Knowing your tumor's DNA helps you partner with your doctor to find clinical trials looking for patients with your specific cancer type and molecular profile.
Weigh The Trade-Offs
About Clinical Trials.
Trials can open doors — new treatments, repurposed drugs, options that aren't available any other way. But because you're moving beyond what's proven, the stakes for getting it right are higher. Research carefully, lean on peer networks and AI tools, and make sure your medical team is driving. Ask hard questions about side effects — they're often undersold.
Ask Your Cancer Care Team First.
Your cancer care team may have its own trial database — and your oncologist may know about trials before they're widely publicized. Always ask: "What's open at our institution that might fit?"
Walk In Armed
Five Questions To Ask Your Oncologist.
Clinical trials are increasingly designed to target specific genetic mutations. These five questions cut through the complexity and put you in partnership with your medical team.
Based on my genomic results, what clinical trials would you recommend I consider? Push your oncologist to map your specific mutations to active trials. The ones that match your DNA are the ones most likely to actually work for your cancer.
Are there trials at our institution that match my tumor's genetic profile? Many major cancer centers have their own trial matching services and may know about trials before they're widely publicized.
How do I know if I'm eligible for a specific trial? Eligibility is more than mutations — stage, prior treatments, performance status, and organ function all factor in. Get the criteria in writing so you can compare across trials.
What are the potential benefits and risks of participating in a trial? Ask for the data — response rates, side effect profile, time commitment, and what happens if the trial drug stops working. Decide with information, not hope.
If I'm not eligible for trials now, could I be in the future if my cancer progresses? The trial landscape moves fast. Re-sequence at progression, ask again at every appointment, and keep a running list of trials to revisit.
And The Logistics Questions.
Medical fit gets you to "yes." Logistics decides whether "yes" is actually doable. Ask these before you commit.
How often will I need to travel for visits, scans, and infusions? Weekly? Monthly? Some trials are intense up front and ease off; others are the reverse. Get the schedule in writing.
Can any visits be done virtually, or through a local doctor? Some trials allow telehealth check-ins or use a local oncologist for routine labs. Worth asking even if it's not advertised.
Are travel, lodging, or other out-of-pocket costs covered? Some trials cover travel; some patient organizations cover it when the trial doesn't. Don't rule out a distant trial before you've asked.
How long is the participation commitment — weeks, months, years? Trials can run from a few weeks to many years of follow-up. Knowing the runway helps you plan around it.
Will my caregiver need to be there, and is their travel covered? Some trials require a caregiver for certain visits. If yours does, find out before booking.
Before You Search
Important Considerations.
Trial eligibility is more than just having the right mutation. Four factors matter for whether you'll qualify and benefit.
Eligibility Is Complex
Having the right mutation doesn't automatically mean you qualify. Stage, performance status, organ function, prior treatments, and other factors all matter.
Timing Matters
Some trials have specific enrollment windows that open and close. Acting quickly when a match is found can be the difference between enrolling and missing out.
Geography Matters
You may need to travel for certain trials. Some patient organizations help with travel and lodging logistics — ask about resources before ruling out distant trials. Also ask about decentralized trials and telehealth visits — a growing category that lets you participate without relocating, sometimes with labs or imaging done locally.
Your Doctor's Judgment Matters Most
They know your complete medical picture and can advise on realistic options, weighing benefits and risks specific to your case.
Compare Your Options
Trial-Search Tools, Side By Side.
Each of these can help you find trials. None is the single "right" one for everyone — the best fit depends on how much help you want, what you're comfortable sharing, and who's behind the tool. We list them on equal footing and let the facts guide your choice.
How to weigh any trial-search tool
Does it cost you anything?
What happens to your personal and medical data?
How does it choose and order the trials it shows you?
Is it paid to feature or rank particular trials?
These are the questions the American Cancer Society recommends asking about any clinical-trial search site.
Best for: multiple myeloma patients specifically — a disease-focused option and patient network.
Scope
Multiple myeloma only
Cost to you
Free
Who's behind it
A digital-health startup (Cambridge, MA); its multiple-myeloma trial matching runs through a partnership with Massive Bio
Biomarker matching
Trial matching runs through its Massive Bio partnership; its own Patient Connect links you to other myeloma patients on similar journeys
Hands-on enrollment help
No coordinators of its own — Patient Connect is a patient network and resource tool; trial matching and enrollment support come through Massive Bio
Works with your oncologist
You bring what you find to your care team
Your data
Patient Connect uses your zip code and a short personal story to match you with similar patients; trial matching via Massive Bio needs your medical details
Best for: a free AI search tool to explore and cross-check trials in plain language.
Cost to you
Free — no signup required to search
Who's behind it
Operated by Investment Strategy, Inc.; trial data comes from ClinicalTrials.gov. Not affiliated with the trial sponsors it lists.
Biomarker matching
AI-powered natural-language search with eligibility guidance across ClinicalTrials.gov studies — not molecular-profile matching
Hands-on enrollment help
No — self-service AI search and insights; you handle enrollment with your care team
Works with your oncologist
You can share your trial list and AI conversation with your care team via a link
Your data
No signup required to search; optional account for bookmarks and alerts
Whatever you start with, cross-check your matches against ClinicalTrials.gov. It's the complete public record, so it's the way to confirm a trial is real, open, and recruiting before you contact a site.
I told the trial team: I know I'm a perfect molecular match to the drug you're testing.
— Bryce Olson · 4 Trials, 4 Cancer Centers, 9 Years of Survival
Real Patient · Real Outcome
"I'm Only Standing Here Today Because of a Clinical Trial."
J.J. Singleton
Colorectal Cancer · Clinical Trial Participant
J.J. walked the same path Step 02 and Step 04 lay out: he asked to get sequenced, decoded what was driving his cancer, and found a clinical trial that matched. The trial extended his life — and his story is the proof that The Sequence Code travels beyond Bryce's prostate cancer journey.
Participating in a clinical trial helps turn today's research into tomorrow's treatments. Every participant helps move medicine forward, creating better options, more hope, and potentially saving lives.
Before You Start Searching
Search Smarter.
Keep Walking The Code.
Five steps. One playbook. You've just walked through Step 04. Step 05 is where you find the support resources for everything cancer touches beyond treatment.
