The Development of a Minority Recruitment Plan for Cancer Clinical Trials.

Monica Trevino,Steve Weitman Melissa Nashawati,Alberto Parra,Anand Karnad,Susan Padalecki

doi:10.4172/2161-0711.1000230

Abstract

Cancer does not occur in all ethnic and racial groups at similar rates. In addition, responses to treatment also vary in certain ethnic and racial groups. For Hispanics, the overall cancer incidence is generally lower yet for some specific tumor types, the incidence rates are higher compared to other populations. Although disparities are recognized for treatment outcomes and prevention methodologies for Hispanics and other minority populations, specific recruiting and reporting of minorities remains a challenge. In order to circumvent this problem, the Cancer Therapy and Research Center (CTRC) has developed a new minority recruitment plan for all cancer related clinical trials at this Institute. The overall goal of this initiative is to increase the accrual of minorities in cancer clinical trials by implementing several key interventions. The Cancer Therapy & Research Center (CTRC) at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio established the Clinical Trials Accrual Task Force to develop and monitor interventions designed to increase accrual to cancer clinical trials, specifically the accrual of minorities with a focus on the Hispanic population that makes up 68% of the CTRC's catchment area. A Minority Accrual Plan (MAP) was implemented in March 2013 as part of the process for initiating and conducting cancer-related clinical trials at the CTRC. The Minority Accrual Plan focuses on Hispanic enrollment due to the characteristics of the South Texas population served by the CTRC but could be easily adapted to other populations. The CTRC has designed a process to prospectively address the challenge of deliberately enrolling minority subjects and accurately accounting for the results by implementing a Minority Accrual Plan for every cancer-related clinical trial at CTRC.

Highlights

Cancer will be diagnosed in one of two men and one of three women during their lifetime in the U.S and this disease is the second most common cause of death [1]
The Minority Accrual Plan focuses on Hispanic enrollment due to the characteristics of the South Texas population served by the Cancer Therapy and Research Center (CTRC) but could be adapted to other populations
The CTRC has designed a process to prospectively address the challenge of deliberately enrolling minority subjects and accurately accounting for the results by implementing a Minority Accrual Plan for every cancer-related clinical trial at CTRC

Summary

Introduction

Cancer will be diagnosed in one of two men and one of three women during their lifetime in the U.S and this disease is the second most common cause of death [1]. Despite the significant burden of this disease, major improvements in cancer control, including innovations in cancer prevention, early detection, treatment, and supportive care have resulted in improved prognosis for patients confronted with a cancer diagnosis across the age spectrum. For most of these advances, the requisite step prior to the application of the medical intervention is to secure the results from one or more pivotal clinical trials that demonstrate an improved outcome. For patients of Hispanic ethnicity, the overall incidence rates of cancer are generally lower; yet for some specific tumor types, incidence rates are higher compared to other groups. For Hispanics, the overall cancer incidence is generally lower yet for some specific tumor types, the incidence rates are higher compared to other populations

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