OCULAR MELANOMA CLINICAL TRIALS

Filling Out the Search Fields/Filters and Understanding Results:

Instructions from ClinicalTrials.gov:

• Quick guide to searching for clinical studies
• Questions to ask before you search
• Detailed guide to searching for clinical studies
• Special instructions for using certain search filters 

How to Read a Study Record

Once you have found a clinical trial of interest, ClinicalTrials.gov provides "detailed guidance on how to read the information in clinical study records."

Glossary of Common Terms from ClinicalTrials.gov will help you understand words and phrases frequently used in search fields and results.

Using the "Condition/Disease" Field When Searching ClinicalTrials.gov:

1) To get started, look at search results using the term Ocular Melanoma to broadly describe the tumor. Then:

a) If the tumor is in the uvea, use Uveal Melanoma (which will automatically search for its synonym intraocular melanoma at the same time), and then try again as a separate search using the specific part of the uvea — Choroidal Melanoma, Iris Melanoma, or Ciliary Body Melanoma. 

b) If the tumor is in the conjunctiva, use Conjunctival Melanoma. 

Important Note: You will get different search results depending on which term above you choose to use in the "Condition/Disease" field. Therefore, it is strongly recommended to conduct multiple searches.

Accessing Phone, Online Chat, and Email Support During Search:

"NCI's Cancer Information Service can help answer your cancer-related questions whether you are a patient, family or friend, health care provider, or researcher. CIS is a free and confidential service. Our trained information specialists provide personalized responses to a range of cancer topics, including finding cancer treatment, cancer research, and clinical trials."

1-800-422-6237 [toll free], Monday through Friday 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Both phone support and one-on-one online chats are available during these hours. This service is also available in Spanish.

From National Cancer Institute

Topics include "What Are Clinical Trials?," "Why Participate in a Clinical Trial?," "Are Clinical Trials Safe?, and "Who Pays for Clinical Trials?" 

(Also available in Spanish.)

From U.S. Food & Drug Administration

Topics include "Clinical Research Versus Medical Treatment," "Informed Consent for Clinical Trials," and "Different Types of Clinical Research."

(Also available in Spanish.)

From American Cancer Society 

ACS provides a printable list of "Questions to Ask Before Joining a Clinical Trial" and discusses "Risks vs. Benefits" and "Common Concerns About Clinical Trials."

From TriageCancer.org

This section of Triage Cancer's website provides information on clinical trials coverage by private insurance, Medicaid, Medicare, Tricare, or VA. For details, click on "How to Pay for a Clinical Trial" in the green tabs at bottom of linked page.

From U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office for Human Research Protections

Resources include "Questions to Ask About Volunteering for a Research Study," Information on "Regulations That Protect Research Volunteers," and "Short Videos About Participating in Human Research."

(Also available in Spanish.)