[Medical Q&A] Are there risks in participating in a clinical trial? Is it like being a "guinea pig"?

Planner: Chinese Medical Association

Reviewer: Wang Guixiang, deputy chief physician, Shenzhen Hospital, Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences

Ordinary people may not know much about clinical trials, but for many patients with malignant tumors, clinical trials are like a life-saving straw. When it comes to clinical trials, many people first think of being "guinea pigs", especially some patients with malignant tumors who are wary of new drugs and new therapies in clinical trials, but this is not actually the case. Drug clinical trials are of great significance to the development of malignant tumor treatment. Many patients with malignant tumors face the situation of having no drugs available after the existing treatment methods have been exhausted. At this time, doctors will recommend eligible patients to consider participating in clinical trials.

Participating in clinical trials can receive diagnosis and treatment from senior experts at close range, receive standardized guidance and follow-up, and have the opportunity to use unlisted drugs in advance, including but not limited to immunosuppressants, targeted drugs, cell therapy, antibody-drug conjugates and other new anti-tumor drugs. One more opportunity means one more hope. Most drugs and examinations used in clinical trials are free for patients, which can save patients money. Clinical trials are a better choice for patients with poor family financial conditions, special disease types, and limited existing treatment options.

Any clinical trial must comply with ethical and scientific principles. A trial approved by the ethics committee can be regarded as the ethics committee having determined that the risk to the subjects is minimized or the risk-to-benefit ratio is reasonable based on the existing research data and trial plan of the drug under test, thereby confirming the scientific rationality of the trial. Therefore, the subjects of clinical trials are not "guinea pigs".