“Every clinical trial is done in a way to try to get a very homogenous group of patients, so we can better draw conclusions about whether the innovation we’re testing is actually working,” says radiation oncologist Russell K. Hales, M.D. of the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center on the Johns Hopkins Bayview campus.
“A patient can be evaluated for a clinical trial, and we would look carefully at the stage of their disease, at their overall health, and at other factors to determine whether they're appropriate candidates for a clinical trial,” Hales added. “Clinical trials are available for patients with all stages of disease, from early stage disease to very advanced disease, and for patients newly diagnosed, as well as for those with recurrent disease. Trials are not one-size-fits-all. They're custom made for patients at varying points on the continuum of lung cancer treatment.”