Clinical Trials

NOTE: Trials open and close regularly at different times. To make sure a trial is still open, call 219-836-6875.

It takes 14 years for an experimental drug to travel from the laboratory to U.S. consumers. The longest part of that process is finding people to participate in each phase of clinical trials. The more people who take part, the faster we will find better ways to treat and prevent cancer.

The purpose of the cancer research clinical trials offered at our local hospitals is to gather and evaluate information about new medications that are not yet approved by the FDA. Sometimes, a clinical trial will involve a drug already approved by the FDA for one purpose, but that is being evaluated for another use.

It is important to note that every person participating in a cancer clinical trial receives treatment. While the word placebo may be included in the trial description, patients receive, at minimum, the best standard treatment in conjunction with the study medications. Placebo in these cases does NOT mean the patient is not receiving any treatment.

People choose to participate in clinical trials for many reasons. Some have exhausted all other therapy options and wish to try experimental treatment to help prolong or improve quality of life. Others wish to have access to new therapies that may benefit them, with faster healing or less side effects. Still others feel a strong sense of commitment to helping advance cancer research and help identify new therapies for those diagnosed in the future.

The Community Cancer Foundation sponsors research trials at the hospitals of the Community Healthcare System: Community Hospital in Munster; St. Catherine Hospital in East Chicago; St. Mary Medical Center in Hobart; and Community Stroke and Rehabilitation Center in Crown Point as well as Women’s Diagnostic Center, Medical Oncology Practices, and Northwest Cancer Center.

The Foundation provides area residents with access to trials for prevention, screening and treatment. We are part of the National Cancer Institute Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP). As a NCORP member, we are able to have access to hundreds of nationwide clinical trials in our community. We also offer trials sponsored by pharmaceutical companies.