Clinical Trials

Pancreatic cancer is the 3rd leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S. It has a 5-year survival rate of 10% and accounts for 7% of all cancer deaths. As of May 2021, there are 517 pancreatic cancer clinical trials worldwide. 

What are Clinical Trials?

Clinical trials are research studies that compare the most effective known treatment for a specific type or stage of cancer with a new approach. This can be a new drug, or combination of drugs or a different way of using established therapies. 

How do clinical trials help pancreatic cancer outcomes?

Clinical trials help researchers to find better treatments. Treatment advances help with the side effects, life expectancy, and overall outcomes of pancreatic cancer. Currently there is no cure, so trials and advances in research are the only hope for finding a cure. 

What types of clinical trials are there?

There are several types of clinical trials, including treatment trials, prevention trials, screening trials, supportive and palliative care trials, and natural history studies. Each type of trial is designed to answer different research questions and will help researchers learn what will help people in the future.

Treatment trials:

These trials test different drugs, vaccines, surgery/radiation, and a combination of treatments. They help to find correct dosage, favorable administration techniques, if it prolongs life, outcomes of the tumor, side effects, quality of life, and remission possibilities. Treatment trials help researchers modify the trial to benefit the patients current and future.

For a list of trials, please visit the link below.