A clinical trial is a research study involving people that tests new ways to prevent, detect, monitor or treat disease, so researchers can learn what is safe and what works best. For men on Active Surveillance, trials often focus on better monitoring (e.g. MRIs and micro-Ultrasounds), biomarkers/genomics, decision-making tools, or lifestyle approaches.

You might consider joining a clinical trial to access promising approaches that are not yet widely available, to receive more structured follow-up while monitoring your prostate cancer, or to be cared for by experienced research teams.

Clinical trials also help improve future care. The standard practices that we have today exist because prior participants participated.

Participation is always voluntary, and you will have the opportunity to review eligibility, requirements (visits, tests, etc.), and risks before deciding that you would like to participate.

Many Active Surveillance studies focus on monitoring, decision support, or quality of life — not on starting treatment. Exploring a trial does not mean you are committing to a change in care.

Terms About Prostate Cancer Risk & Monitoring: Who a study is for, and how the prostate is monitored

• Low-Risk/Favorable Intermediate-Risk: These describe prostate cancer that is unlikely to spread quickly and may be suitable for Active Surveillance. Some trials include men who fall just beyond traditional low-risk criteria but are monitored rather than treated.
• mpMRI (multi-parametric MRI): An advanced imaging scan that helps identify areas of concern in the prostate and guide monitoring or biopsies.
• Micro-Ultrasound: A newer, high-resolution ultrasound technology being studied as an alternative or complement to MRI for detecting changes in the prostate.
• Biomarkers/Genomics: Blood, urine, or tissue tests that look at genes or proteins to better predict how a cancer behaves. These are often minimally invasive and used to refine surveillance decisions.
• Standard of Care: The best-known, widely accepted approach currently used outside of trials. In many Active Surveillance studies, standard care continues alongside the research activity.

Clinical Trial Design & Participation Terms: How a study works and what participation involves

• Eligibility Criteria: The specific requirements that determine who can participate in a study, such as cancer risk category, PSA level, prior treatments, or imaging results.
• Enrollment/Recruiting: Indicates that a study is currently accepting participants or is actively looking for people to join.
• Observational Study: A study that tracks outcomes over time without testing a new treatment. These often involve extra imaging, blood or urine tests, questionnaires, or data collection alongside your usual care.
• Interventional Study: A study that test a specific approach, such as a new imaging method, monitoring strategy, lifestyle program, or targeted therapy. Interventional does not always mean surgery, medication, or treatment.
• Study Phase (Phase 1, 2, or 2): (Note that many Active Surveillance trials will not use phases, particulary observational studies.)
• Phase 1: Tests safety and dosing in a small group.
• Phase 2: Looks at effectiveness and side effects.
• Phase 3: Compares a new approach to the current standard of care in larger groups.
• Control Group: A comparison group that receives the standard of care. In cancer trials, placebos are rarely used alone; participants continue to receive appropriate medical care.
• Randomized: Participants are assigned by chance to different study groups to reduce bias and imrove the reliability of results.

Ethics, Safety, & Your Rights as a Participant: Protections built into clinical trials

• Informed Consent: A plain-language document explaining the purpose, risks, benefits, and expectations of the study. You review and sign this before participating and will have the opportunity to ask questions at any time.
• Institutional Review Board (IRB)/Ethics Committee: An independent group that reviews and monitors studies to ensure participant safety, ethical conduct, and clear communication.
• Right to Withdraw: You can leave a study at any time, for any reason, without affecting your reguar medical care.
• Follow-Up Period: The time after enrollment when researchers continue to collect information, which may include visits, imaging, lab test, or questionnaires.

Understanding these terms can make clinical trial listings feel less intimidating and help you have more informed conversations with your care team when deciding wheter a study is right for you.

Active Surveillance trials vary widely. Many focus on monitoring, decision-making, or quality of life rather than treatment.

• New imaging or monitoring tools (such as MRI or ultrasound).
• Observational research using health data or blood, urine, or tissue samples.
• Lifestyle or supportive studies (diet, exercise, stress management).
• Quality-of-life research for patients and partners.

Some studies involve only occasional questionnaires or tests, while others may include additional clinic visits or imaging.

Clinical trials include safeguards to protect participants and support informed decision-making:

• You continue to receive appropriate standard of care, even while enrolled.
• Participation is voluntary, and you can leave at any time.
• You review and sign informed consent before joining.
• Studies are reviewed and monitored by independent ethics boards.
• You can ask questions — before joining and throughout the study.

• Does my Gleason score and risk category qualify me?
• Is this an interventional or observational study?
• Will this change my MRI, biopsy, or PSA schedule?
• What phase is the trial and what does that mean for me?
• How does this compare to my current standard of care?
• How much time or travel is typically involved?

Our Trial Finder Tool pulls recent prostate cancer trials from ClinicalTrials.gov and applies additional screening to focus on studies that may be relevant to men on Active Surveillance.

• Choose a country: Select Canada, United States, or Outside North America.
• Narrow by location: Filter by a specific state or province once a country is selected.
• Search by keyword: MRI, biomarkers, genomics, diet, or quality of life.
• View full details: Click “View on ClinicalTrials.gov” for eligibility and contacts.
• Clear: Use the Clear button to remove all filters and start a new search.

How ASPI helps: We automatically hide many trials focused on advanced or already-treated disease so you’re not overwhelmed by irrelevant results.

ClinicalTrials.gov is designed for everyone, so searches can return studies that don’t apply to Active Surveillance. ASPI’s screening is meant to reduce that noise.

When you click “View on ClinicalTrials.gov,” you’ll see the full study listing. You don’t need to review every section. These are the most helpful details to focus on:

What to Look For

• Study Description – What the study is trying to learn
• Eligibility Criteria – Risk category, PSA range, imaging or biopsy requirements
• Study Type – Observational or interventional
• Locations – Where the study is conducted and whether remote participation is possible
• Contacts – Who to reach out to with questions

What to Bring to Your Doctor or Care Team

If you’re interested in a study, bringing a few key details to your appointment can make the conversation easier:

• ClinicalTrials.gov ID (NCT number) – A unique study identifier (for example, NCT01234567)
• The study title or link from ClinicalTrials.gov
• Why the study caught your attention (for example, MRI monitoring, biomarkers, or quality of life)
• Eligibility highlights, such as risk category or PSA range
• What participation may involve, including extra imaging, tests, or visits
• Study location and whether travel would be required

Your doctor can help you understand how the study fits with your current Active Surveillance plan.

How to Take the Next Step

• Share the study and above information with your doctor or care team.
• Contact the listed study coordinator to ask questions.
• Ask whether screening or pre-review is available.
• Take your time — viewing or contacting a study does not obligate you to enroll.