Who Conducts Clinical Trials?
Clinical trials are sponsored by organizations, institutions, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, the government and nonprofit groups. They all seek to improve current treatment or provide new methods of preventing or detecting cancer.
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) sponsors a large number of these clinical trials through cancer research cooperatives— networks of doctors and institutions across the country that specialize in a particular aspect of cancer care.
Eight cooperative groups conduct breast cancer clinical trials:
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American College of Radiology Imaging Network (ACRIN)
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American College of Surgeons Oncology Group (ACOSOG)
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Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB)
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Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG)
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National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP)
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North Central Cancer Treatment Group (NCCTG)
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Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG)
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Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG)
October 2007
