Clinical trials offer patients access to the highest quality of care, the most advanced cancer treatment available, and the chance to contribute to an organized, national effort to prevent and treat cancer. The Coalition of National Cancer Cooperative Groups is a network of thousands of cancer specialists, academic research centers, and hospitals. Most of the major advances in cancer care have come from the work of the Cooperative Groups. For more information, call the Coalition of National Cancer Cooperative Groups, Inc. at 1-877-520-4457 or visit our Web site www.ca-coalition.org.

Cancer clinical trials are designed to answer very specific questions about the prevention and treatment of cancer. Not all patients will be eligible, but you should talk to your doctor about the possibility of participating.

The following trials are offered at many community hospitals and academic centers nationwide.

Examples of some of the 350 clinical trials underway in the U.S. are:

The safety and effectiveness of a medication called Herceptin is being studied in three different trials in the treatment of breast cancer. (NSABP B-31; NCCTG 98-32-52; NCCTG N9831)

Tamoxifen, a drug already proven to reduce the incidence of breast cancer, is being compared to Raloxifene in an important prevention trial. (NSABP P-2 STAR)

Several studies are evaluating new drugs in the treatment of colon cancer. (CALGB 89803 for the drug irinotecan; NCCTG N9741 and N9841 for oxaliplatin; E1299 for Orzel; CALGB 9581 for 17-1A)

Researchers are refining the dosage of medications for children with leukemia to provide the least toxic treatments. (AlinC 17)

Several drugs are being tested against leukemia in adults. (CALGB 19808 for the drug PSC-833 and Interleukin-2; CALGB 19807 for HHT)

Lung cancer patients have many opportunities to help evaluate new medications. (A1-99002L for the drug Gemcitabine; E5597 for selenium; RTOG 9801 for Amifostine; NCCTG 97-24-51 for CAI; CALGB 9732 for Paclitaxel)

The effectiveness of varying amounts of chemotherapy and radiation is another study available for the treatment of lung cancer. (CALGB 39801)

A trial is underway to evaluate the effectiveness of removing some or all of the lymph nodes during lung cancer surgery. (ACOSOG Z0030)

Positron Emission Tomography (PET), a newer imaging procedure, is being studied for its value in detecting the spread of lung cancer. (ACOSOG Z0050)

Adding chemotherapy to standard care may improve the treatment of patients with prostate cancer. (RTOG 9902)

Patients with stomach cancer may participate from a trial evaluating the drug Docxetaxel. (RP 56976-V-325)

The benefits of estrogen replacement therapy are being studied for the treatment of women with endometrial cancer. (GOG 137)

For more information, call the Coalition of National Cancer Cooperative Groups, Inc. at 1-877-520-4457 or visit our Web site www.ca-coalition.org.