Erlotinib versus oral etoposide in patients with recurrent or refractory pediatric ependymoma

While some clinical trials may focus on more advanced cancers, many trials are open to patients at various stages of their cancer. Each study has rules about who can take part. For example, only patients in a certain age group or those who have a certain type of tumor may be able to join.

Sometimes researchers want participants to keep taking their current treatments during a clinical trial. Other times, you may need to stop your current treatments for a while. If the investigational treatment doesn't work, you can usually go back to your original treatment plan.

In cancer clinical trials, a placebo is only used if there is no other treatment for that type of cancer. This helps compare an investigational treatment to the placebo. Placebos are rarely used in cancer trials because the best available treatment, called the “standard of care”, is usually given instead.

Your doctor may not know about all the opportunities for clinical trials that are available to you. Talk to your doctor or other medical provider about clinical trial information that you find. They can help you decide if a clinical trial is right for you. If you do not find any options on this website, we recommend you visit an online public registry website like clinicaltrials.gov to see a wide variety of available clinical trials.