Clinical trial participation by adolescents and young adults with cancer: A continued cause for concern?

Victoria White; Gemma Skaczkowski; Antoinette Anazodo; Helen Bibby; Wayne Nicholls; Ross Pinkerton; Kate Thompson; Lisa M Orme; Rachel Conyers; Michael Osborn; Marianne B Phillips; Rosemary Harrup; Rick Walker; Michael Coory

doi:10.1053/j.seminoncol.2018.04.002

Clinical trial participation by adolescents and young adults with cancer: A continued cause for concern?

Semin Oncol. 2018 Oct;45(5-6):275-283. doi: 10.1053/j.seminoncol.2018.04.002. Epub 2018 Apr 30.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Center for Behavioural Research in Cancer, Cancer Council Victoria, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Center for Behavioural Research in Cancer, Cancer Council Victoria, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness & Research Center, Austin Health, Heidelberg, VIC, Australia.
³ Kids Cancer Center, Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick, NSW, Australia; Nelune Comprehensive Cancer Center, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, NSW, Australia; School of Women's and Children's Health University of New South Wales, NSW, Australia.
⁴ Center for Behavioural Research in Cancer, Cancer Council Victoria, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
⁵ Children's Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service, South Brisbane QLD, Australia.
⁶ Peter MacCallum Cancer Center, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
⁷ Peter MacCallum Cancer Center, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Children's Cancer Center, The Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
⁸ Peter MacCallum Cancer Center, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Children's Cancer Center, The Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, VIC, Australia; Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
⁹ Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
¹⁰ Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, Subiaco, WA, Australia.
¹¹ Royal Hobart Hospital, Hobart, TAS, Australia.
¹² Children's Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service, South Brisbane QLD, Australia; Princess Alexandra Hospital, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia.
¹³ Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.

PMID: 30327126
DOI: 10.1053/j.seminoncol.2018.04.002

Abstract

International data indicate that rates of clinical trial enrolment for Adolescents and Young Adults (AYAs) with cancer are markedly lower than for any other age group. This paper reviews the recent literature reporting international trends in clinical trial enrolment since 2010. Subsequently, we present the first population-based, national assessment of clinical trial enrolment for AYAs with cancer in Australia. Reported rates of trial enrolment from Australia, Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom were variable, though consistently low, ranging between 2% and 29%. Trial enrolment was higher for younger AYAs (typically 15-19 years) and those attending pediatric hospitals, and this was replicated in the recent Australian data. The findings highlight a lack of substantial improvement in AYA clinical trial enrolment and in particular, a need for improved opportunities to access trials for patients treated at adult centers.

Keywords: AYA; Adolescents and young adults; Cancer; Clinical trials.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adult
Age Factors
Age of Onset
Clinical Trials as Topic*
Female
Humans
Male
Neoplasms / diagnosis
Neoplasms / epidemiology*
Neoplasms / etiology
Neoplasms / therapy
Patient Participation
Young Adult