ESTRO PT 2018

Phases of clinical trials

Phase I studies assess the safety of a drug or device. The study is designed to determine the effects of the drug or device on humans. This phase also investigates the side effects that occur as dosage levels are increased (dose escalation). Phase II studies test the efficacy and side effects of a drug or device. Some phase II studies are randomized trials where one group of patients receives the experimental drug, while a second "control" group receives a standard treatment or placebo. Phase III studies involve randomized (and blind) testing in several hundred to several thousand patients. This large-scale testing, which can last several years, provides with a more thorough understanding of the effectiveness of the drug or device, the benefits and the range of possible adverse reactions.