What is a Clinical Trial?

Clinical trials are research studies that test how well new medical approaches, such as drugs, treatments, or screening methods, work in people to improve care and quality of life. These studies are carefully designed and monitored to ensure safety and effectiveness, rely on voluntary participation, and are essential for turning scientific discoveries into real-world patient treatments.

Children’s Oncology Group (COG) is the largest pediatric oncology clinical trials group in the world, with more than 220 participating hospitals.

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    Is a Clinical Trial Right for Me or My Child?

    Deciding whether to enroll in a clinical trial involves many factors, including the type and stage of cancer, available treatments, and potential side effects. Your care team will walk you through any trial being considered, explaining its purpose, risks, and how it differs from standard treatment. Clinical trials have driven most of the progress in treating childhood and adolescent cancers, but not every trial improves outcomes for every patient. Each COG trial follows strict scientific and ethical standards, with special protections for children.

    Only you and your family can decide if a clinical trial is right for you. If you choose to enroll, you may withdraw at any time without losing access to care. Whether or not you participate, your child will receive the best available treatment.

    Late-phase clinical trials have been conducted by COG (2000–2025)test

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    Each trial follows a rigorous scientific protocol that defines who can participate, what will be tested, and how results will be measured. All COG-proposed trials are thoroughly vetted before any child is enrolled. This process includes review and approval by COG experts, the National Cancer Institute (NCI), and each participating hospital. This multi-layer process helps ensure patient protection and scientific rigor.

    Before a child enrolls, the clinical team will meet with patients and families to explain the trial’s purpose, procedures, risks, and benefits — a process known as informed consent. If you take part in a clinical trial, your safety will be protected through the informed consent process, careful review and approval of the clinical trial protocol, and ongoing monitoring

    COG understands that families often hear this information during one of the most difficult times of their lives, and encourages them to ask questions at any point, not just at enrollment. Throughout the trial, each patient’s response to treatment is carefully monitored, with follow-up care continuing after the trial concludes.

    Clinical Trial Questions to Ask Your Provider

    • 2550

      Scientific studies published using COG research data (2000-2025)

    • > 80 %

      Of the 16,000 children and adolescents diagnosed each year in the United States receive care at COG institutions

    COG’s Role in Clinical Trials

    More children and adolescents with cancer have been treated at COG institutions than at any other organization. COG is the only NCI-funded collaborative within the National Clinical Trials Network (NCTN) devoted exclusively to childhood and adolescent cancer research. COG members maintain the highest standards for treating patients with cancer, following COG-defined protocols that reflect scientific, medical, and ethical expertise.

    While nearly 16,000 children and adolescents are diagnosed with cancer each year, there are many different types of cancer. When broken into subtypes, each affects a small number of children. Large patient populations are critical to ensure meaningful research. By enrolling patients from many hospitals in the same trials, COG brings together enough patients to study each cancer more effectively, helping researchers develop better treatments more quickly.

    • > 80 %

      Cure rates today, driven by COG trials—an increase from <10% just 40 years ago

    • > 60 %

      Of pediatric cancer patients are treated on research protocols each year

    Find a Clinical Trial

    The National Cancer Institute website, Cancer.gov, allows you to search by your child’s cancer type and age, review the plain-language summaries, and discuss any promising options with your care team

    Learn How to Search

    Additional Information

    Types of Trials and Studies Informed Consent Clinical Trial Results COG's Clinical Focus Areas

    Patient & Family Resources

    COG has developed several comprehensive resources for patients and families to use throughout their cancer journey. These resources include the COG Family Handbook and the accompanying COG KidsCare App, which provide reliable information about treatment, support, and follow-up care for children and young people with cancer.

    Access Resources