What Distinguishes The University of Kansas Cancer Center for Clinical Trials
In addition to standard care and treatments, we offer clinical trials designed to identify safer and more effective approaches to prevention, screening, diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
Cancer clinical trials provide access to potential advancements in care and lead to medical innovations in cancer prevention and treatment. These trials may also be a patient’s best chance for increased survival.
Types of Trials
We offer four types of trials.
Prevention trials determine new approaches for preventing or lowering the risk of developing cancer. These often involve healthy people who have not had cancer, yet may have a higher risk of developing a specific type of cancer.
Treatment trials determine the effectiveness of a potential therapy or method of using a standard therapy for cancer patients. These trials test investigational drugs, vaccines, combinations of various therapies and experimental approaches to surgery and/or radiation treatment. Find a treatment clinical trial.
Survivorship trials explore issues such as treatment decisions, treatment side effects and recurrence. The Breast Cancer Survivorship Center is conducting several survivorship studies.
Population-based clinical trials are centered in our Cancer Control and Population Health Research Program. The program explores how to reduce cancer deaths in the region. It addresses differences in health among the African American, American Indian and Latino communities. It focuses on the most common causes of cancer death in Kansas: lung, colorectal and breast cancer.
Phases
We participate in three phases of clinical trials:
Phase I is the first step in testing an investigational treatment approach. It determines the drug’s safety, dosage, how patients tolerate it and whether those patients experience side effects. Phase I usually involves small groups of patients.
Phase II tests the safe dosage of a drug or treatment on a larger group of patients. Researchers identify side effects, learn how the drug is used in the body and discover how it helps the condition.
Phase III compares the investigational treatment to a commonly used treatment. Some participants receive the investigational drug while others receive the commonly used treatment.
Researchers determine if the investigational treatment is better than, the same as or worse than a standard treatment. This phase may involve hundreds or even thousands of patients at multiple centers.
Care for patients in a clinical trial is provided in the same way standard treatment is provided. Our physicians, nurses and other health professionals provide care, keep patients informed about their treatment and measure their progress.
We are committed to providing safe, high-quality care, and we respect and value your role in making decisions about your health care. You are entitled to your rights, whether or not you participate in clinical trials.
Participation in a clinical trial is voluntary. You can withdraw from the trial at any time.
Find a clinical trial for you.
Search clinical trials by phase.