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Clinical trials are research studies that involve people. Each study
tries to answer scientific questions and to find better ways to prevent,
diagnose or treat cancer. See
What Is a Clinical Trial?
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In cancer research a clinical trial is designed to show how a particular
anticancer strategy -- for instance, a promising drug, a gene therapy
treatment, a new diagnostic test, or a possible way to prevent cancer --
affects the people who receive it. See
If You Want To Find Ways To Prevent Cancer...Learn About Prevention Clinical Trials.
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A clinical trial is one of the stages of a long and careful cancer research
process. Getting promising results from testing a new drug on mice, for
example, is a preliminary step to human research studies. Treatments that work
well in mice do not always work well in people. See
How Is a Clinical Trial Planned and Carried Out?
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There are two types of prevention clinical trials that study ways of reducing
the risk of getting cancer:
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Action studies (doing something) - These focus on finding out whether
actions people take, such as exercising more or quitting smoking, can prevent
cancer.
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Agent studies (taking something)
- These studies examine whether taking certain medicines, vitamins or food
supplements (or a combination) can prevent cancer.
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In the agent prevention trials, people take medicines, vitamins, minerals or
other supplements that researchers believe may lower the risk of a
certain type of cancer. Health professionals who conduct these studies want to
learn:
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How can people learn about the possible pros and cons of participating in
a prevention trial? Through a process called informed consent you will
learn what agent(s) the study will test and how, and possible benefits and
risks, before deciding whether or not to participate.
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Who's eligible to participate in a prevention clinical trial? Each study
has its own guidelines for who can participate. Generally, participants are
alike in key ways - such as age, gender, whether or not participants are at
increased risk of a certain type of cancer, and other factors.
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What do prevention trials test? Many prevention trials are designed to compare a
promising new agent with a standard one or to no agent. In these
studies patients are randomly assigned to one group or another.
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Do some people receive a placebo in prevention clinical trials? People
assigned to a group receiving "no agent" take a look-alike pill that
contains no active ingredient, called a placebo. Remember that participants in
prevention clinical trials do not have cancer. In treatment clinical trials --
designed to compare a new treatment for a certain type of cancer with a
standard treatment -- placebos are very rarely used.
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Where do clinical trials take place? They are underway all over the
country - in cancer centers, other major medical centers, community hospitals
and clinics, physicians' offices and veterans' and military hospitals in
numerous cities and towns around the United States.
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Who pays for the participant costs on prevention clinical trials? The
coverage of costs varies, and so it is important to ask a doctor, nurse or a
staff member from the study to help you determine in advance what costs must be
covered by you or your health plan. See
Clinical Trials and Insurance Coverage: A Resource Guide.