Most advances in the diagnosis, treatment and care of patients with cancer have occurred because of research studies called "clinical trials" or "protocols." Clinical trials are designed to help health care professionals test new approaches to the diagnosis, treatment or prevention of cancer.
Improved diagnostic tests and new treatments have led to cures for patients with some cancers. Clinical trials that study the effect of cancer treatments such as surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy and biological therapy have helped health care professionals find better ways to treat cancer.
Cancer patients and people who are at high risk for developing cancer are often asked to participate in a clinical trial. Patients and their families should gather as much information as needed in order to be able to make an informed decision about participating in a clinical trial.
This section includes general information about clinical trials, including frequently asked questions and a listing of available clinical trials at the UPMC Cancer Centers / University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute. Additionally, our new Interactive Clinical Trials Video feature lets people type questions about clinical trials and view answers recorded by UPMC Cancer Centers experts.
