Study Further Erodes Evidence for Eating Fruits and Vegetables to Prevent Cancer

Abstract

a third (168 of 509) said they planned to reduce their involvement in cooperative program trials, and 127 study sites cited insufficientper-casereimbursementfrom theNCI(BaerARetal.JOncolPract.2010; 6[3]:114-117). The current per-case reimbursement according to the survey is $2000 but the actual study costs per patient are $5000 to $6000. To address this problem, the IOM report recommends that the NCI increase the per-case reimbursement rate to cover the actual costs and allocate a larger proportion of its budget to the cooperative program, which currently accounts for less than 3% of the NCI’s budget. If such additional funding cannot be secured, the report recommends that the NCI reduce the number of trials undertaken by the cooperative groups so that those trials that go forward are adequately funded. In a statement, the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s immediate past presidentRichardL.Shilsky,MD,saidthe organization supports the IOM recommendations, but also urges the NCI to doubleitsfundingforthecooperativeprogram over the next 5 years.