Most phase 3 trials, and some phase 2 trials, are randomised. This means that there are at least 2 different groups in the trial and people taking part are put into one or other group at random. This 'randomisation' is usually done by a computer. Certain details about you (such as your age, gender or the stage of your cancer ) are put into the computer first. This is to make sure the different groups in a trial are as similar as possible.
Each group in the trial has a different treatment. If there are 2 groups, one group has the new treatment being tested and the other has the standard cancer treatment they would have if they were not in the trial. People having the standard treatment are called the control group. A randomised trial that has a control group is called a randomised controlled trial.
There may be more than 2 groups. Some trials test more than one new treatment or combination of treatments. Others may test variations in one particular new treatment – for example different doses of the same drug. There will still be a control group, which has the standard treatment.
Sometimes people in the control group take a dummy treatment, called a placebo. Doctors only set up trials this way if there is no standard treatment available for the control group to have.
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