Adolescent angst: enrollment on clinical trials

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Clinical Trials
• Cancer Research

Background:

• Survival rates for adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with cancer lag behind those of pediatric and older adult patients.
• Lower participation of AYAs in clinical trials is a suspected reason for this disparity.
• Despite efforts to boost enrollment, AYAs continue to show low clinical trial participation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present current clinical trial enrollment rates for AYAs across different cancer types, sociodemographic factors, and treatment settings.
• To identify and discuss provider-, patient-, and system-level barriers hindering AYA clinical trial participation.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of contemporary studies on AYA clinical trial enrollment.
• Examination of enrollment rates by cancer type, sociodemographics (including race/ethnicity, health insurance), and treatment setting.
• Review of identified barriers to participation.

Main Results:

• Overall AYA clinical trial participation remains low compared to pediatric populations, with no significant improvement over time.
• Enrollment rates vary significantly based on cancer type, treatment setting, health insurance, and race/ethnicity.
• Most AYAs are treated in community settings, highlighting the need for referrals to specialized centers.

Conclusions:

• Improving AYA cancer survival necessitates addressing low clinical trial enrollment.
• Strategies should focus on understanding and overcoming specific barriers to participation.
• Enhanced education and outreach are vital to increase AYA involvement in clinical trials.