Clinical trials use patient volunteers in research studies to answer specific questions about promising new or experimental drugs, vaccines and other therapies, while attempting to find the most effective treatment for each patient’s condition.
Clinical trials for brain tumors evaluate the safety and effectiveness of brain tumor therapies, including:
- New drugs
- New combinations of existing drugs
- New approaches to surgery or radiation therapy
- New methods of treatment, such as targeted molecular therapies or gene therapy
Brain Tumor Research Includes Four Types of Trials
- Treatment: research to test new approaches to treatment including new drugs, drug combinations, radiation and surgery
- Prevention: research designed to investigate methods to prevent the disease from occurring in people who have not previously had a brain tumor; or prevent the brain tumor from recurring in patients who have previously been diagnosed with the disease
- Screening: research to find the optimum approach in detecting a brain tumor before symptoms occur; includes imaging, laboratory and genetic testing
- Quality of Life and Symptom Improvement: research to investigate means of improving quality of life for brain tumor patients and survivors; areas explored include the management of fatigue, nausea, pain, weight loss and depression associated with brain tumor treatments
Brain Tumor Clinical Trials
If you have just found out that you have a brain tumor or your tumor has recurred, research all the available treatment options – including clinical trials – before making any treatment decisions.