OBJECTIVES: Reducing the burden of cancer through interventions based on clinical trials remains an important strategy of oncology research. Public access to information on clinical trials increases transparency of medical research and helps patients to find information. The aim of this study was to investigate the number of clinical trials in oncology carried out in Greece.  METHODS: We searched the EU Clinical Trials Register website. We analyzed the trends regarding the number of approved by the National Organization for Medicines trials in a 7-year basis. We also examined the number of trials by the type of cancer, the Phase and the status of the trial and the trends in funding. In our survey we included only Phase II and Phase III interventional trials, recruiting by adults and elderly, both men and women, between 2004-2010. RESULTS: Greece ranks 14th among EU countries for the clinical trials conducted in oncology, as 24,29% of all clinical trials carried out in Greece concern cancer. Since 2004, 44 Phase II and 95 Phase III trials were approved, the majority of which were related to target therapies of breast cancer (21.73%) and non-small cell lung cancer (21.01%). 81.88% are still ongoing trials, 6.52% have been completed while there is no feedback about the results. Finally, in Greece the main sponsor in clinical research is industry (88.4%) while only 11.59% is funded by research institutes. CONCLUSIONS: Although in Greece there is significant clinical investigation in oncology, the need for the development of a new framework as well as a well organized network that will inform key stakeholders, reduce bureaucracy and increase the number of clinical trials remains and calls for international cooperation.