Clinical Trials

What are clinical trials?

A cancer clinical trial is a research study that tests new ways to prevent, detect, treat or manage cancer or the symptoms of cancer. Clinical trials provide doctors and health care providers with information about the safety and effectiveness of new approaches to see if they should become widely available to cancer patients. Most of the standard cancer treatments used today were first shown to be effective through clinical trials.

Why do we need clinical trials?

Clinical trials show us what works for patients like you in medicine and health care. They are designed to improve your treatment options, increase survival rates, and improve quality of life. Past clinical trials have led to new and more effective drugs for specific types of cancers, new combinations of drugs to manage cancer, drugs and treatments that have less side effects, and less invasive methods of surgery. Clinical trials help us to advance our knowledge and improve care for you, our patient.

Who Can Participate?

Are you interested in learning more about participating in a clinical trial? Clinical trials are appropriate for all people with different types and stages of cancers. At London Regional Cancer Program, clinical research is carried out throughout each of our disease site teams. If you want to learn more about whether or not there is a clinical trial that is right for you, ask your physician or health care team for more information.

Ask a member of your health care team or contact our Clinical Trial Advisor at cancertrials@lhsc.on.ca

Clinical Cancer Research Program

At London Regional Cancer Program, the Clinical Cancer Research Program coordinates and supports the management of clinical research projects that advance cancer knowledge and patient care for patients like you here in London, and around the world.

About the Clinical Cancer Research Program

Operational since 1982
250 - 400 new patients recruited for trials each year
Between 50 and 70 active clinical trials at any time
Close collaboration and partnerships with Western University, Cooperative Groups such as Canadian Cancer Trials Group, Pharmaceutical Companies, and government agencies such as Cancer Care Ontario
Major participation in studies which have resulted in changes in standard treatments

London Regional Cancer Program
Clinical Cancer Research Program
www.lhsc.on.ca/Research_Training/LRCP/Clinical_Trials/
519-685-8618

Benefits of Clinical Trials

When you participate in a clinical trial, you will have access to new and innovative treatments and protocols that may help you manage your cancer, manage your side effects, or increase your quality of life. When you participate in a clinical trial, you will be monitored closely to bring forward important findings, but also to monitor your health, safety and progress. Participation in clinical trials is always voluntary, and you are encouraged to have open lines of communication with your health care team throughout your treatment journey.