For patients
Our studies aim to improve outcomes for people diagnosed with cancer. If you would like to learn more, you can find information, resources, and support below.
Our research is developed and conducted with close involvement by our many patient partners and representatives, including cancer charities and support groups. This is to ensure that the work we do matter to people who have cancer.
What are clinical trials?
Definition
Clinical trials are a type of medical research involving people.
At the CTC, our studies look at new or better ways to treat, detect, and manage cancer. Close monitoring of people who take part in our studies enables cancer researchers to determine how safe and effective new approaches are.
No treatment is tested in a trial unless healthcare professionals think it might improve on what already exists.
Support and guidance
Cancer Research UK| learn more about cancer, treatments, and trials
Macmillan Cancer Support| more details on clinical trials, and advice for those going through diagnosis and treatment
NHS| more information on clinical trials and taking part in them
Our trials and research
The CTC leads research which aims to improve survival and other outcomes in cancer patients across the world. We also examine ways of finding cancer earlier, when it is more treatable and curable. And we develop kinder and safer treatments, such as for children with leukaemia. You can find some highlights below:
active research studies
people taking part
Cervical cancer breakthrough
The INTERLACE study showed how using cheap, existing drugs can reduce the risk of women dying from cervical cancer, or the disease returning, by 35%.
The findings are set to change the way cervical cancer is treated across the world.
CAR T cell therapy
CAR T cell therapy is a new, more precise way to treat cancer.
Scientists ‘reprogramreprogram’ a patient’s immune cells so they are better able to target cancer cells. Also, unlike chemotherapy, which targets all cells, CAR T cell therapy can lead to fewer side effects. For these reasons, the therapy is becoming more widely used in children’s and adults’ cancers.
The accompanying animation was created for the MIGHTY study, which uses CAR T cell therapy to treat children with sarcoma.
Lung cancer
Through studies such as SUMMIT and TRACERx, our researchers are learning more about lung cancer than ever before.
Crucially, the studies are finding new ways to spot the disease; the earlier lung cancer is caught, the better the chances are of treating it successfully
Findings from TRACERx were exhibited at London’s Science Museum.
WATCH
David and Juanita told us why they took part in the TRACERx lung cancer study
Proton beam therepy
Unlike traditional radiation treatment, which can affect healthy tissue surrounding a cancer, proton beam therapy delivers radiation directlydirectly to the tumour, minimising damage to nearby organs and reducing side effects.
The CTC currently runs the HIT-Meso and PROTIEUS trials, both of which are learning more about the benefits of proton therapy for patients with cancer.
WATCH
Jillian talked us through a day in her life undergoing proton beam therapy at The Christie
Our patient advocates
The CTC’s patient panel
The CTC relies on patient input for all of its research.
We have a panel of over 50 patient advocates who ensure the patient voice is heard throughout the lifespan of a trial: from its early design stages, through to the publication of its results.
Learn more
Cancer Research UK’s timeline of progress in cancer research, a 120-year journey which continues to this day
Keep up-to-date with the latest news from research across the UCL Cancer Institute and beyond
Cancer Research UK’s podcast series offering more information on cancer, treatments, and research