QLTI-22. IMPROVING BRAIN CANCER PATIENT ACCESS TO CLINICAL TRIALS ACROSS SEVEN COMMUNITY HOSPITALS, THE PROVIDENCE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CLINICAL RESEARCH NETWORK

Abstract

Abstract Despite current FDA approved treatments for glioblastoma (GBM), prognosis remains poor. The rare patient population and limited access to clinical trials are factors in this poor prognosis. Clinical trials need to increase enrollment of patients with glioblastoma and other brain cancers to more rapidly develop more effective treatments. Clinical trials are featured on NCCN guidelines, and are considered “Standard of Care” by many experts. Multiple studies have shown that access to clinical trials is associated with improved survival in GBM, however, less than 25% of patients have access or are offered clinical trials. Access to clinical trials can be even more limited in community hospitals, while a large proportion of brain tumors are treated in smaller centers. Community hospitals care for a significant number of brain tumors annually. We have developed a Clinical Research Network for Neuro-Oncology within the Providence Network involving seven hospitals to date. In the past 3 years, we have grown the number of clinical trials available in outlying cities and counties spanning a distance of 60 miles. Between the seven hospitals in our network, we have 15 clinical trials currently open for brain cancer patients, of which, 3 trials were phase I studies. Over the past 2 years, we have enrolled 104 GBM patients in clinical trials. The ability to enhance access to clinical trials by Neuro-Oncologists treating patients in the community is feasible and promising.