Clinical trials · California
Cancer clinical trials in California
We’re tracking 1,320 recruiting cancer studies with a site in California — including Phase 1, Phase 1/Phase 2, Phase 2 and Phase 3 studies, each written for real people, not researchers.
Recruiting studies in California
- NCT05008848RecruitingPhase 3
Text-based quit smoking program for rural cancer survivors
This trial tests a text message program to help people who have had cancer quit smoking. It is designed for those living in rural areas and aims to see if this program can support them in stopping smoking.
St. Helena, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT04949464Recruiting
Smoking quit coaching plus lung scans for people with HIV
This study tests a behavior-change program to help people with HIV quit smoking, along with routine low-dose lung CT scans to find warning signs early. It’s a feasibility study, meaning the main goal is to see if the approach is practical and acceptable, and if people can follow through.
La Jolla, CaliforniaAges 45–80 - NCT04913064Recruiting
White button mushroom supplement for inflammation in high-risk breast cancer
This trial tests whether a white button mushroom powder supplement can lower inflammation in postmenopausal women who have a high risk of breast cancer. If it helps, it could improve early prevention strategies for people at higher risk.
Duarte, CaliforniaAges 21 years+ - NCT04928677RecruitingPhase 1
Codrituzumab for children and young adults with GPC3-positive solid tumors
This Phase 1 study tests codrituzumab, an antibody medicine, in children and young adults whose solid tumor has come back or did not respond to standard treatment. It’s designed to see how the treatment works and how safe it is, especially for tumors that test positive for GPC3.
Los Angeles, CaliforniaAges 1–21 - NCT04871542Recruiting
Predicting risk of immune therapy side effects
This study tries to predict who is more likely to get serious side effects from immune checkpoint medicines used for solid tumors. You may help researchers by answering questionnaires before treatment and during follow-up, and by possibly storing sample specimens.
Pasadena, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT04924075RecruitingPhase 2
Belzutifan for cancers linked to VHL or HIF-2α changes
This Phase 2 study tests belzutifan (MK-6482) to treat certain advanced cancers caused by specific gene or disease changes, including VHL-related tumors and HIF-2α related tumors. It may help shrink tumors or slow their growth in people whose cancer matches these genetic or disease patterns.
Los Angeles, CaliforniaAges 12 years+ - NCT04879329RecruitingPhase 2
Study for HER2-positive bladder cancer after limited treatment
This Phase 2 trial tests disitamab vedotin alone or with pembrolizumab for urothelial (bladder/urinary tract) cancer that has HER2-positive tumors. It aims to shrink tumors and improve outcomes, including for people who have had limited prior treatment or specific prior drug exposures.
Burbank, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT04868604RecruitingPhase 1/Phase 2
Copper PSMA scan and treatment for prostate cancer in men on low testosterone
This trial tests a PSMA-targeted copper medicine used after a special PSMA PET/CT scan to find and treat prostate cancer that has spread. It’s for men whose testosterone is already very low and whose cancer is growing despite hormone-blocking medicines like enzalutamide or abiraterone.
Stanford, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT04913285RecruitingPhase 1
KIN-2787 for advanced solid tumors with BRAF or NRAS mutations
This trial tests a new drug, KIN-2787, for people with advanced solid tumors that have specific changes (mutations) in the BRAF or NRAS genes. The drug is designed to target these changes and may help shrink or control the tumor.
Los Angeles, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT04920032RecruitingPhase 1
Blood test–guided extra treatment for colon cancer recurrence risk
This Phase 1 study uses a blood test called ctDNA to decide whether and how to adjust treatment in people with colon cancer who still have a small amount of disease left after surgery. If your blood test remains positive, the trial aims to reduce recurrence risk by guiding treatment changes.
Orange, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT04883671Recruiting
SBRT to treat a few spots of adenoid cystic cancer
This trial tests whether focused radiation (SBRT) can help control adenoid cystic carcinoma that has spread to a small number of places (oligometastatic disease). If you qualify, the study will treat up to 1–5 metastatic spots that doctors think can be safely targeted, to help control the cancer locally.
San Francisco, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT04858256RecruitingPhase 2
Pacritinib for relapsed or resistant T-cell blood cancers
This Phase 2 trial studies pacritinib, an oral medicine, for T-cell lymphoma/leukemia that has come back or did not respond to prior treatment. It aims to see how well pacritinib can control the cancer and improve outcomes.
Duarte, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT04840602RecruitingPhase 2
Venetoclax plus rituximab versus standard Waldenstrom treatment
This trial tests whether adding venetoclax to rituximab works better than standard treatment options for Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia (WM). It’s for adults whose WM needs treatment and who meet specific blood, organ, infection, and medication safety requirements.
Irvine, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT04686305RecruitingPhase 1
Test drug T-DXd plus immunotherapy, with or without chemotherapy for HER2+ lung cancer
This Phase 1 study tests the safety (and early effectiveness) of T-DXd combined with immunotherapy, sometimes also with chemotherapy, in people with advanced lung cancer that is HER2-positive. It may help if standard options have been limited or your tumor does not have certain genetic changes that already have targeted treatments.
Santa Rosa, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT04752826RecruitingPhase 1/Phase 2
A new drug combo for advanced cancers
This trial tests a new experimental drug, BI-1808, alone or with an approved cancer drug called pembrolizumab (Keytruda). It's for people with advanced cancers that have stopped responding to standard treatments.
Duarte, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT04665739RecruitingPhase 2
Lutetium Lu-177 for lung carcinoid tumors with somatostatin receptors
This trial tests lutetium Lu 177 dotatate, a targeted radiation treatment, for advanced lung neuroendocrine (carcinoid) tumors that have a specific marker called somatostatin receptors. It may help shrink tumors by delivering radiation directly to cancer cells that “light up” on a special scan.
Beverly Hills, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT04671667RecruitingPhase 2
Pembrolizumab vs chemo-radiation after surgery for recurrent head/neck cancer
This trial tests whether pembrolizumab (an immunotherapy drug) works better than the usual chemo plus radiation after surgery for cancer that has come back in the head and neck area. It may help reduce cancer returning or spreading by using your immune system, but eligibility depends on how the cancer came back and your prior treatments.
Anaheim, CaliforniaAges 18–79 - NCT04616560RecruitingPhase 2
New drug for recurrent Wilms tumor, osteosarcoma, and DSRCT
This trial tests a targeted drug called trastuzumab deruxtecan for children and young adults with certain cancers that have come back or not responded to treatment. It may help if your tumor has not responded to standard therapies.
Los Angeles, CaliforniaAges 12–39 - NCT04683250RecruitingPhase 1/Phase 2
RET-targeting drug study for advanced cancers with RET changes
This trial tests an “RET-inhibitor” medicine (TAS0953/HM06) for advanced solid tumors that have RET gene changes. It may help shrink tumors by blocking cancer growth signals from the RET gene.
Orange, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT04621435RecruitingPhase 1
PET imaging test for solid tumors using FAP-2286
This Phase 1 study tests a special imaging scan (using FAP-2286) to see solid tumors in people who have already been diagnosed. It may help doctors better detect where cancer is in the body and how to plan treatment.
San Francisco, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT04546399RecruitingPhase 2
Blinatumomab with or without nivolumab for first relapse ALL
This study compares blinatumomab alone versus blinatumomab plus nivolumab in young people whose B-cell ALL has returned for the first time. It aims to see whether adding nivolumab improves control of the leukemia after relapse.
Downey, CaliforniaAges 1–30 - NCT04511013RecruitingPhase 2
Trial for BRAF-mutant melanoma spread to the brain
This Phase 2 study tests whether a 3-drug plan (encorafenib + binimetinib + nivolumab) works better than ipilimumab + nivolumab for melanoma that has spread to the brain. If you qualify, you’ll get either treatment and have frequent brain scans to track how well it controls the tumors.
Emeryville, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT04566328RecruitingPhase 3
Newly diagnosed multiple myeloma test of combination therapy
This Phase 3 trial tests a combination treatment approach for adults with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma, focusing on response and deeper remission. It may help by improving how well the disease is controlled early and measuring results beyond standard tests.
Castro Valley, CaliforniaAges 18 years+ - NCT04564781Recruiting
Predicting how bladder cancer responds to BCG
This study tries to predict whether BCG treatment will work for people with certain early-stage bladder cancers. It may help doctors better choose and monitor BCG for similar patients in the future.
Los Angeles, CaliforniaAges 18–90
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 · 5 studies
- Cedars-Sinai Medical Center · 4 studies
- UCSF Medical Center · 4 studies
- University of California, San Francisco · 4 studies
- Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center/Disney Family Cancer Center · 3 studies
- UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center · 3 studies
- Children's Hospital Los Angeles · 2 studies
- Children's Hospital of Orange County · 2 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 1,320 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.