Also known as: Cancer clinical trials
Clinical trials are research studies in which people help doctors and researchers find ways to improve health care. Each study tries to answer scientific questions and to find better ways to prevent, diagnose, or treat disease. The purpose of a clinical trial is to find out whether a medicine or treatment regimen is safe and effective for the treatment of a specific condition or disease. Clinical trials compare the effectiveness of the study medicine or treatment against standard, accepted treatment, or against a placebo if no standard treatment exists. See a list of current cancer clinical trials available at Providence.
At Providence Cancer Center, our scientists and clinicians work closely together to improve the standard of care through the integration of clinical trials into clinical practice. Our clinical trials include Robert W. Franz Cancer Research Center investigator initiated studies, National Cancer Institute (NCI) sponsored studies and pharmaceutical sponsored studies. The clinical trials team at Providence Cancer Center works directly with referring providers and their patients to find the most appropriate clinical trial(s) that fit their specific diagnosis.
Forms & Information
Prostate cancer, once it spreads to lymph nodes and bones, generally is not curable. But basic and clinical researchers at Providence are working on this challenge.
From the experts
Many different systemic therapies have been tested for melanoma over the past 50 years, with generally disappointing results. The phase 3 study of ipilimumab was the first to show a survival benefit for any medical therapy in melanoma. – By Brendan Curti, M.D., medical director, Providence Biotherapy Program, Providence Melanoma Program
As knowledge about the immune system explodes, so does the potential of innovative treatments. – By Brendan Curti, M.D., medical director, Providence Genitourinary Oncology Research
After a tentative start, chemopreventive therapies might return to the forefront. A recent international study reports promising results. – By Ali Conlin, M.D., medical oncologist
Studies have provided conflicting results, but here’s what we know so far. – By Ali Conlin, M.D., medical oncologist
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