Learn About Cancer Clinical Trials

Where Are Cancer Clinical Trials Conducted?

Because cancer clinical trials represent leading-edge medical science, many people may believe that they are only available at large teaching hospitals or in major cities. This is not the case. Depending upon the type of cancer treatment, patients enrolled in cancer clinical trials receive care at teaching hospitals, outpatient clinics, community hospitals, and physicians’ offices.

In fact, thousands of oncologists and other physicians throughout the United States and Canada take part in cancer clinical trials. A clinical trial may even be taking place in your neighborhood. About 8000 physicians in the United States and Canada belong to cooperative groups. Another 2500 community cancer specialists and primary care physicians take part in National Cancer Institute-sponsored trials through the Community Oncology and Prevention Trials Research Group. This program includes doctors in 29 states.

Both these programs are committed to extending the availability of cancer clinical trials so patients do not necessarily have to leave their community to receive leading-edge care.