What is the objective of clinical trials in oncology?

The objective of clinical trials in oncology is to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of new treatments. Clinical trials are essential for the advancement of cancer therapies, as they provide a structured method for investigating new drugs, combinations of treatments, or approaches to care. By conducting these trials, researchers can gather critical data on how well new therapies work in comparison to existing treatments, how they affect patient survival rates, and what side effects they may impart.

This process is tightly regulated to ensure patient safety and ethical considerations are prioritized. Through rigorous testing phases – often divided into multiple phases such as Phase I, II, and III – clinical trials help establish the optimum dosage, treatment regimens, and patient eligibility criteria. Ultimately, the information obtained from these trials helps in making informed decisions about treatment options available for patients and contributes to the broader understanding of cancer management.

The other options, such as increasing costs, limiting access, or promoting established therapies, do not represent the primary aim of clinical trials. Instead, they focus on innovation and discovering better ways to treat cancer, which is critical in a field where advancing treatment options can significantly impact patient outcomes.