Always Researching. Always Advancing.

The medical community continues to conduct research studies on proton therapy. SCCA and other academic medical centers are supporting many ongoing clinical trials to expand our knowledge of the most beneficial applications of proton therapy in treating cancer.

• For general information about clinical trials, see the Patient Guide to Clinical Studies.

Since proton therapy was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat patients in 1988, the medical community has continued to conduct research on the use of protons in treating different types of cancer through clinical trials. Over the years, many patients have volunteered to take part in these clinical trials to help find improvements in fighting cancer with proton therapy.
With SCCA, our team has made a commitment to participate in clinical trials to further our knowledge of the benefits of proton therapy in many tumor types.

People helping people

Clinical trials are research studies that invite people to participate in the final step in a long process that begins with research in a lab. Each study answers a specific set of scientific questions and explores better ways to prevent, screen for, diagnose or treat a disease. Most treatments used today are the results of past clinical trials. Clinical trials are used even after treatments are approved for use, to help answer additional questions. SCCA Proton Therapy has a registry trial open to all proton therapy patients.

Protocols help us find solutions

For every clinical trial, a protocol, or action plan, is prepared prior to conducting the trial. The protocol describes in detail what will be done in the study, how it will be conducted, and why each part of the study is necessary. Each study has its own rules about who can participate. For instance, some studies need patients with a certain condition, some need healthy people, some need just men or just women, etc.

Your participation can make a difference

Clinical trials are carefully controlled research studies done with patients who volunteer. There are many requirements you must meet to be part of a study. If you qualify, it is up to you whether to take part.
Not all patients are cured with standard therapy, and some standard treatments may have side effects that patients and doctors would prefer to avoid, if possible. So patients may seek help through clinical studies. Patients who participate in studies have the first chance to benefit from treatments that have shown promise in earlier research. They also make an important contribution to medical science by helping doctors learn more about the disease and potential new treatments.

Access Breakthrough Treatments. Improve Care to Others.

A critical part of the mission at our partner Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (SCCA) is to bring promising new treatments to patients faster. Patients who participate in clinical studies often have the first chance to benefit from treatment approaches that have shown promise in earlier research.

Proton therapy’s efficacy in treating many types of cancer has been well established, but many questions remain unanswered. Our clinical studies hope to make an important contribution to medical science by helping doctors learn more about how effective proton therapy is in treating cancer when compared with other forms of radiation therapy, and when used in combination with other treatments such as chemotherapy and surgery. We also intend to examine outcomes for patients who receive the higher radiation doses made possible by this precise technology.