Assessing Baseline Cancer Demographics Versus Cancer Trial Participation Demographics Over One Year in Louisiana
Description
Purpose: To determine which barriers exist for cancer clinical trial participation in Louisiana and define areas for improvement, we report cancer demographics of all new cancer diagnoses in Louisiana in 2019 and compare those to the baseline demographics of cancer patients that enrolled on a cancer treatment trial. Methods: A retrospective study evaluating baseline cancer demographics over 2019 was performed. Our baseline population included all new cancer diagnoses in patients 18 years and older registered with the Louisiana Tumor Registry (LTR) between January-December 2019. Baseline demographics were compared between all patients enrolled in a cancer treatment clinical trial in 2019 through the Gulf South Clinical Trials Network (GSCTN) versus those who were not. Summary statistics were performed with regards to basic cancer and patient demographics. Results: Although patients of the highest socioeconomic group made up, n=5,444, (21.9%) of total cancers, a larger proportion, n=35, (32.4%), p=0.01 ultimately enrolled in a trial. Similarly, of those living in an urban area, n=22,258, (84.5%), a larger proportion, n=103, (92.8%), enrolled in a trial when compared to those that were not, p=0.02. There was a significant positive correlation (p=0.01) between clinical trial enrollment and residency in geographic areas with higher rate of high-school graduation. Lastly, our data demonstrated that a smaller proportion, n=7, (6.3%), of clinical trial participants died compared to those who did not participate, n=5176, (19.6%), p<0.01. Conclusion: Lack of geographic access proves to be a barrier for recruitment in clinical cancer trials. Patients of higher SES that live in urban areas make up a larger proportion of clinical trial participants and have better survival rates than those who do not participate.
Assessing Baseline Cancer Demographics Versus Cancer Trial Participation Demographics Over One Year in Louisiana
Purpose: To determine which barriers exist for cancer clinical trial participation in Louisiana and define areas for improvement, we report cancer demographics of all new cancer diagnoses in Louisiana in 2019 and compare those to the baseline demographics of cancer patients that enrolled on a cancer treatment trial. Methods: A retrospective study evaluating baseline cancer demographics over 2019 was performed. Our baseline population included all new cancer diagnoses in patients 18 years and older registered with the Louisiana Tumor Registry (LTR) between January-December 2019. Baseline demographics were compared between all patients enrolled in a cancer treatment clinical trial in 2019 through the Gulf South Clinical Trials Network (GSCTN) versus those who were not. Summary statistics were performed with regards to basic cancer and patient demographics. Results: Although patients of the highest socioeconomic group made up, n=5,444, (21.9%) of total cancers, a larger proportion, n=35, (32.4%), p=0.01 ultimately enrolled in a trial. Similarly, of those living in an urban area, n=22,258, (84.5%), a larger proportion, n=103, (92.8%), enrolled in a trial when compared to those that were not, p=0.02. There was a significant positive correlation (p=0.01) between clinical trial enrollment and residency in geographic areas with higher rate of high-school graduation. Lastly, our data demonstrated that a smaller proportion, n=7, (6.3%), of clinical trial participants died compared to those who did not participate, n=5176, (19.6%), p<0.01. Conclusion: Lack of geographic access proves to be a barrier for recruitment in clinical cancer trials. Patients of higher SES that live in urban areas make up a larger proportion of clinical trial participants and have better survival rates than those who do not participate.