Patients

A participant’s guide to Alliance trials

While many Alliance clinical trials evaluate new treatments for people with cancer, our research spans the cancer continuum—from prevention and early detection to treatment, survivorship, and quality of life. Alliance research includes:   

• Next-generation treatments: Evaluating innovative therapies, drug combinations, surgical approaches, radiation techniques before they are widely available. 
• Prevention and screening: Identifying ways to prevent cancer and detect it earlier, when treatment may be more effective.
• Advanced imaging and diagnostics: Developing and evaluating technologies that help detect cancer and monitor how tumors respond to treatment.
• Survivorship and quality of life: Studying ways to improve the physical, emotional, and social well-being of people living with and beyond cancer. 
• Patient partnership: Incorporating patient perspectives in research from the earliest stages. Patient representatives help shape Alliance clinical trials from the concept development through protocol design, helping ensure research is meaningful, accessible, and responsive to patient needs.

Why cancer clinical trials matter

Clinical trials are essential to progress in cancer care. Many advances in cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship are possible because people choose to participate in clinical research.

• Take an active role: Participating in a clinical trial gives people with or at risk for cancer an opportunity to take an active role in research while learning more about their health and treatment options. 
• Participate with a research team: Participants work with experiences oncology teams following carefully designed research protocols. Their health is monitored throughout the study through scheduled visits, tests, and assessments that support participant safety and reliable research results.  
• Safety and rights come first: Protecting the safety and rights of participants is fundamental to every Alliance clinical trial. Before a trial begins, it undergoes scientific, ethical, and regulatory review. During the study, investigators and appropriate oversight and monitoring groups continue to evaluate participant safety, study conduct, and compliance with protocol and applicable requirements.

Bringing innovation to the community

Alliance clinical trials are conducted through a national network of academic and community cancer centers across the United States. Depending on the study, trials may take place at local doctors’ offices, community hospitals, regional clinics, veteran and military hospitals, and major cancer centers. While some specialized studies are available only at select centers, many trials are offered across numerous locations in urban, suburban, and rural communities.

Your choice, your team

Choosing whether to participate in a clinical trial is voluntary. Your doctor and health care team can help you understand your options and provide information about the potential risks, your rights, and what participation would involve. The informed consent process gives you an opportunity to ask questions and make an informed decision before joining a study.

Talk to your health care team and loved ones about whether a clinical trial may be right for you. If you choose to participate, you can change your mind and leave the study at any time.