As a member of the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) National Clinical Trials Network (NCTN), the Alliance helps translate scientific discoveries into evidence that can improve cancer care. Clinical trials are a cornerstone of this work, providing a rigorous way to evaluate new approaches and answer important questions across the cancer continuum.
A clinical trial is a carefully designed research study that evaluate a medical approach in people to determine whether it is safe, effective, and appropriate for a specific use. Cancer clinical trials can address many areas of care, including:
- Treatment: Testing new medications, combinations of therapies, surgical approaches or radiation techniques, and other treatments.
- Prevention and screening: Developing ways to reduce cancer risk and detect cancer earlier.
- Quality of life and cancer control: Finding ways to reduce treatment side effects, manage symptoms, improve quality of life, and enhance cancer care delivery.
Clinical trials of new cancer treatments generally progress through phases, with each phases addressing a different questions. Not every treatment follows every phase, and some studies combine phases.
- Phase I – Is the treatment safe? Researchers study a small group to determine an appropriate dose, evaluate side effects, and learn how treatment affects the body.
- Phase II – Does the treatment show promise? Researchers study the treatment on a larger group to determine whether it has an effect against a particular cancer while continuing to evaluate its safety.
- Phase III – How does it compare with the current treatment? Researchers compare the new treatment with the current standard of care in a larger group to determine whether it provides better outcomes and how its risks and benefits compare.
- Phase IV – What happens after approval? After a treatment is approved and available for routine use, researchers may continue to study its long-term safety and effectiveness in larger, broader populations.
Results from clinical trials help inform regulatory decisions and guide future research and cancer care.
The Alliance builds on decades of cancer research conducted by our predecessor organizations, combining their scientific expertise, research networks, and experience to advance cancer prevention and treatment. Learn more about the Alliance’s history.
When participants participate in an Alliance clinical trial and investigators join the Alliance, they become part of a collaborative cancer research networks spanning the United States and Canada. The Alliance includes more than 26,000 cancer specialists at 112 main member institutions and nearly 1,500 affiliated sites, including leading academic medical centers, hospitals, and community cancer centers.
Active Alliance trials
Explore Alliance clinical trials that are currently enrolling participants or have recently completed enrollment. If you find a trial that may be appropriate for you, talk to your health care team about whether participation may be right for you. .