Clinical Trials for Kidney Cancer
Clinical trials are research studies that involve people. Any time you or a loved one need treatment for cancer, clinical trials are an option to think about. Learning all you can about clinical trials can help you talk with your doctor and decide what is right for you.
We want to provide you with up-to-date, credible information about clinical trials. Information on this page is from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
The Basics of Clinical Trials
Clinical trials test new ways to find, prevent, and treat cancer. Today, people are living longer lives thanks to results of past cancer clinical trials. Learn more and talk with your doctor about this choice for your treatment.
Researchers design cancer clinical trials to test new ways to:
- Treat cancer
- Find and diagnose cancer
- Prevent cancer
- Manage symptoms of cancer and side effects from its treatment
Clinical trials are the final step in a long process that begins with research in a lab. Before any new treatment is used with people in clinical trials, researchers work for many years to understand its effects on cancer cells in the lab and in animals. They also try to figure out the side effects it may cause.
Every trial has a doctor in charge, who is called the principal investigator. The principal investigator prepares a plan for the trial, called a protocol. The protocol explains what will be done during the trial. It also contains information that helps the doctor decide if this treatment is right for you. Such as:
- The reason for doing the trial
- Who can join the trial (called “eligibility criteria”)
- How many people are needed for the trial
- Any drugs or other treatments that will be given, how they will be given, the dose, and how often
- What medical tests will be done and how often
- What types of information will be collected about the people taking part
Finding Clinical Trials with the KidneyCAN Trial Navigator
Finding the right clinical trial can feel complicated. The KidneyCAN Clinical Trial Navigator is designed to make the process easier by helping you identify kidney cancer trials that may be relevant to your individual situation.
The Navigator connects directly to ClinicalTrials.gov and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) clinical trial database, using current trial information to help narrow your search.
There are two simple ways to get started:
Guided Questionnaire
Answer a few straightforward questions for a personalized, step-by-step search.
Paste Medical Summary
Use a brief medical summary from your doctor to quickly identify potentially relevant trials.
The Navigator uses AI to help interpret complex medical information and eligibility criteria, presenting results in a way that’s easier to understand and discuss with your healthcare team.
Any time you or a loved one needs treatment for cancer, clinical trials are an option to think about. Trials are available for all stages of cancer. It is a myth that they are only for people who have advanced cancer that is not responding to treatment.
NCI offers help for patients new to clinical trials useful steps to find a trial.
Download this useful document from the National Cancer Institute to read about taking part in a clinical research trial.
The Importance of Clinical Trials
Today, people are living longer lives from successful cancer treatments that are the results of past clinical trials. Trials can determine whether new treatments are safe and effective and work better than current treatments.
Reasons to Consider Joining a Clinical Trial
Clinical trials offer hope and an opportunity to help researchers find better treatments in the future. NCI has trained trial counselors who can help you find potential trials to discuss with your oncologist.
The Importance of Clinical Trials
Today, people are living longer lives from successful cancer treatments that are the results of past clinical trials. Trials can determine whether new treatments are safe and effective and work better than current treatments.
Reasons to Consider Joining a Clinical Trial
Clinical trials offer hope and an opportunity to help researchers find better treatments in the future. NCI has trained trial counselors who can help you find potential trials to discuss with your oncologist.
Talking with Your Oncologist about Trials
Talking with your oncologist about clinical trials is an important step in understanding all your treatment options. Your doctor can help you determine whether a trial is appropriate for your diagnosis, health, and goals.
Learn more >
How to Find the Right Clinical Trial
You can find kidney cancer clinical trials by using trusted resources like ClinicalTrials.gov, cancer centers, and advocacy groups. These tools make it easier to search for studies that match your diagnosis and treatment needs.
Learn more >
Talking with Your Oncologist about Trials
Talking with your oncologist about clinical trials is an important step in understanding all your treatment options. Your doctor can help you determine whether a trial is appropriate for your diagnosis, health, and goals.
Learn more >
How to Find the Right Clinical Trial
You can find kidney cancer clinical trials by using trusted resources like ClinicalTrials.gov, cancer centers, and advocacy groups. These tools make it easier to search for studies that match your diagnosis and treatment needs.
Learn more >
Financing: What You Need to Know
Many patients ask about the costs of trial participation. In most cases, a mix of insurance coverage and support from the trial sponsor can help minimize your out-of-pocket costs and make participation more manageable.
Learn more >
Financing: What You Need to Know
Many patients ask about the costs of trial participation. In most cases, a mix of insurance coverage and support from the trial sponsor can help minimize your out-of-pocket costs and make participation more manageable.
Learn more >