Clinical Trials & Research - Overview

New Mexico Cancer Center actively participates in cancer research by making clinical trials available to our patients. This can be a confusing topic, and we highly encourage you to discuss with your oncologist whether a clinical trial may be of interest to you, including how you might benefit from participating, and what risks might be involved.

We highly recommend the booklet pictured at the top, produced by the National Cancer Institute, that can be read online, downloaded or printed: Taking Part in Cancer Treatment Research Studies.

Below you'll also find basic information about clinical trials and research, with excerpts and links to much more detailed information from the American Society of Clinical Oncology and their trusted educational resource, Cancer.net.

We want to ensure that you have a clear understanding about how clinical trials are conducted, how to evaluate different trials, and what information you need to provide informed consent for participating.

The Clinical Trials Menu below provides links to other pages on our website with additional information about clinical trials, including a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) and answers, and a complete list of all of the current clinical trials offered by New Mexico Cancer Center.

Understanding Cancer Research Study Design and How to Evaluate Results

Doctors and scientists conduct research studies to discover more about the biology of cancer, investigate new treatments and diagnostic tests, and learn how to prevent the disease. Depending on the questions they want to answer, researchers can design these studies in a number of ways. No study design is perfect; each has strengths and drawbacks. Therefore, it is important to understand a study's design so you can evaluate the results and know if they apply to your situation.

Understanding the Publication and Format of Cancer Research Studies

Publishing research studies is the primary way scientific professionals use to communicate their findings. They may publish original research or write a review article, which evaluates the existing body of published research on a particular topic. Well-designed research studies can help answer important questions about the biology of cancer, investigate new treatments, and identify areas for further study.