Lung Cancer Health Center

Lung Cancer Clinical Trials

Major drug companies continually research and develop new medications and treatments, which must be shown to be safe and effective before doctors can prescribe them to patients. Through lung cancerclinical trials, researchers test the effects of new drugs on a group of volunteers with lung cancer. Following a strict protocol and using carefully controlled conditions, researchers evaluate the investigational drugs under development and measure the ability of the new drug to treat lung cancer, its safety, and any possible side effects.

Some patients with lung cancer are reluctant to take part in clinical trials for fear of getting no treatment at all for their lungcancer. This is simply not true. Patients with lung cancer who participate in lung cancer clinical trials receive the most effective therapy currently available for the lung cancer -- or they may receive lung cancer treatments that are being evaluated for future use. These lung cancer drugs may be even more effective than the current lung cancer treatment. The only way to determine if a newer treatment is better than the currently available treatment is by clinical trial participation.

The following web sites offer information and services to help you find a lung cancer clinical trial that is right for you.

TrialCheck

This web site, developed by the nonprofit Coalition of Cancer Cooperative Groups, is an unbiased cancer clinical trial matching and navigation service enabling patients to search for cancer trials based on disease and location.

National Cancer Institute

This web site lists more than 6,000 cancer clinical trials, and explains what to do when you find one that you think is right for you.

ClinicalTrials.gov

This web site offers up-to-date information for locating federally and privately supported clinical trials for cancer.

CenterWatch

This web site lists industry-sponsored clinical trials that are actively recruiting patients.