Clinical Trials Program

The clinical trials program at Exeter Hospital allows our patients to participate in cutting-edge research without having to travel to Boston or Dartmouth.

The Cancer Center participates in several national research groups sponsored by the National Cancer Institute. We are able to offer a variety of clinical trials. The type of clinical trial usually offered by the Cancer Center is called a Phase III trial, meaning that the new treatment has been tested in humans and that we know the new treatment provides some level of effectiveness against cancer. The new treatment is being compared to what is felt to be “standard care.”

In addition to contributing to advancements in cancer care, one of the benefits of a clinical trial is that it may allow you to receive new treatments not yet approved by the FDA, and therefore not available unless you are in a trial. The risks of participating in a trial are that we don’t know if the treatment is better or worse than standard treatment and we may not know all the potential side effects of the treatment. The decision to participate in a clinical trial is a personal one.

If you are interested in participating in a clinical trial, talk with your oncologist. He or she can let you know if there are trials available for your type of cancer either here or in a larger cancer center. Participating in a clinical trial is voluntary. You will receive all the care and treatment that we can provide in the Cancer Center regardless of whether or not you participate in a trial.

In addition to the clinical trials, we sometimes have other research projects available. For example we may have a study open that evaluates the benefits of exercise for people with cancer or a study looking at quality of life. Again, participation is always voluntary.

To see which clinical trials and studies are currently available at the Cancer Center, please see the following list. The list changes almost every month, for the most up-to-date information, please talk with your oncologist.