Clinical trial enrollment in patients with endocrine neoplasm: Parity achievable, but cancer type-specific

We sought to assess participation of underrepresented minorities with endocrine neoplasms in clinical trials conducted in the National Cancer Institute's (NCI) Intramural Research Program.

We performed a retrospective analysis of patients enrolled in Endocrine Oncology Branch (EOB) clinical trials, comparing demographics to regional and national demographics. We compared specific endocrine cancer patient data to data from NCI's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program.

Comparing EOB patients to national demographics, we found more white (77% vs 74%, P < 0.001) and black patients (14% vs 12%, P < 0.001). For thyroid cancer, there were more black (16% vs 7%, P < 0.0001) and other minority patients (17% vs 11%, P < 0.0001) compared to SEER. For gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEPNETs), there were fewer black (6% vs 19%, P < 0.0001) and other minority patients (6% vs 8%, P < 0.0001).

Enrollment parity of underrepresented minorities into clinical trials is achievable, although possibly cancer type-specific.