About Clinical Trials

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Clinical Trial Participation

As a leading academic cancer centre, we are actively involved in clinical research. We conduct both investigator-initiated trials (IITs) and industry sponsored trials that will provide patients access to new cutting-edge therapies. If you wish to participate in a clinical trial at the National Cancer Centre, you can consult your attending physician. If there is a trial that is suitable for you, your physician will be able to refer you to the appropriate clinical investigator responsible for that study. Our clinical investigator will discuss with you what participation in the trial entails and provide any details to help you make an informed decision.

What Are Clinical Trials?

Clinical trials offer alternative treatment options for many people with cancer. It is a research study that involves people. Before a new drug gets regulatory approval for clinical use on patient, it has to go through a very long and strict process with many stages as illustrated in the table below. All drugs that are currently approved and routinely used in the treatment of cancer have undergone clinical trials.

All clinical studies that are conducted have been approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) or Ethics Committee at each medical institution. This is to ensure that the studies are ethical and appropriate, so that patients’ interests are not at stake.

Drug development pipeline

(Source: PhRMA Profile Pharmaceutical Industry 2010)

Why Is There A Need For Cancer Clinical Trials?

Cancer treatment clinical trials are approved research studies that are designed to test new drugs, drug combinations or approaches of treating cancer.

Clinical trials are integral to cancer drug development and the establishment of new treatment standards. It is through cancer clinical trials that researchers are able to determine whether new treatments are safe, effective and result in better outcomes than current treatments.

How Does My Participation Help?

When you take part in a clinical trial, you contribute to the overall knowledge about cancer and help in the development of improved cancer treatments.

Participating In A Clinical Trial

What happens during a clinical trial? The following flow-chart shows the different steps and procedures involved in a clinical trial.

What Is ‘Informed Consent’?

Informed consent is a process during which we will provide potential trial participants like yourself with information about the clinical trial(s) for which you are eligible. This process is intended to protect you as you will be provided with all the information relevant to the clinical trial.

What Are My Rights As A Trial Participant?

As a trial participant, you will have the following rights:

To be informed about the aims and procedures of the trial, the risks and benefits of the study treatment, and the alternative options to trial participation
To ask questions, and get answers to them, if there is anything you do not understand
To make an informed decision regarding your participation
To withdraw from the trial at any point in time, without compromising your subsequent care
To receive the medical care that is best for you
To privacy and confidentiality

All clinical studies that are conducted have been approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) or Ethics Committee at each medical institution to ensure that the studies are ethical and appropriate, so that patients’ interests are not at stake.

For more information on cancer, please call the Cancer Helpline at (65) 6225 5655 or email cancerhelpline@nccs.com.sg

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