Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsPurposeDatabasesPhases & TypesParticipant FeedbackHow to EnrollFuture Treatment OptionsFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Purpose
Databases
Phases & Types
Participant Feedback
How to Enroll
Future Treatment Options
Frequently Asked Questions
When deciding the best treatment for your type oflung cancer, your oncologist may suggest you join a clinical trial.
Clinical trials are research studies that help researchers test the effectiveness and safety of newly developed lung cancer prevention, screening, and treatment approaches.Though lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the U.S., lung cancer deaths have steadily declined in recent years as research around new treatment options becomes available.
This article explores the purpose of lung cancer clinical trials, the phases and types, and how to find and enroll in a lung cancer clinical trial.
Purpose of Lung Cancer Clinical Trials
Lung cancer clinical trialsare critical for progress in fighting lung cancer. Clinical trials allow researchers and healthcare providers to test new ways to:
People who volunteer for clinical trials are among the first to try new treatments before they become available to the general public. These people help healthcare providers, and researchers make lifesaving advancements in lung cancer treatment and care.
List of Databases
The first step in finding a clinical trial is talking with your healthcare provider. They can discuss whether it’s a good option given your specific type of lung cancer. Clinical trial databases allow you to search for privately and publicly funded trials seeking participants.
Lung cancer clinical trial databases include:
Phases and Types of Clinical Trials
Clinical trials investigate every aspect of lung cancer care, including:
Clinical trials are conducted in a series of phases. Each phase helps researchers learn more about the treatment to ensure it is effective and safe.
Contact Former Participants to Learn Their Experiences
To learn more about a clinical trial before you enroll, you may want to connect with participants from previous phases to learn about their experiences. Contact the clinical trial coordinator to ask them about connecting with former participants.
You can also join a mentorship program, such as theCancer Hope Network, and ask to be matched with a lung cancer survivor who has been through a clinical trial and can share their experiences with you.
Once you’ve found a clinical trial you’d like to participate in, it’s time to apply. The first step is to contact research team members, such as the principal investigator or study coordinator. Contact information is usually in the description of the study.
You’ll meet the research team for a screening appointment to see if you qualify for the study. They will provide details about the study — how long it will take, what you can expect, and the potential risks and benefits of participating.
Let your healthcare provider know if you plan to apply for a clinical study. They may want to talk to the research team to ensure the study is right for you and coordinate your care while participating in the trial.
If you qualify and want to enroll in the study, you will sign a consent form reiterating the trial’s details. All clinical trial participants have the right to leave the study at any time.
Clinical Trial Drawbacks
Possible disadvantages to participating in a clinical trial include:
Future Treatment Possibilities From Clinical Trials
Clinical trials help scientists make tremendous strides in diagnosing and treating lung cancer. Research shows that novel (new) treatments from clinical trials have decreased mortality rates and helped people with cancer live longer.
Researchers are currently conducting many clinical trials to make further advancements in the way we detect, diagnose and treat lung cancer, including:
Summary
Clinical trials are essential for advancing lung cancer screening, prevention, treatments, andindividual care. These trials allow people living withlung cancer to be among the first to try a treatment that may help improve their outcomes.
Talk to your healthcare provider if you’d like to participate in a clinical trial. They can help you find a trial that is right for you, or you can search national databases to find trials for your specific type and stage of lung cancer. Before enrolling in a clinical trial, ask the research team as many questions as possible about the trial protocol, what you can expect, and how treatment costs will be covered.
A Word From Verywell
Participating in a clinical trial can be a way for you to access promising new treatments for your type and stage of lung cancer. For people with stage 4 lung cancers, a clinical trial may be the last treatment option available. Others may volunteer for clinical trials to be a part of the progress in advancing lung cancer care and offering hope to those living with lung cancer. Whatever your reason, a lung cancer community online will provide support, understanding, and guidance through your journey.
Frequently Asked QuestionsResearchers have made several breakthroughs in lung cancer research in recent years. Biomarker research, for example, has helped researchers identify mutations associated with certain lung cancers and develop targeted therapies to improve treatment outcomes.Less than 5% of adults living with cancer enroll in cancer clinical trials, though 70% say they are willing to participate.Strict eligibility requirements, lack of trials in community-based settings, insufficient support, and financial limitations are cited as barriers to clinical trial participation.Cancer clinical trials do not pay participants. If you take part in a clinical trial, you will likely have extra appointments with your cancer care team so they can closely monitor your health. You may have more out-of-pocket costs when participating in a clinical trial (e.g., transportation, parking, meals).
Researchers have made several breakthroughs in lung cancer research in recent years. Biomarker research, for example, has helped researchers identify mutations associated with certain lung cancers and develop targeted therapies to improve treatment outcomes.
Less than 5% of adults living with cancer enroll in cancer clinical trials, though 70% say they are willing to participate.Strict eligibility requirements, lack of trials in community-based settings, insufficient support, and financial limitations are cited as barriers to clinical trial participation.
Cancer clinical trials do not pay participants. If you take part in a clinical trial, you will likely have extra appointments with your cancer care team so they can closely monitor your health. You may have more out-of-pocket costs when participating in a clinical trial (e.g., transportation, parking, meals).
11 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Cancer Institute.Advances in lung cancer research.National Institutes of Health.Annual report to the nation: rapid decrease in lung cancer and melanoma deaths lead overall continued decline in cancer death rate.National Cancer Institute.What are clinical trials?U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Conducting clinical trials.National Institutes of Health.Clinical research trials and you: the basics.National Institute on Aging.What are clinical trials and studies?National Institutes of Health.Finding a clinical trial.National Institute on Aging.Clinical trials: benefits, risks, and safety.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Clinical trial diversity.Unger JM, Cook E, Tai E, et al.The role of clinical trial participation in cancer research: barriers, evidence, and strategies.Am Soc Clin Oncol Educ Book. 2016;35:185-198. doi:10.1200/EDBK_156686National Cancer Institute.Paying for clinical trials.
11 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Cancer Institute.Advances in lung cancer research.National Institutes of Health.Annual report to the nation: rapid decrease in lung cancer and melanoma deaths lead overall continued decline in cancer death rate.National Cancer Institute.What are clinical trials?U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Conducting clinical trials.National Institutes of Health.Clinical research trials and you: the basics.National Institute on Aging.What are clinical trials and studies?National Institutes of Health.Finding a clinical trial.National Institute on Aging.Clinical trials: benefits, risks, and safety.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Clinical trial diversity.Unger JM, Cook E, Tai E, et al.The role of clinical trial participation in cancer research: barriers, evidence, and strategies.Am Soc Clin Oncol Educ Book. 2016;35:185-198. doi:10.1200/EDBK_156686National Cancer Institute.Paying for clinical trials.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Cancer Institute.Advances in lung cancer research.National Institutes of Health.Annual report to the nation: rapid decrease in lung cancer and melanoma deaths lead overall continued decline in cancer death rate.National Cancer Institute.What are clinical trials?U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Conducting clinical trials.National Institutes of Health.Clinical research trials and you: the basics.National Institute on Aging.What are clinical trials and studies?National Institutes of Health.Finding a clinical trial.National Institute on Aging.Clinical trials: benefits, risks, and safety.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Clinical trial diversity.Unger JM, Cook E, Tai E, et al.The role of clinical trial participation in cancer research: barriers, evidence, and strategies.Am Soc Clin Oncol Educ Book. 2016;35:185-198. doi:10.1200/EDBK_156686National Cancer Institute.Paying for clinical trials.
National Cancer Institute.Advances in lung cancer research.
National Institutes of Health.Annual report to the nation: rapid decrease in lung cancer and melanoma deaths lead overall continued decline in cancer death rate.
National Cancer Institute.What are clinical trials?
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Conducting clinical trials.
National Institutes of Health.Clinical research trials and you: the basics.
National Institute on Aging.What are clinical trials and studies?
National Institutes of Health.Finding a clinical trial.
National Institute on Aging.Clinical trials: benefits, risks, and safety.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Clinical trial diversity.
Unger JM, Cook E, Tai E, et al.The role of clinical trial participation in cancer research: barriers, evidence, and strategies.Am Soc Clin Oncol Educ Book. 2016;35:185-198. doi:10.1200/EDBK_156686
National Cancer Institute.Paying for clinical trials.
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