Clinical Trials for Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Everyday Health MenuNewslettersSearch Lung Cancer Should You Join a Clinical Trial for Metastatic Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Experimental trials can get you access to the latest treatments, often at no cost. Here’s what to consider before joining a clinical trial. By Paul RaeburnMedically Reviewed by Krystal Cascetta, MDReviewed: February 8, 2019Medically ReviewedShutterstockIf you’ve been diagnosed with metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), you might find that you have the opportunity to join a clinical trial, which doctors and researchers use to evaluate potential new treatments. Participants in clinical trials volunteer to test new drugs or devices to help researchers determine whether they are safe and effective and if they work better than current treatments. Every drug now approved by the FDA was once tested in a clinical trial. Deciding whether to participate in a clinical trial can be difficult. There are pros and cons, and it can be tough to evaluate them, even with help from a doctor. Here’s what you should consider before enrolling in a clinical trial for metastatic NSCLC. Concerns About Volunteering for Clinical Trials “Clinical trials are so important,” says Roy Herbst, MD, PhD, the chief of medical oncology at Yale Cancer Center in New Haven, Connecticut. Yale now has about 1,000 patients in clinical trials, up from 200 eight years ago, he says. While some people with metastatic NSCLC might leap at the opportunity to join a clinical trial, hoping for more from experimental treatments than conventional therapies, others may worry about experimenting with something as important as their cancer care. In fact, fewer than 5 percent of adults with cancer enroll in clinical trials, according to a paper published in May 2016 in the American Society of Clinical Oncology Educational Book. Certain misconceptions may prevent people from participating in a clinical trial. For instance, you may worry that you’ll be in a control group that gets a placebo instead of treatment. But that is rarely the case. Most cancer clinical trials don’t use placebos unless they are given along with standard treatment, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). Typically, one group of participants will be given an experimental treatment that doctors want to evaluate, and the other will be given standard treatment. Only in rare cases do patients get a placebo alone, says the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the professional organization for oncologists. Placebos should be used in cancer clinical trials only when scientifically necessary and ethically appropriate, and when patients have been clearly informed that they will receive a placebo, according to ASCO. Further, researchers should ensure patients receive outstanding supportive care during their participation in a placebo-controlled study. Scanxiety is a silly sounding word for something terrifying Get expert tips to manage it The Potential Benefits of Joining a Clinical TrialPeople who decide to enroll in clinical trials for metastatic NSCLC may do so for a number of reasons. Participants in clinical trials often get early access to medications that are not yet available to the public. These medications may work better than current treatment options. Many have already been shown to be safe in trials with small numbers of patients, known as phase 1 trials, in which everyone gets the new treatment. Some treatments are ready for expanded testing to determine their effectiveness in phase 2 or phase 3 studies. “Our mission is to try to advance the current standard of care, so we do a lot of clinical trials here,” says Vincent Lam, MD, an assistant professor of thoracic/head and neck medical oncology at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. In some cases, he might advise patients to join a clinical trial because their current treatment is not working. “People are not treated like guinea pigs,” says Dr. Lam. “There is very strict oversight and regulation.” In many cases, some of the costs of medication are covered either by insurance or the research program, according to ASCO. Other reasons to consider joining a clinical trial:You may feel that you’re playing a more active role in your healthcare and have more control over your situation.You may receive more careful attention and more frequent checkups with your cancer care team.Your participation may add to medical knowledge about NSCLC and could lead to new medications that will help improve cancer care in the future. The Potential Risks of Clinical Trials As with any treatment, clinical trials also come with risks. The new treatment might have unknown side effects, especially in early trials when less is known about the treatment. It simply might not work for you, even if it helps others. And you might be required to submit to more tests and doctor visits. To help you decide if the benefits of participating in a clinical trial outweigh the risks, you should ask for as much information about the study as possible. People with cancer who feel well-informed before they take part in a clinical trial have less regret after the study than those who feel unsure, according to the ACS. That’s why it’s important to take your time and ask questions until you feel comfortable with your decision. Here are some questions you should ask your doctor before enrolling in a trial:Why is this study being done?Who will be in charge of my care?Do I have other options, such as other studies?What are the potential risks, benefits, and side effects?How will we know if the treatment is working?Will I be seeing my regular cancer doctor?What are the costs, and how long will the study last?What happens if I decide to withdraw before the study ends? You might want to involve friends and family in your decision. Getting a second opinion from a doctor not connected with the trial might also help you decide. How to Find Clinical Trials for Metastatic NSCLC If you’re interested in participating in a clinical trial for metastatic NSCLC, talk to your doctor about finding one that’s right for you. 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