Increased access for and enhancement of cancer (ca) patients (pts) participation (par) in clinical trials (cts) by alleviation of financial toxicity.

Abstract

24 Background: Prognosis for pts is increasing as a result of advances in cts. However, the degree to which cancer caused financial problems may influence ca pts par in cts and negatively impact quality of life. Excess financial burden of cts par, may include finding an appropriate trial, traveling to the trial site, travel costs, lodging and medical expenses. The Lazarex Cancer Foundation (LCF) was founded in 2006 with mission to improve care, giving hope, dignity, and life to advanced ca pts by providing assistance with options and costs to cts par, community outreach, and education. LCF developed processes to removing the barriers to cts par by improving equitable access to cancer care, increasing cts enrollment, retention and minority par, and increasing cts referrals. Methods: To determine the extent of benefit of LCF, we conducted a retrospective analysis of LCF beneficiaries participating in cts by reviewing and summarizing the number of pts, states and countries of residence, age, type of cancer, location and distance to cts site, type of assistance, and number of advocacy/outreach. Results: From 1/01/2010 – 12/31/2016 2179 pts were assisted financially; age range 1-102 yrs, median 50-60; (43%) male, (53%) female, (3.4%) undeclared. (6.4%) were African American, 10.3% Hispanic, 3.6 Asian Pacific Islander, other minority 2.1, and Caucasian 72.7%;total minority 22.5%. Pts resided in 50 states with largest CA , TX , MA , and FL. Cts were at 199 sites – 43 NCI CCC, 7 NCI DCC and 149 other cancer centers. Most common diagnoses were breast, leukemia, colorectal cancers. type tumors. Median household income was $75,000. Financial assistance to travel to and living expenses at the cts site was the most frequently identified need. Conclusions: Relieving pts of financial burden allows greater access to and participation in cancer clinical trials. Further research and greater resources are needed to define patient needs and determine methods to eliminate barriers to enrollment and retention investigate coverage thresholds that minimize adverse financial outcomes and identify ca pts at greatest risk for financial toxicity to increase par in cts.