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On the Occasion of Clinical Trials Day on May 20, 2026: Clinical trials are considered essential for bringing new cancer therapies into routine care. Nevertheless, only a small proportion of cancer patients continue to participate in clinical trials. A frequently cited figure suggests that around five percent of adult cancer patients take part in clinical studies. The underlying data are based on older surveys and vary depending on tumor type, study design, and country. Even so, experts assume that participation rates have not fundamentally improved in recent years.

One key reason is access to information: many patients learn about suitable trial options too late or still associate clinical trials with uncertainty and significant effort. At the same time, cancer trials are among the most common types of clinical studies worldwide. The National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) is therefore placing greater emphasis on patient-friendly information and the active involvement of patients as research partners.

Selected facts about clinical trials:

• In Germany, around 500 people per 1 million inhabitants participate in clinical trials – significantly fewer than in other European countries. (Einsele et al., Oncol Res Treat 2022)
• A participation rate of around 5% among adult cancer patients is frequently cited, although rates vary depending on tumor type and healthcare system. (Springer Medizin, FORUM 2016)
• Participation often fails because of limited information or misconceptions about clinical trials, not because studies are unavailable.
• Clear and understandable communication increases willingness to participate.
• Clinical trials are now an integral part of modern treatment concepts and a prerequisite for developing new therapeutic approaches.

To facilitate participation in clinical trials, the NCT has increasingly focused on patient-friendly study information and equal partnership involvement since its expansion into a nationwide structure in 2023. The NCT has currently initiated 14 clinical trials, four of which are already enrolling patients. In addition, ten so-called bridge studies, launched before the nationwide expansion of the NCT, are now continuing across multiple sites. Patient representatives contribute to the planning and evaluation of studies and provide input early in the development process.

“Innovations in cancer research must be clinically tested before they can benefit patients. Clinical trials provide the foundation for this process and form the bridge between research and treatment,” says Prof. Michael Baumann, spokesperson of the NCT Steering Committee and Scientific Director of the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ).

“Clinical trials need to become part of patient care at an earlier stage. This requires strong trial infrastructures, close collaboration between centers and treating physicians, and low-threshold access to information,” says Prof. Michael Hallek, also spokesperson of the NCT Steering Committee.

“Participation of cancer patients in clinical trials remains far too low,” says Markus Wartenberg, spokesperson of the NCT Patient Research Council. “To improve participation, patients should be involved early in the development of clinical trials. Patient-centered studies and clear, understandable communication build trust and strengthen willingness to participate.”

Ahead of Clinical Trials Day on May 20, the NCT, in cooperation with the Cancer Information Service, launched a new clinical trial finder. It presents NCT clinical trials in plain language and facilitates initial access to current research opportunities. The trial finder will be expanded step by step and does not yet include all NCT studies.

In addition, established online registries are available, including the German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS), the EU Clinical Trials Information System (CTIS), and international databases such as ClinicalTrials.gov.

Further information:
NCT Clinical Trial Finder: Study Finder
Additional trial registries: Clinical Trial Search in Oncology | DKFZ Cancer Information Service

Sources:

• Einsele H. et al. Clinical Trials in Hematology and Oncology. Oncol Res Treat. 2022;45(Suppl.1):6–32. DOI: 10.1159/000525371
• Springer Medizin, FORUM 2016: Interview with Markus Wartenberg on clinical trials from the patient perspective
• German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Cancer Information Service: Cancer Clinical Trials: Important Questions & Answers | DKFZ Cancer Information Service

The National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT)

The NCT is a long-term cooperation between the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), excellent partners in university medicine and other outstanding research partners at various locations in Germany: Berlin, Dresden, Heidelberg, SouthWest (Tübingen-Stuttgart/Ulm), WERA (Würzburg with the partners Erlangen, Regensburg and Augsburg) and West (Essen/Cologne). The expansion of the NCT from the original two sites in Heidelberg and Dresden to six sites in 2023 was driven by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research as part of the National Decade Against Cancer and supported by the federal states of Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Berlin, North Rhine-Westphalia and Saxony. 

The aim of the NCT is to translate innovations in cancer research in Germany into studies in a targeted and rapid manner in order to successfully diagnose cancer according to the latest state of research and treat it while maintaining a high quality of life. Patients are research partners at eye level.

Press contact NCT

Janna von Greiffenstern
German Cancer Research Center
NCT Communications
Im Neuenheimer Feld 280
69120 Heidelberg
Phone +49 6221 42 2255
janna.vongreiffenstern(at)dkfz.de
www.nct.dkfz.de