New lung cancer treatments must pass through a strict testing process before they are approved. This testing process is called a treatment clinical trial, and they study new drugs, radiation therapy treatments, and/or surgery methods to treat lung cancer. Most of the time, researchers are trying to understand whether the new treatment works better and is safer than the current treatments. A clinical trial may also be called a research study, a study, or a trial.

There are different types of clinical trials that study different aspects other than treatments for lung cancer.

• Prevention trials explore how to prevent lung cancer.‍
• Screening trials develop new and better ways to detect lung cancer.‍
• Diagnostic trials develop better tests for diagnosing lung cancer. ‍
• Supportive care trials find new treatments to decrease the symptom and side effects of lung cancer.

Any time you are facing a treatment decision, it’s a good time to think about whether joining a clinical trial is right for you. There are clinical trials for all stages of cancer.

Researchers first study potential new treatments in a lab. They undergo strict testing to understand how the new treatment works and to predict if it would be safe and effective in humans. Only after this extensive process is completed can the treatment advance to a clinical trial and be used as treatment with people.

Clinical trials are done in phases. Each phase of a trial has a different purpose, but all phases continue to monitor safety and side effects and must meet certain goals before it can progress to the next clinical trial phase. If it doesn’t meet the goals, the trial ends and the treatment does not progress.

In clinical trials that are studying a drug or a combination of drugs, the phases include:

If you join a phase 3 trial, you are usually randomly assigned to a test group or a control group. Although you may not know which group you’re in, you will receive the drug being studied if you are selected for the test group. If you are selected for the control group, you will receive standard treatment for your type and stage of cancer. This means, in a phase 3 trial you will receive a cancer treatment in both the test group and the study group. Researchers will study the results from these 2 groups to see which treatment worked best.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sets up an institutional review board (also known as an ethics committee) for each clinical trial. Their job is to closely watch clinical trials to ensure rules and safety guidelines are followed.

Before you join a clinical trial, you will be given detailed information about the trial and what to expect from your clinical trial team. This is called “informed consent”and will include:

• The study’s purpose
• How long the trial will last
• Required health tests or procedures
• Risks and benefits

Examples of risks can include:

• A new drug might not work as well as existing ones
• Unknown side effects
• Cost (clinical trial appointments and treatments can sometimes be free or paid for by insurance)

Once the informed consent process is complete, you can decide if you want to sign the informed consent form. After you sign and join a study, the first step in the study may include more testing. If the additonal testing shows you’re able to continue with the study, your treatment for the study will begin and will be provided by your clinical trial team.