How to Find a Clinical Trial

Many people find clinical trials through their doctors, but there are online resources available to help.

Before you start searching, gather as much information as possible about your current cancer diagnosis, including your pathology report and any tumor testing results. You should also gather information on any treatments you’ve had, medications you’re on, and any history of other health conditions. This will be helpful as you try to determine your eligibility for various trials. The National Cancer Institute has a checklist (PDF) to help you organize the information you’ll need about your cancer diagnosis when looking for a trial.

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  Ask your doctors (particularly oncology providers such as your medical oncologist, surgical oncologist, or radiation oncologist) if they know of any clinical trials that would be suitable for you. If your doctors aren’t knowledgeable about clinical trials, ask if they have a colleague in the area who might be willing to assist you.

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  Search for trials on Clinicaltrials.gov, a database of privately and publicly funded clinical studies conducted around the world. Breastcancer.org also has a page with featured clinical trials. You can reach out to a specific trial’s contact person to ask for more information or verify whether you meet the eligibility requirements. Contact information for the principal investigator or research coordinator is often listed toward the bottom of the page for trials listed on Clinicaltrials.gov. (If not, you can often find their contact information through the medical center where they work.) If a trial has multiple sites that are enrolling patients, you may want to reach out to the principal investigator or research coordinator at the site closest to you.

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  Set up a telehealth appointment or travel to meet in person with an oncologist at a major cancer center that is actively involved in clinical trials. Many cancer centers based at academic medical centers have searchable databases of clinical trials, which can be a good
  starting point.

Contact the following organizations that can help you find clinical trials:

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  BreastCancerTrials.org, a program of Quantum Leap Healthcare Collaborative, has an online matching tool to help you find breast cancer clinical trials that may be right for you. You can also schedule a free online appointment with a nurse navigator to discuss your options.

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  Lazarex Cancer Foundation has patient navigators who can help people with cancer find clinical trial options over the phone or by email. The Foundation may also be able to provide support to you with expenses related to clinical trial participation. For more information, call 925-820-4517 Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT or email info@lazarex.org

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  The National Cancer Institute has a database of clinical trials that are sponsored or financially supported by the NCI. You also can call the NCI Cancer Information Service at 1-800-4-CANCER to get help with a clinical trial search tailored to your situation. Clinical trial-related live chats are also available.

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  Susan G. Komen Breast Care Helpline provides information over the phone or by email about breast cancer clinical trials, including assistance with finding a trial, knowing what to expect, and making decisions about trial participation. Call 877-465-6636 or email clinicaltrialinfo@komen.org.

Beyond these resources, there are also clinical trial listings and matching services such as CenterWatch, EmergingMed, and Antidote. You can search for clinical trials according to your diagnosis and geographic location. Given that there are so many listing services, you may wish to enlist the help of a trusted family member or friend to help research what's available.

Once you identify a clinical trial (or trials) that interests you, reach out to the principal investigator or research coordinator for more details and then discuss options with your doctor and care team.