New Study IDs Key Methods To Boost Clinical Trial Awareness, Diversity

Researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio have found a new method to increase the diversity of study populations in clinical trials, in particular for Latinos who participate in disproportionately low numbers in cancer clinical trials in the United States.

Dr. Patricia Chalela, assistant professor at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, who is part of the study team, said, "Underrepresentation of minorities in clinical trials results in disparities of cancer outcomes and limits generalizability of the findings because researchers cannot study how minority patients respond to new treatments.”

According to the researchers, Latinos represent 17 percent of the population in the U.S; however only about 5 percent of the participants in cancer clinical trials are Latino.

In their study, the researchers found that viewing culturally sensitive videos, reading booklets on clinical trials, and receiving help from a patient navigator increased the proportion of Latino breast cancer patients that were making plans to participate in a clinical trial from 38 percent to 75 percent, as compared to patients who received only a standard information booklet.

The findings were presented at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) conference on The Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved, held this week.

"Our results showed that intervention participants had significantly higher awareness of clinical trials than control participants. We hope that computer-based videos specifically tailored for Latinos will provide an effective strategy to increase Latina breast cancer patients' knowledge, understanding, and participation in clinical trials, although this needs confirming in larger studies."

This study is the latest in a series of encouraging steps taken towards increasing the representation of minorities in clinical trials. Researchers state that clinical trials in diverse populations are important, as they help the scientists to understand the biology of disease and to create and evaluate improved medicines and treatments.

However, despite recommendations from the FDA and NIH, the number of minority participants in clinical trials still does not represent the actual U.S. population.

Earlier this year, a study from the University of California, Davis, Comprehensive Cancer Center also revealed that less than 2 percent of clinical cancer studies focus on people of non-white races or ethnic groups. This was supported by another study reported this week by Lankenau Medical Center researchers, who reported that women, racial minorities, and elderly people were severely underrepresented in cardiac clinical trials.

To obtain more accurate patient response data, last month, the Boston Scientific Corporation initiated a unique cardiac stent clinical trial that specifically targeted underrepresented patient populations.

Another recent development is the ‘I’m In’ campaign that allows clinicians to easily identify and recruit minorities for potential clinical trials.

According to Dr. Chalela, it is important to reach out to Latinas and other minorities in a way that empowers them and increases their awareness of the availability and importance of clinical trials, so that they can make informed decisions regarding their treatment options.

"These results are encouraging," Dr. Chalela said. "We would like to assess the intervention at a larger scale and make the intervention available not only to all breast cancer patients, but expand it to all cancer patients in general."