Clinical Trials
Clinical trials are carried out to research
treatments for cancer, diagnostic tests, controlling symptoms,
screening or for prevention of cancer.
The advantage of taking part in a clinical
trial is that the person may get a treatment that works but that is
not easily available outside of a trial. Also people can feel
reassured by the fact that they often receive more intensive follow
up and support during and after treatment. Other people find that
this causes them more anxiety.
Disadvantages include possible side effects that may not have
been expected and that the treatment hoped for is not given in a
randomised trial.
In a randomised trial researchers group people
together in 2 or more 'arms', one group receiving the new treatment
being trialled, the other group receiving standard treatment, known
as the control group.
Placebos are sometimes given in a randomised
trial where there is no standard treatment available this
is known as a blind trial.
Other types of trial are phase 1, 2, 3, 4
trials. These look at either totally new treatments (phase 1),
whether or not a treatment works well enough to test in a phase 3
trial (phase 2) and comparison of a new treatment with a standard
treatment (phase 3). Phase 3 trials are
randomised. These trials look at dosages, side
effects and how effective they are. Phase 4 (iv) trials are to look
at the longer term effects of drugs that are already licensed.
The ramifications of entering a clinical trial should be fully
understood following discussions with the oncologist, research
nurse or other researcher. The person should feel that they have
enough information to make an informed choice and give consent.
Consent can be withdrawn at any time and standard treatment will be
given.
Further information can be found on Cancer Research UK's website.
