Clinical trials, also called research studies, test new treatments in people with cancer. Clinical trials often compare the most accepted cancer treatment (standard treatment) with a new treatment that doctors hope will work better. Clinical trials test many types of treatment such as new drugs or different drug schedules or combinations of chemotherapy. They can be looking at different approaches to surgery or radiation therapy or new treatment methods such as gene therapy. There are also cancer prevention trials that evaluate a medication used to prevent cancer before it occurs in certain people who may have a higher risk of developing a certain type of cancer. In the past, clinical trials were sometimes seen as a last resort for people who had been through multiple treatments and had no other treatment choices. Today many patients with common cancers choose to participate in a clinical trial for their first treatment.
As a member of the Colorado Cancer Research Program (CCRP), have access to the latest research studies and protocols available for cancer treatment. Visit CCRP for more information.