Solid Tumor

Solid tumors are masses of abnormal tissue that originate in organs or soft tissues that typically do not include fluid areas and cysts. These tumors can be either benign (noncancerous growths that do not spread to surrounding tissue or organs) or malignant (cancerous tumors that can spread to surrounding tissue and invade other parts of the body). Solid tumors are typically named after the types of cells that compose them. Some examples of solid tumors include: breast cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer, sarcomas, lymphomas, and carcinomas (lesions that originate in the skin or the lining of organs). Leukemia is not considered a solid tumor because it is a cancer of the blood.

Treatment options vary depending on the type of cancer, stage of the disease, patient's age, and other medical conditions, and should be discussed with the patient's physician.

Solid Tumor Clinical Trials

The Center for Cancer Research (CCR), NCI's largest division doing research on campus, conducts solid tumor clinical trials at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, Md. NCI accepts referrals to solid tumor clinical trials conducted in Bethesda, Md., through its Clinical Trials Referral Office (formerly the Clinical Studies Support Center) at 1-888-NCI-1937 (1-888-624-1937).

NCI is currently conducting the following trials for patients with solid tumors. Click on the trials below for additional details, including a summary of eligibility criteria, treatment plan, and information on how to contact the principal investigators and their staff directly.