Clinical trials · California
Cancer clinical trials in California
We’re tracking 1,313 recruiting cancer studies with a site in California — including Phase 1, Phase 1/Phase 2, Phase 2, Phase 2/Phase 3 and Phase 3 studies, each written for real people, not researchers.
Recruiting studies in California
- NCT03821246RecruitingPhase 2
Atezolizumab and other drugs before prostate surgery for high-risk cancer
This Phase 2 trial tests whether giving immunotherapy (atezolizumab) plus another drug before surgery can shrink or control high-risk localized prostate cancer. The goal is to improve outcomes by treating the cancer early, before radical prostatectomy.
San Francisco, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT06592924RecruitingPhase 3
Adding chemo to hormone therapy for prostate cancer with slow PSA drop
This trial tests if adding docetaxel chemotherapy helps men whose PSA hasn't dropped enough after at least 6 months of standard hormone therapy (ADT) plus an ARPI pill (like abiraterone or enzalutamide) for metastatic prostate cancer that still responds to hormones.
Anaheim, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT05451004RecruitingPhase 3
SPECT-CT test to target neck radiation on one side
This study tests whether using a special scan (SPECT-CT) can guide radiation treatment to only the safer/needed side of the neck in people with a one-sided oropharyngeal cancer. It aims to keep cancer control while potentially reducing side effects from unnecessary radiation.
Corona, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT06205485RecruitingPhase 3
Chemotherapy and surgery vs chemoradiation for rectal cancer
This trial compares two approaches for early-stage rectal cancer: chemotherapy plus local surgery versus standard chemoradiotherapy. It aims to see if less intensive treatment can work just as well, reducing side effects.
Irvine, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT04606914RecruitingPhase 2
Carboplatin plus mirvetuximab for advanced ovarian cancer after chemo
This Phase 2 study tests adding mirvetuximab to carboplatin for people with advanced, high-grade serous ovarian cancer who will first receive “neoadjuvant” chemotherapy. It is designed for tumors that strongly show FRα, which mirvetuximab targets, to see if this improves outcomes.
San Francisco, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT06686771RecruitingPhase 3
Radiation for limited growth in advanced lung cancer on immunotherapy
This trial tests whether giving high-precision radiation to a few spots that are growing during immunotherapy (with or without chemotherapy) can help people with advanced lung cancer. It aims to see if treating these limited areas of resistance can extend the time the cancer stays under control.
Duarte, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT04305834RecruitingPhase 2
Abemaciclib plus hormone pills for metastatic breast cancer in older adults
This Phase 2 study tests whether abemaciclib combined with standard hormone (endocrine) therapy can better control metastatic breast cancer in people age 70 and older. It may help if your cancer has already grown despite prior hormone therapy and/or other cancer medicines.
South Pasadena, CaliforniaAges 70 years+ - NCT04333706RecruitingPhase 1/Phase 2
Sarilumab plus capecitabine for certain breast cancers
This trial studies whether adding sarilumab to capecitabine can shrink or control metastatic or high-risk breast cancer that lacks HER2 and is either triple-negative or hormone-resistant. It aims to find a safe dose first, then look at how well the treatment works compared with historical results.
Los Angeles, CaliforniaAges 18–99 - NCT04333537RecruitingPhase 2/Phase 3
Sentinel node biopsy versus standard neck surgery for early mouth cancer
This trial compares two ways of checking whether early oral cavity squamous cell cancer has spread to neck lymph nodes. It tests whether sentinel lymph node biopsy can find spread as well as standard neck dissection, while potentially reducing more extensive surgery for some people.
Duarte, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT04410796RecruitingPhase 2
Osimertinib alone or with chemo for EGFR-mutant lung cancer
This trial tests whether osimertinib alone is as good as osimertinib plus chemotherapy for lung cancers that have a specific EGFR mutation. It may help by improving how well the cancer responds and slows growth in people with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer.
Sacramento, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT04421820RecruitingPhase 1/Phase 2
BOLD-100 with chemo for advanced gut cancer
This Phase 1/2 study tests whether BOLD-100, given with the standard chemo combination FOLFOX, can help people with advanced gastrointestinal cancers. It’s especially focused on specific tumor features (including BRAF status) and checks safety, dosing, and early signs of effectiveness.
Santa Monica, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT04429542RecruitingPhase 1
Test of an EGFR-targeting drug for advanced solid cancers
This Phase 1 study tests the safety of BCA101 (an EGFR-targeting treatment) alone or combined with pembrolizumab. It may help people with certain EGFR-driven advanced cancers, depending on the tumor type, prior treatments, and required biopsy testing.
La Jolla, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT04510597RecruitingPhase 3
Immunotherapy plus surgery versus immunotherapy alone for kidney cancer
This study tests whether adding surgery to remove the kidney improves outcomes compared with continuing immunotherapy without surgery. It is for people with metastatic kidney cancer whose disease has not worsened after initial immunotherapy.
Los Angeles, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT04534205RecruitingPhase 2/Phase 3
Testing BNT113 plus pembrolizumab versus pembrolizumab alone
This trial studies whether adding BNT113 to pembrolizumab works better and is safe for people with HPV16-positive head and neck cancer that can’t be cured with local treatments. It also compares outcomes to pembrolizumab alone, specifically for tumors that show PD-L1 in testing.
Los Angeles, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT04603209Recruiting
Check-in registry for radiation during breast-conserving surgery
This registry study tracks people with early-stage, single-area breast cancer to understand outcomes when radiation is given during breast-conserving surgery. It may help doctors improve treatment planning for patients like you.
Santa Monica, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT04606446RecruitingPhase 2
Study drug for ER-positive, HER2-negative cancers after treatment
This Phase 2 study tests a new Pfizer medicine (PF-07248144) for certain advanced or metastatic breast, prostate, or lung cancers that have not responded to standard treatment or no standard options exist. You may qualify if you have a specific tumor type and a limited number of prior cancer treatments, and if your body functions (blood, liver, kidneys) and heart rhythm meet safety limits.
San Francisco, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT04678648RecruitingPhase 1
Testing RSC-1255 in advanced cancers with RAS changes
This early study (Phase 1) tests a new drug, RSC-1255, in people with advanced or metastatic cancers that have RAS mutations. It’s mainly focused on whether the treatment can be given safely and at what dose, and to see if it may shrink tumors.
Los Angeles, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT04722341Recruiting
Time-limited eating for people with certain breast or rectal cancers
This study tests whether eating only within a shorter daily time window can improve cancer outcomes in people with specific breast or rectal cancers. It also looks at how this affects the body (such as metabolism) and who is most likely to benefit.
West Hollywood, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT04742608Recruiting
Liquid blood tests to diagnose thyroid nodules or cancer
This study tests whether a blood “liquid biopsy” can help diagnose thyroid cancer or hard-to-tell thyroid nodules without needing extra procedures. It may help confirm what’s going on before or around planned thyroid surgery.
Los Angeles, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT04895709RecruitingPhase 1/Phase 2
Testing a new cancer drug for advanced solid tumors
This early-phase trial tests how well a new drug (BMS-986340) works alone and combined with other treatments in people with advanced solid tumors that have progressed despite standard care. It also studies tumor samples to look for biomarkers that may predict who benefits.
Clovis, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT05877599RecruitingPhase 1
Study of a new treatment for advanced cancers with a specific gene change
This trial tests a new type of therapy (NT-175) for people with certain advanced cancers that have a specific genetic change. It might help if your tumor has the TP53 R175H mutation and you have the HLA-A*02:01 immune marker.
Duarte, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT06726148RecruitingPhase 1/Phase 2
Study of ECI830 for advanced breast cancer and solid tumors
This trial is testing a new drug called ECI830, either alone or with another drug, for people with advanced breast cancer or other solid tumors that have not responded to standard treatments. It may be an option if you have HR+/HER2- breast cancer, small cell lung cancer, or a tumor with a specific gene change (CCNE1 amplification).
Los Angeles, CaliforniaAges 18–100 - NCT05887609RecruitingPhase 2
Maintenance treatment for FRalpha-positive ovarian or endometrial cancer
This Phase 2 trial tests a combination of two medicines (mirvetuximab soravtansine and olaparib) as ongoing “maintenance” treatment after your best response to prior platinum chemotherapy. It may help keep cancer from growing longer in certain women whose tumors strongly match a specific marker (FRalpha).
Irvine, CaliforniaAges 18–100 - NCT05024929Recruiting
Test targeted drugs to help radioactive iodine reach thyroid cancer
This study looks at whether certain cancer “targeted therapy” medicines can make radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy work better for thyroid cancer that has spread to the lungs. It also involves taking special whole-body scans to measure how much radioactive iodine gets taken up by the cancer.
San Francisco, CaliforniaAges birth+
Cancer trials by city in California
Where these studies are running in California
Institutions with a site for the recruiting cancer studies listed above.
- City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center · 6 studies
- City of Hope Orange County Lennar Foundation Cancer Center · 5 studies
- University of California, San Francisco · 5 studies
- USC / Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center · 5 studies
- Cedars-Sinai Medical Center · 4 studies
- City of Hope · 4 studies
- Los Angeles General Medical Center · 4 studies
- University of California Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center · 3 studies
What taking part in a cancer study involves
A screening visit first
Before anything else, the study team checks whether you fit — usually a visit with some tests. You can stop at any point, and screening is typically free.
Care at a nearby site
Study visits happen at a clinic or hospital taking part. Many studies cover the cost of the study treatment and related visits, and some reimburse travel.
You stay in control
Taking part is voluntary and you can leave a study at any time, for any reason, without affecting your regular care.
The team decides eligibility
Our fit check is a helpful first read, not a decision. The study team makes the final call after reviewing your health history.
Cancer trials in other states
Common questions
- Are there cancer clinical trials in California?
- Yes. We're currently tracking 1,313 recruiting cancer studies with a site in California, each rewritten in plain language so you can see what it's testing and who it's for.
- How do I find out if I qualify for a cancer study in California?
- Each study lists its eligibility rules — age, diagnosis, prior treatments. On every trial page we explain these in plain language and offer a short, optional pre-screen for a fit read. The study team makes the final decision.
- Do I have to live in California to take part?
- Not necessarily. These studies have a site in California, but eligibility is about your health, not your address — some people travel to take part, and a few studies reimburse travel. The study team can tell you what's required.
- Does it cost anything to join a cancer trial?
- Using Clin2 is always free. Many trials cover the study treatment and related visits; some reimburse travel. The study team explains exactly what's covered before you decide.
Not the right time?
New cancer studies open in California regularly. Set up a health profile and we’ll quietly watch for studies that fit you and email you when one opens.
Clin2 helps you find and understand clinical trials and does not provide medical advice. Study data comes from ClinicalTrials.gov. Talk with your doctor about whether a specific trial is right for you.