Cancer Care Clinical Trials
Leaders in Cancer Research
John Theurer Cancer Center is leading the way to a cancer cure through groundbreaking clinical research. Together, we accelerate research to bring new cancer treatments from the laboratory to the bedside faster than ever.
We believe all cancer patients deserve the latest innovative approaches to cancer treatment. That’s why our care teams screen all patients to see if you’re a match for a clinical trial. This gives you unparalleled access to treatments through clinical trials you won’t find anywhere else. Hackensack Meridian Health conducts trials in differing stages of development, from Early Stage Phase 1, Phase 1, Phase 2, and Phase 3 Trials.
The Largest Clinical Trials Program in New Jersey
John Theurer Cancer Center conducts more clinical trialsthan any other cancer center in New Jersey. Our patients have access to hundreds of clinical trials at every stage of development across every specialty of cancer.
Through our partnership with Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center at Georgetown University, John Theurer Cancer Center is a member of one of only 13 National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated cancer consortia. We are two strong institutions that share a passion and expertise for developing therapies and delivery systems to improve cancer outcomes.
Accessing Clinical Trials
The information below offers patients direct access to all clinical trials; segmented views of Phase 1 Clinical Trials, and Frequently Asked Questions. Patients who are interested in participation but are unsure where to begin are also welcome to call us at 551-996-1777 to ask questions, receive more information, and get started.
All Clinical Trials
Patients interested in all Cancer Care trials across the HMH network, at all levels of clinical trials may use the link below to view our studies, read about inclusionary criteria, and apply.
Phase 1 Clinical Trials
At John Theurer Cancer Center, you benefit from one of the nation’s leading phase 1 clinical research programs. Representing nearly one third of our cancer research, phase 1 clinical trials allow our patients to receive exciting and innovative cancer therapies before anyone else.
Frequently Asked Questions about Clinical Trials
Your participation is entirely voluntary, and our research team will help you understand all aspects of your care. We’ve prepared these frequently asked questions to help you better understand cancer clinical trials and to help you decide if a clinical trial is right for you.
Clinical trials are an option for many people with cancer and provide the earliest access to the newest and most promising cancer therapies. Participating in a clinical trial can allow you to be among the first in the world to receive potentially lifesaving therapies. These studies are essential for progress to be made against cancer and have formed the basis for most cancer treatments used today.
You may consider participating in a clinical trial if:
- No current treatment exists for your type of cancer
- Standard treatment was unsuccessful
- Your cancer has returned
- You want to help advance medical science that will help cancer patients today and in the future
You and/or your insurance provider may have to pay for medical services that you receive while participating in a research study. For example, you and/or your insurance provider will be billed for any medical services and tests that you receive while you are participating in a research study that are part of your regular medical care. Such services are considered “standard of care” and are services that you would receive even if you were not participating in the study. You will be responsible for any deductibles or co-pays required by your insurance provider for standard of care medical services.
However, some services or tests that you may receive as a research study participant may be solely for the purposes of the clinical trial. You and your insurance provider will not be billed for services or tests that are not considered standard of care.
A member of the study team or research billing team can explain which services or tests will be billed to your insurance provider or to you, and will be glad to answer any questions you may have about billing during your participation in a research study.
It takes years to develop, test and perfect a new cancer treatment. A clinical trial is the last step in studying a new treatment before it can be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Clinical trials are conducted in phases, starting with the smallest group and then expanding to all patients.
Phases of Clinical Trials
- Phase I studies are the first step, assessing the best dose of a new drug or treatment combination in a small group of patients (15-30 people). Our dedicated Phase I Clinical Trials Program enables you to receive innovative therapies, including novel combinations, at the earliest stage of development. John Theurer Cancer Center has the highest number of early-phase clinical trials in New Jersey.
- Phase II studies evaluate safety and effectiveness of the new treatment in more patients (less than 100).
- Phase III studies compare the safety and effectiveness of the new treatment to a placebo (inactive therapy) or to a standard therapy already in use. These studies involve 100 to as many as several thousand people.
- Phase IV studies further assess the long-term safety and effectiveness of an FDA-approved treatment in very large groups of patients.
To scientifically assess a new treatment, clinical trials may be designed as:
Randomized: Patients are randomly assigned to a study group. This way researchers can measure how well a new treatment works compared to a current treatment.
Blind: If a clinical trial is blind, patients do not know which treatment they receive. This keeps patients from unknowingly influencing the results.
Double-blind: If it is double-blind, neither the researchers nor the patients know who receives which treatment. This prevents patients and researchers from unknowingly influencing the results.
Including a placebo group: Rare in cancer clinical trials, a placebo is designed to look like the treatment but has no effect. It may be used when a new treatment is added to a current treatment to keep the study blinded.
All clinical trials have guidelines called “inclusion criteria” which explain who can participate. These criteria include, for example, the type and stage of disease you need to have to be in the study, information about prior treatments, your overall state of health, and your age, among other factors. Your care team can help you identify clinical trials for which you may be eligible, how long you may be in the study, and what to expect during your experience on the study so you can make an informed decision about participating. This process is called “informed consent” and enables you to learn the purpose, risks, and benefits of a clinical trial before deciding whether to join.
You will be screened for the clinical trial’s enrollment criteria, which may include:
- type and stage of cancer
- age range
- medical history
- overall health status
Your participation in a clinical trial is completely voluntary and you can withdraw at any time.
Each clinical trial has a protocol that outlines every detail of the study. The protocol is approved and monitored by our cancer center’s Institutional Review Board (IRB) to protect your safety and your rights. A protocol includes:
- Goal of the clinical trial
- Data the clinical trial will collect
- Patient enrollment criteria
- Length of time, including enrollment period, treatment and follow-up
- How the treatment will be delivered, the dose and how often
- Required tests
- Principal investigator (usually a doctor or Ph.D. researcher) responsible for the clinical trial
Participating in a clinical trial can have its risks and benefits. It’s important to weigh those when deciding whether to enroll.
Risks
- You are not guaranteed any benefit compared to standard treatment
- You may experience unforeseen side effects
- Clinical trial treatment can require more time and testing than standard treatment
Benefits
- You have access to an innovative cancer treatment that is not available to all patients
- Provides hope when other treatments have failed
- Being in a clinical trial can be rewarding, knowing you are helping advance our understanding of cancer and its treatments for today and the future
John Theurer Cancer Center conducts more clinical trials than any other cancer center in New Jersey, andenrolls more than 1,500 patients each year.
No one is better equipped to provide you with the most innovative approaches to treating cancer. Ask your doctor if you may qualify for a clinical trial at John Theurer Cancer Center for your type of cancer, or contact our cancer clinical trials office at 551-996-1777.