There are many types of clinical trials, each designed to answer different clinical research questions and improve outcomes for people at every stage of the cancer experience.
This is done by testing an intervention, which can be a treatment, procedure or other action taken to prevent or treat disease or to improve health in other ways.
Types of clinical trials on the VCTL
On the Victorian Cancer Trials Link (VCTL), we have grouped clinical trials into the following categories related to the purpose of the study. This is done by reviewing the aims, interventions, and outcomes for the study.
Some clinical trials may belong to multiple categories, for example trials that are seeking to improve quality of life alongside delivering cancer treatments.
Regardless of the type of trial, all clinical trials involving humans require ethical approval and are monitored for safety.
Cancer treatment trials
Clinical trials in this group involve the delivery of an intervention for the treatment of cancer. They look at whether the treatment works and if it causes side effects. Examples of treatments that may be tested include:
- systemic medicines or drugs (such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapies, hormone therapy or other medicines),
- radiation therapy,
- medical devices,
- or surgical procedures.
Treatment trials are usually run in stages, which are called phases. A new intervention or treatment is tested at each phase to determine if it safe and effective.
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Cancer prevention trials
Cancer prevention clinical trials are trying to work out ways to lower the risk of cancer. Researchers may be studying interventions like medicines, education programs, changes to lifestyle (such as diet and exercise) or other factors. These studies involve people who don’t have cancer, such as people who have a higher risk of developing cancer or members of the general population.
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Diagnostic trials
Diagnostic studies include trials seeking easier and more accurate ways to screen for, detect or diagnose cancer. This includes tests, scans or procedures, for example. Prognosis trials are also considered diagnostic, and may be evaluating ways to better determine the stage of someone’s cancer.
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Side effect and wellbeing trials
Clinical trials in this group are trying to find ways to better support people with cancer by addressing their side effects, symptoms or quality of life. These include supportive care and palliative care studies. Researchers may be trying to improve the side effects of cancer or cancer treatment, such as pain, fatigue or anxiety.
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Education, training & system changes
These clinical trials are looking for new ways to deliver cancer care better. They include training programs and education for doctors, nurses, and other health professionals, so they can provide the best support to patients. Researchers are also testing improvements to the systems that help care teams work together – such as better communication and coordination – so patients receive more organised and connected care.
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Long-term follow-up studies
Long-term follow-up studies are research studies that continue to monitor participants for an extended period after the main part of the clinical trial has finished. Researchers often want to know how safe and effective the intervention or treatment remains over time, and understand its long-term benefits.
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Trials for family/friend of people with cancer
While most clinical trials are recruiting people who have a current or past diagnosis of cancer themselves, there are some trials that friends, families or carers of people with cancer can participate in. These may include trials testing new ways of delivering cancer care or support, or addressing the experience of carers themselves.
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The difference between trial type and trial phase
Clinical trials can differ by both type and phase, and these describe different aspects of the study.
- Trial type refers to the purpose of the study – such as testing a new treatment, improving supportive care, or focusing on prevention ord diagnosis.
- Trial phase (e.g. Phase I, II, III) describes the stage of research and how much is already known about the treatment, including its safety, effectiveness, and optimal use. Learn more about trial phases.
What are open-label or double-blind studies?
Some randomised controlled trials use blinding, which means keeping certain people in the trial unaware of which intervention is being given. This is most common in cancer treatment trials to reduce bias.
In a blinded study, participants do not know which group (or 'arm') they are in, meaning they don’t know which treatment they are receiving. This helps ensure that expectations, either from the participant or their doctor, do not influence how benefits or side effects are reported.
For example, if you know you are receiving an experimental treatment, you may believe it will work better and report feeling improved, even if there is no real difference.
Sometimes blinding is not possible, such as when treatments are clearly different (e.g. surgery versus medication).
In a double-blind study, neither the participants nor the research team know who is receiving which treatment. This information is only revealed after the trial when results are analysed.
In an open-label study, both the participants and the research team know which arm the participants are in.
Page last updated: May 2026