Enrolling in a Clinical Trial

Patients who take part in clinical trials can be the first to benefit from successful new cancer treatments. For some, it may be the best option when their cancer has not responded to other therapy. 

Even with the benefits, the decision to enroll in a clinical trial is not always easy. There is always a degree of uncertainty involved in testing a new drug or therapy.

If you are considering a clinical trial, you will want to discuss all of the advantages and possible drawbacks with your doctor and the people close to you. 

Before You Enroll

Before you agree to participate in a trial, it's best to gather as much information as you can about it to make your decision.

The National Cancer Institute has compiled a list of questions that patients may want to ask their own doctors or the clinical trial staff:

Eligibility

Before a cancer patient enrolls in a clinical trial, both the patient and the physician conducting the trial must determine if the match is right.

When selecting patients for a clinical trial, the study investigators must carefully choose patients who are alike in key ways and who do not have health characteristics that would put them at increased risk in the study or that would confuse the study's results. Patients must have the exact condition targeted by the new therapy so that the investigators can measure the treatment's effectiveness. 

The written plan or protocol for each clinical trial must include a list of criteria that make patients eligible or ineligible for inclusion in the study. These criteria usually include aspects of a patient's disease and treatment history, their current condition, their prognosis (likelihood of recovery) and their age.

What to Expect

As a participant in a clinical trial, you can and should have certain expectations about your care and treatment. You can expect that:

1. Your participation is voluntary. You may leave the study at any time and for any reason. If you leave the study, you can choose another form of treatment.
2. You will receive high-quality cancer care, whether you are given the new treatment being tested or the best standard treatment.
3. Your response to the treatment will be closely monitored by doctors and nurses, and your health will be their foremost priority.
4. If the new treatment harms you in any way, it will be stopped and you will be able to return to the care of your own doctor.
5. You will be given all of the information about the study, including treatment details, risks, and benefits, before you decide to take part.

It is the policy of the University of Maryland to respect and protect the rights and welfare of all individuals. We take very seriously the protection of all human subjects enrolled in clinical trials. The university's Institutional Review Board is a key component for ensuring that the rights and welfare of human subjects are protected.

Find a Clinical Trial

To find a clinical trial at UMGCCC, search our clinical trials database by study number, investigator or topic (keyword). 

If you have questions, please call us at 1-800-888-8823.