The NCI and NCCAM are currently sponsoring or cosponsoring various clinical trials to study complementary and alternative treatments for cancer. Some of these trials study the effects of complementary approaches used in addition to conventional treatments, while others compare alternative therapies with conventional treatments.

Acupuncture to reduce the symptoms of advanced colorectal cancer:
Acupuncture has been effective in treating pain and nausea in some people with cancer, although there is no evidence to suggest that it has any effect on the disease itself.

Combination chemotherapy plus radiation therapy with or without shark cartilage in the treatment of patients who have non-small cell lung cancer that cannot be removed by surgery:
Some anti-tumor substances have been found in cartilage, and clinical trials using substances isolated from shark cartilage are currently under way; however the Food and Drug Administration currently recommends against using shark cartilage as a cancer treatment.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy:
Research has shown HBOT is effective when used in addition to conventional treatment for the prevention and treatment of osteoradionecrosis (delayed bone damage caused by radiation therapy). There is also some evidence suggesting HBOT may be helpful as an additional treatment for soft tissue injury caused by radiation. There is no evidence that HBOT cures cancer. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved HBOT to treat decompression sickness, gangrene, brain abscess, air bubbles in the blood, and injuries in which tissues are not getting enough oxygen.

Massage therapy for cancer-related fatigue

Chemotherapy compared with pancreatic enzyme therapy plus specialized diet for the treatment of pancreatic cancer: Enzyme therapy involves taking enzyme supplements as an alternative form of cancer treatment. Enzymes are natural proteins that stimulate and accelerate many biological reactions in the body. Digestive enzymes, many of which are made in the pancreas, break down food and help with the absorption of nutrients into the blood. Metabolic enzymes build new cells and repair damaged ones in the blood, tissues, and organs.
Available scientific evidence does not support claims that enzyme supplements are effective in treating cancer. It is not known whether they may help make other forms of treatment work better or improve quality of life in cancer patients. Research to determine the safety and effectiveness of different enzyme preparations is currently under way.

Mistletoe extract and chemotherapy for the treatment of solid tumors:
There have been recent studies published that show that mistletoe extracts can inhibit metastasis, reduce size, and cause necrosis of induced tumours in rodents. These studies suggest that by stimulating the cells of the immune system the mistletoe extracts have this prophylactic effect. No evidence has been published to date showing that mistletoe extracts are effective in treating cancer in humans.