Clinical Trials

Clinical trials are research studies that are conducted in human subjects to evaluate new ways to prevent, detect, treat, or manage cancer or other diseases. Through clinical trials, researchers are able to determine whether or not new treatments, such as drugs, procedures, or medical devices, are safe and effective, and whether or not they work better than current treatments. Learning more about clinical trials can help you make an informed decision about whether or not to participate in one as part of your colorectal cancer treatment.

Possible Benefits of Participating in a Clinical Trial

If you have a disease such as colorectal cancer, there could be personal benefits such as:

A potential early access to a new treatment with positive results; the treatment may cure or control your condition or improve your quality of life; you may receive more expert medical care from the research teams involved in the clinical trial.

In addition, participating in a clinical trial can help others by advancing medical research.

Possible Benefits of Participating in a Clinical Trial

Possible Benefits Of Participating In A Clinical Trial

If you have a disease such as colorectal cancer, there could be personal benefits such as:

A potential early access to a new treatment with positive results; the treatment may cure or control your condition or improve your quality of life; you may receive more expert medical care from the research teams involved in the clinical trial.

In addition, participating in a clinical trial can help others by advancing medical research.

Possible Risks of Participating in a Clinical Trial

Because clinical trials often compare a new drug to an approved drug or combination of drugs that are part of the current standard of care, you may not always receive a new treatment. Even if you get a new drug, it may not help you. It may be less effective than the standard of care. As with any treatment, there is the risk of serious short- or long-term side effects.

Reducing Your Risk

Before you participate in a clinical trial, it is very important that you understand what is involved and give your informed consent. Talk to your doctor to best understand the risks and benefits so you can make an informed choice about participating.

Types of Clinical Trials

This type of trial looks at whether a particular treatment can help prevent cancer. These trials can be conducted in the general population or in people who have a higher than normal risk of developing a certain type of cancer, such as those with a family history of the disease.

Screening trials involve testing people for early signs of cancer before they have symptoms. These trials can be done in the general population or in a group of people who are at higher than normal risk of developing cancer. Screening trials may look at the effectiveness of a new screening test compared to standard tests.

Treatment trials are conducted in stages or phases. In trials that compare two or more treatments, participants are randomly assigned to a specific treatment group. Randomized trials give researchers the most reliable information about how well a new treatment works.

Types of Clinical Trials

This type of trial looks at whether a particular treatment can help prevent cancer. These trials can be conducted in the general population or in people who have a higher than normal risk of developing a certain type of cancer, such as those with a family history of the disease.

Screening trials involve testing people for early signs of cancer before they have symptoms. These trials can be done in the general population or in a group of people who are at higher than normal risk of developing cancer. Screening trials may look at the effectiveness of a new screening test compared to standard tests.

Treatment trials are conducted in stages or phases (see section: “Phase of clinical trials” below). In trials that compare two or more treatments, participants are randomly assigned to a specific treatment group. Randomized trials give researchers the most reliable information about how well a new treatment works.

Finding the Right Clinical Trial

Talk to your healthcare team to find out if participating in a clinical trial is right for you. You can also access the clinical trial databases below or contact a clinical trial navigator to learn more and find trials specific to your needs and location.

Clinical Trial Navigator Services in Canada

OncoQuebec 

Clinical trials Quebec 

Canadian Cancer Clinical Trials Network 

Clinical Trials Navigator provided by the Windsor Regional Hospital

The Clinical Trials Navigator is designed to help cancer patients search for and connect with clinical trials for which they may be eligible. The patient begins by completing an informed consent form, or their physician can complete a referral form. The patient is connected to the Clinical Trials Navigator, which helps them search for all eligible trials.

Contact the Clinical Trials Navigator at clinicaltrialsnavigator@wrh.on.ca;

P: (519) 253-3191 ext. 58583

F: (519) 253-8102

Additional Clinical Trials Resources

www.itstartswithme.ca is the central resource created by N2 Canada to help potential participants, families, caregivers, and the general public to understand basics about clinical trials and clinical research.

Download the N2 Canada It Starts With Me Brochure on Clinical Trials

ENGLISH

Provides a listing of specific information relating to phase I, II and III clinical trials in patients. You can contact Health Canada support staff directly by email or telephone for assistance.

An American database of privately and publicly funded clinical trials from around the world.

The World Health Organization Clinical Trials Search Portal enables the public to access a central database of registered clinical trials from all over the world.

CCTG is a cooperative oncology group that designs and administers clinical trials in cancer therapy, supportive care and prevention across Canada.

  • 810 Studies recruiting patients
  • 45 Studies soon to recruit patients
  • 166 Pediatric Studies
  • 22 Participating Hospitals
  • 11 Cities

Community Of Practice – QUEBEC

In the fall of 2020, in collaboration with Colorectal Cancer Canada, Q-CROC has established and coordinated a community of practice in colorectal cancer. This entity includes a group of physicians who work and interact together at quarterly meetings to learn from one another, sharing challenges, experiences and good practices in their professional clinical research practice.

The objectives of this community of practice are to optimize the recruitment and referral of clinical trial participants between centres, to facilitate the flow of information related to current and future clinical trials, and to increase the visibility of the community with study sponsors. This group of physicians also has a desire to improve access to clinical trials in targeted therapy.

For more information about CCC’s involvement in clinical trials in Canada, visit our page on a Patient-Centered Approach to Clinical Trials (PACT).

Colorectal Cancer Canada is a founding member of PACT, a pan-Canadian initiative to ensure and support the realization of active and equal patient and patient group engagement in cancer clinical trials.

PACT C-CTTI Model

For more information about PACT, visit pactcanada.org