Increasing Access to Clinical Trials and Innovative Therapy for Teenagers and Young Adults with Cancer - A Multiple Stakeholders and Multiple Steps Process.

Abstract

The inclusion of teenagers and young adults (TYAs) in cancer clinical trials is focal point for many countries with a specific TYA program. This objective has arisen from data which suggests that lower trial entry may, in part, contribute to lesser survival gains observed in this group when compared to children and some older adult cancers. In this chapter, we discuss obstacles to clinical trials and innovative therapies for TYA. Limited clinical trial availability is discussed in the context of the rarity of TYA cancers and our limited understanding of cancer biology in this group, other obstacles include inappropriate age eligibility criteria, limited accessibility to available trials, a lack of physicians and patients awareness and poor acceptability of trial design. We propose several strategies which could be applied to overcome these obstacles, some ready for implementation and others which require further exploration. Strengthening pediatric and adult oncology collaboration at the individual level and through oncology societies will undoubtedly positively impact accrual to trials for TYA, as will abolishing the use of age as a barrier to drug and trial access. This will allow us to create biologically driven trials and facilitate early new drug access and the creation of biobank collections to drive our understanding of the biology of cancers in this age group. Involving multiple stakeholders in trial design will facilitate acceptable trials to both healthcare professionals and young people themselves. The support of the multidisciplinary TYA team and a culture of research embedded within this are the keys to improving access and participation of TYA in cancer trials.