A clinical trial (also clinical research) is a research study in human volunteers to answer specific health questions. Carefully conducted clinical trials are the fastest and safest way to find treatments that work in people and ways to improve health. Interventional trials determine whether experimental treatments or new ways of using known therapies are safe and effective under controlled environments. Observational trials address health issues in large groups of people or populations in natural settings.
Participants in clinical trials can play a more active role in their own health care, gain access to new research treatments before they are widely available, and help others by contributing to medical research
More information about treatment studies can be found in the NCI publication Taking Part in Clinical Trials: What Cancer Patients Need To Know.
ClinicalTrials.gov: Colonic Neoplasms (National Institutes of Health)
ClinicalTrials.gov: Colorectal Neoplasms (National Institutes of Health)
ClinicalTrials.gov: Rectal Neoplasms (National Institutes of Health)
Clinical trial information is also available from the Cancer Information Service by calling 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237).
