There are many different reasons as to why researchers conduct lymphoma clinical trials. These can include:
- Testing a therapy
Testing a therapy, such as a drug or other medical intervention, for treating existing lymphoma. These are known as interventional trials. - Finding ways to stop the development of lymphoma
For example through lifestyle changes, diet or medications. These are called prevention trials. - Evaluating ways to better diagnose lymphoma.
These are referred to as diagnostic and screening trials. - Studying lymphoma in a large group of people to better understand it as a health issue.
This is known as an observational trial or a non-interventional study. - Examining ways to improve the comfort and quality of life for people with lymphoma.
These are often called supportive care trials or quality of life trials.
In the case of new treatments (interventional trials), three separate trial phases are required by U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), or if the trial is not in the United States, those phases are required by the equivalent governing bodies of the country the trial is being conducted in.
