Clinical Trials
What are clinical trials?
Advances in medicine and science are the result of new ideas developed through research. New cancer treatments must prove to be both safe and effective in scientific studies before they can be made widely available to patients. Through clinical trials we learn which treatments are most effective. The standard treatments we use now were first shown to be effective in clinical trials.
Every clinical trial is designed to answer a set of research questions. Based on what researchers learn from laboratory studies and early clinical trials, they design research trials to see if a new treatment will improve current treatments. The goal of any clinical trial is to address the individual needs of the patient and to determine the most effective treatment given for a type of cancer.
Why do patients participate in clinical trials?
Patients take part in clinical trials for many reasons. Although they hope to gain personal benefit, many have altruistic motives and want to contribute to research that may help others. Some patients participate because of their doctor’s recommendation.
If you fit the eligibility criteria, your provider may suggest you participate in a clinical trial. For many diseases, the best treatment available is the treatment being tested in a clinical trial.
To learn more about clinical trials
If you would like more information about clinical trials, please ask your provider or call the clinical trials offices at Providence Portland Medical Center, Providence St. Vincent Medical Center or Legacy Oncology Clinical Research, where research nurses are available to answer your questions. You may also call the National Cancer Institute at 1-800-4-CANCER.
Clinical Trials Offices
| Providence Portland Medical Center: | (503) 215-6805 or (503) 215-2691 |
| Providence St.
Vincent Medical Center: |
(503) 216-2083 |
| Legacy Oncology Clinical Research: |
(503) 413-8199 |
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