over by a special committee, called an “Institutional Review Board” (IRB), whose mission is to protect the interests of patients who participate in the trial. This board operates independently of the organization which is funding the study. IRBs do many things, but a main focus of their work is to protect the rights and welfare of participants. If they have any questions or concerns about your safety, they can mandate changes to how the study is designed.

Will I be a guinea pig?2026-07-25T07:05:47-07:00

It’s important to keep in mind that clinical trials are run because the treatment being studied has shown promise. Many years of research and massive effort is required before a treatment reaches a clinical trial. Sometimes the study drug is already known to be effective on cancers in other parts of the body.

In a clinical trial, participants receive a high level of care and a great deal of attention. You will likely find that you have more access to doctors and nurses to answer your questions. You will also be given more tests and be monitored very closely.

Participants are provided at least the current standard treatment for their particular cancer, with the possibility of receiving a new treatment that may help them.

You and your doctor are in control of whether you participate in a trial and what trial you both feel is best for you. You always have the option of withdrawing from a trial at any time and for any reason without penalty.

Will I need to have a biopsy?2026-07-25T07:05:46-07:00

You may. In fact, you may be asked to do a series of biopsies. Unlike blood work and scans, biopsies allow researchers to look directly at your cancer. That lets them see features of the cancer cells, such as specific gene mutations that may be vulnerable to particular types of therapy; especially newer, targeted therapies. Because a tumor changes in response to treatment, a series of biopsies may be needed to see how you are responding to the therapy and to help researchers better understand the biology.

Find a Clinical trial

Speak to an expert. Stand Up To Cancer is pleased to connect interested parties with Carebox, a free and confidential trial matching service that will help guide you through a search and referral process to find a clinical trial that may be right for you.

There are several ways to search and find a trial. You can fill out a questionnaire, call a toll free number to speak with a Carebox representative, or fill out a form and someone will be in touch with you.

Clinical Trial Form

Request a contact

Or search by phone
1-877-769-4829

Monday – Friday: 9:00 am – 6:00 pm ET
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Search Online

Fill out a short questionnaire to identify clinical trials looking for your specific diagnosis, stage and treatment history. This database features a wide range of studies including those supported by SU2C.

Active SU2C Clinical Trials

 

 

 

 

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