scholarly journals Moving Beyond the Momentum: Innovative Approaches to Clinical Trial Implementation

2021 ◽  
pp. OP.20.00701
Author(s):  
Cathy Eng ◽  
Emerson Y. Chen ◽  
Jane Rogers ◽  
Mark Lewis ◽  
Jonathan Strosberg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trial ◽  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Low Income ◽  
White Paper ◽  
Cooperative Groups ◽  
Trial Conduct ◽  
Patients With Cancer ◽  
Conducting Research ◽  
National Cooperative ◽  
Physician Availability

Despite efforts to enhance enrollment and the merger of national cooperative groups, < 5% of patients with cancer will enroll into a clinical trial. Additionally, clinical trials are affected by a lack of diversity inclusive of minority patients, rural residents, or low-income individuals. COVID-19 further exacerbated known barriers of reduced physician-patient interaction, physician availability, trial activation and enrollment, financial resources, and capacity for conducting research. Based on the cumulative insight of academic and community clinical researchers, we have created a white paper identifying existing challenges in clinical trial conduct and have provided specific recommendations of sustainable modifications to improve efficiency in the activation and conduct of clinical trials with an overarching goal of providing improved access and care to our patients with cancer.

Artificial Intelligence Tool for Optimizing Eligibility Screening for Clinical Trials in a Large Community Cancer Center

2020 ◽  
pp. 50-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Thaddeus Beck ◽  
Melissa Rammage ◽  
Gretchen P. Jackson ◽  
Anita M. Preininger ◽  
Irene Dankwa-Mullan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Clinical Trial ◽  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Language Processing ◽  
Medical Records ◽  
Cancer Center ◽  
Patients With Cancer ◽  
Attribute Extraction ◽  
Time Required ◽  
Manual Review

PURPOSE Less than 5% of patients with cancer enroll in clinical trials, and 1 in 5 trials are stopped for poor accrual. We evaluated an automated clinical trial matching system that uses natural language processing to extract patient and trial characteristics from unstructured sources and machine learning to match patients to clinical trials. PATIENTS AND METHODS Medical records from 997 patients with breast cancer were assessed for trial eligibility at Highlands Oncology Group between May and August 2016. System and manual attribute extraction and eligibility determinations were compared using the percentage of agreement for 239 patients and 4 trials. Sensitivity and specificity of system-generated eligibility determinations were measured, and the time required for manual review and system-assisted eligibility determinations were compared. RESULTS Agreement between system and manual attribute extraction ranged from 64.3% to 94.0%. Agreement between system and manual eligibility determinations was 81%-96%. System eligibility determinations demonstrated specificities between 76% and 99%, with sensitivities between 91% and 95% for 3 trials and 46.7% for the 4th. Manual eligibility screening of 90 patients for 3 trials took 110 minutes; system-assisted eligibility determinations of the same patients for the same trials required 24 minutes. CONCLUSION In this study, the clinical trial matching system displayed a promising performance in screening patients with breast cancer for trial eligibility. System-assisted trial eligibility determinations were substantially faster than manual review, and the system reliably excluded ineligible patients for all trials and identified eligible patients for most trials.

scholarly journals Patients with cancer in the COVID-19 era: the clinical trial issue

2020 ◽  
Vol 106 (4) ◽  
pp. 271-272 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcello Scarcia ◽  
Giuseppe Mario Ludovico ◽  
Angela Fortunato ◽  
Alba Fiorentino
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trial ◽  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Physical Examination ◽  
Regulatory Agencies ◽  
Study Medication ◽  
Therapeutic Modalities ◽  
Patients With Cancer ◽  
Safety Guidelines ◽  
Trial Discontinuation

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) hospital reorganization may result in reduced ability for the hospital to fully use its armamentarium for battling cancer. Thus different therapeutic modalities have been recommended. During the pandemic, despite regulatory agencies’ recommendations, several considerations and doubts remain for oncologic clinical trials. Considering patients who had been enrolled before the pandemic, and who plan to take the study medication, the situation becomes complicated. These patients should undergo monitoring visits, blood sampling, questionnaire, physical examination, and drug and radiation administration. To avoid deviations from the protocol and trial discontinuation, follow-up should be performed regularly, in concordance with safety guidelines. Here we report several considerations.

scholarly journals Current models, challenges and best practices for work conducted between European academic cooperative groups and industry

ESMO Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. e000628
Author(s):  
Rolf A Stahel ◽  
Denis Lacombe ◽  
Fatima Cardoso ◽  
Paolo G Casali ◽  
Anastassia Negrouk ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Working Group ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Data Access ◽  
Cooperative Groups ◽  
Effective Strategies ◽  
Patients With Cancer ◽  
Oncology Research ◽  
Industry Partnerships ◽  
Multi Stakeholder

BackgroundThe academia-industry interface is important, and, despite challenges that inevitably occur, bears the potential for positive synergies to emerge. Perceived barriers to wider collaboration in academia-industry oncology research in Europe need to be addressed, current academic cooperative group and industry models for collaboration need to be discussed, and a common terminology to facilitate understanding of both sectors’ concerns needs to be established with an eye towards improving academia-industry partnerships on clinical trials for the benefit of patients with cancer.MethodologyCAREFOR (Clinical Academic Cancer Research Forum), a multi-stakeholder platform formed to improve the direction for academic clinical trials in the field of oncology in Europe, formed the CAREFOR-Industry Working Group comprised of experienced professionals from European academic cooperative groups joined by industry representatives selected based on their activities in the area of medical oncology. They jointly discussed academic cooperative groups, clinical trials conducted between academic cooperative groups and industry, examples of successful collaborative models, common legal negotiation points in clinical trial contracts, data access, and principles of interaction.ResultsFour principles of interaction between the academia and industry are proposed: (1) clarify the roles and responsibilities of all partners involved in the study, (2) involve legal teams from an early stage; (3) acknowledge that data is an important output of the study, (4) agree on the intent of the trial prior to its start.ConclusionsThe CAREFOR-Industry Working Group describes current models, challenges, and effective strategies for academia-industry research in Europe with an eye towards improving academia-industry partnerships on clinical trials for patients with cancer. Current perceived challenges are explained, and future opportunities/recommendations for improvement are described for the areas of most significant impact. Challenges are addressed from both the academic and industry perspectives, and principles of interaction for the optimal alignment between academia and industry in selected areas are proposed.

Identification of Cancer Care and Protocol Characteristics Associated With Recruitment in Breast Cancer Clinical Trials

2008 ◽  
Vol 26 (27) ◽  
pp. 4458-4465 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie Lemieux ◽  
Pamela J. Goodwin ◽  
Kathleen I. Pritchard ◽  
Karen A. Gelmon ◽  
Louise J. Bordeleau ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Clinical Trial ◽  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Cancer Care ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Cancer Clinical Trials ◽  
Cooperative Groups ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
Trial Protocols ◽  
Few Data

Purpose It is estimated that only 5% of patients with cancer participate in a clinical trial. Barriers to participation may relate to available protocols, physicians, and patients, but few data exist on barriers related to cancer care environments and protocol characteristics. Methods The primary objective was to identify characteristics of cancer care environments and clinical trial protocols associated with a low recruitment into breast cancer clinical trials. Secondary objectives were to determine yearly recruitment fraction onto clinical trials from 1997 to 2002 in Ontario, Canada, and to compare recruitment fraction among years. Questionnaires were sent to hospitals requesting characteristics of cancer care environments and to cooperative groups/pharmaceutical companies for information on protocols and the number of patients recruited per hospital/year. Poisson regression was used to estimate the recruitment fraction. Results Questionnaire completion rate varied between 69% and 100%. Recruitment fraction varied between 5.4% and 8.5% according to year. More than 30% of patients were diagnosed in hospitals with no available trials. In multivariate analysis, the following characteristics were associated with recruitment: use of placebo versus not (relative risk [RR] = 0.80; P = .05), nonmetastatic versus metastatic trial (RR = 2.80; P < .01), and for nonmetastatic trials, protocol allowing an interval of 12 weeks or longer versus less than 12 weeks (from diagnosis, surgery, or end of therapy) before enrollment (RR = 1.36; P < .01). Conclusion Allowable interval of 12 weeks or longer to randomly assign patients in clinical trials could help recruitment. In our study, absence of an available clinical trial represented the largest barrier to recruitment.

scholarly journals Strategies for developing sustainable health research capacity in low and middle-income countries: a prospective, qualitative study investigating the barriers and enablers to locally led clinical trial conduct in Ethiopia, Cameroon and Sri Lanka

BMJ Open ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (10) ◽  
pp. e017246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel R P Franzen ◽  
Clare Chandler ◽  
Sisira Siribaddana ◽  
Julius Atashili ◽  
Brian Angus ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trial ◽  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Necessary Conditions ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Trial Conduct ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Barriers And Enablers ◽  
Research Systems ◽  
Clinical Trial Conduct

ObjectivesIn 2013, the WHO stated that unless low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) become producers of research, health goals would be hard to achieve. Among the capacities required to build a local evidence base, ability to conduct clinical trials is important. There is no evidence-based guidance for the best ways to develop locally led trial capacity. This research aims to identify the barriers and enablers to locally led clinical trial conduct in LMICs and determine strategies for their sustainable development.DesignProspective, multiple case study design consisting of interviews (n=34), focus group discussions (n=13) and process mapping exercises (n=10).SettingCase studies took place in Ethiopia (2011), Cameroon (2012) and Sri Lanka (2013).ParticipantsLocal health researchers with previous experiences of clinical trials or stakeholders with an interest in trials were purposively selected through registration searches and snowball sampling (n=100).Primary and secondary outcome measuresDiscussion notes and transcripts were analysed using thematic coding analysis. Key themes and mechanisms were identified.ResultsInstitutions and individuals were variably successful at conducting trials, but there were strong commonalities in the barriers and enablers across all levels and functions of the research systems. Transferable mechanisms were summarised into the necessary conditions for trial undertaking, which included: awareness of research, motivation, knowledge and technical skills, leadership capabilities, forming collaborations, inclusive trial operations, policy relevance and uptake and macro and institutional strengthening.ConclusionsBarriers and enablers to locally led trial undertaking exist at all levels and functions of LMIC research systems. Establishing the necessary conditions to facilitate this research will require multiple, coordinated interventions that seek to resolve them in a systemic manner. The strategies presented in the discussion provide an evidence-based framework for a self-sustaining capacity development approach. This represents an important contribution to the literature that will be relevant for research funders, users and producers.

scholarly journals Financial Concerns About Participation in Clinical Trials Among Patients With Cancer

2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (5) ◽  
pp. 479-487 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu-Ning Wong ◽  
Mark D. Schluchter ◽  
Terrance L. Albrecht ◽  
Al Bowen Benson ◽  
Joanne Buzaglo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trial ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Sex Education ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Decisional Conflict ◽  
Decision Quality ◽  
Patients With Cancer ◽  
Financial Concern

Purpose The decision to enroll in a clinical trial is complex given the uncertain risks and benefits of new approaches. Many patients also have financial concerns. We sought to characterize the association between financial concerns and the quality of decision making about clinical trials. Methods We conducted a secondary data analysis of a randomized trial of a Web-based educational tool (Preparatory Education About Clinical Trials) designed to improve the preparation of patients with cancer for making decisions about clinical trial enrollment. Patients completed a baseline questionnaire that included three questions related to financial concerns (five-point Likert scales): “How much of a burden on you is the cost of your medical care?,” “I'm afraid that my health insurance won't pay for a clinical trial,” and “I’m worried that I wouldn’t be able to afford the costs of treatment on a clinical trial.” Results were summed, with higher scores indicating greater concerns. We used multiple linear regressions to measure the association between concerns and self-reported measures of self-efficacy, preparation for decision making, distress, and decisional conflict in separate models, controlling for sociodemographic characteristics. Results One thousand two hundred eleven patients completed at least one financial concern question. Of these, 27% were 65 years or older, 58% were female, and 24% had a high school education or less. Greater financial concern was associated with lower self-efficacy and preparation for decision making, as well as with greater decisional conflict and distress, even after adjustment for age, race, sex, education, employment, and hospital location (P < .001 for all models). Conclusion Financial concerns are associated with several psychological constructs that may negatively influence decision quality regarding clinical trials. Greater attention to patients’ financial needs and concerns may reduce distress and improve patient decision making.

scholarly journals ASSOCIATION BETWEEN CERTAIN DEMOGRAPHIC INDEXES AND THE NUMBER OF CLINICAL TRIALS IN THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA

2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 3619-3623
Author(s):  
Liliya Bogdanova ◽  
◽  
Valentina Belcheva ◽  
Evgeni Grigorov ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trial ◽  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Life Expectancy ◽  
Demographic Factors ◽  
European Economic Area ◽  
European Economic ◽  
Trial Conduct ◽  
Economic Area ◽  
Disability Adjusted Life ◽  
Life Years

Purpose: The number of clinical trials conducted by the industry has increased significantly for the period 2014-2016. They have produced advances in disease prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation for many diseases. This was the main reason to carry a study on the association between certain demographic indexes and the number of clinical trials in the European economic area. Proving a correlation between those two variables could lead to additional research pursued by the industry during the feasibility phase of each study in order to have higher and quicker enrollment for the success of the clinical trial. Materials/Methods: Three demographic factors were considered to have some importance on the clinical trial enrollment – the number of population, life expectancy at age 65 and Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALY). The numbers were processed with Spearman‘rho, and the read of the results shows a correlation to be present for the number of population and life expectancy at age 65. Results: There is a correlation between the number of clinical trials opened for enrollment of patients and certain demographic indexes, which could lead to favorable conditions for trial conduct in the different countries of EEA. Conclusions: Studying in advance if some demographic factors are significant for conduct of clinical studies is something new that could be used by the industry to avoid the wastefulness of a clinical project.

scholarly journals Optimizing eligibility criteria and clinical trial conduct to enhance clinical trial participation for primary brain tumor patients

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eudocia Q Lee ◽  
Michael Weller ◽  
Joohee Sul ◽  
Stephen J Bagley ◽  
Solmaz Sahebjam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trial ◽  
Response Assessment ◽  
Primary Brain Tumor ◽  
Trial Participation ◽  
Cooperative Groups ◽  
Clinical Trial Participation ◽  
Eligibility Criteria ◽  
Trial Conduct ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Clinical Trial Conduct

Abstract Building on an initiative to enhance clinical trial participation involving the Society for Neuro-Oncology, the Response Assessment in Neuro-Oncology Working Group, patient advocacy groups, clinical trial cooperative groups, and other partners, we evaluate the impact of eligibility criteria and trial conduct on neuro-oncology clinical trial participation. Clinical trials often carry forward eligibility criteria from prior studies that may be overly restrictive and unnecessary and needlessly limit patient accrual. Inclusion and exclusion criteria should be evaluated based on the goals and design of the study and whether they impact patient safety and/or treatment efficacy. In addition, we evaluate clinical trial conduct as a barrier to accrual and discuss strategies to minimize such barriers for neuro-oncology trials.

scholarly journals Perceptions of Participation in a Phase I, II, or III Clinical Trial Among African American Patients With Cancer: What Do Refusers Say?

2013 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 287-293 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard F. Brown ◽  
Debbie L. Cadet ◽  
Robert H. Houlihan ◽  
Maria D. Thomson ◽  
Emily C. Pratt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trial ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Clinical Trials ◽  
African American ◽  
Phase I ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Patients With Cancer ◽  
Aid Decision ◽  
Physician Recommendations

Low rates of physician recommendations of African American patients to clinical trials warrant further investigation. Interventions to reduce misunderstandings and aid decision making need to target both patients and family members.

Evaluation of barriers to clinical trial enrollment through a novel pharmacy quality assurance tool

2007 ◽  
Vol 25 (18_suppl) ◽  
pp. 17026-17026
Author(s):  
D. C. Vamos ◽  
M. P. Kane ◽  
J. Nishioka ◽  
S. Lisi ◽  
J. R. Neceskas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trial ◽  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Performance Status ◽  
Pharmacy Service ◽  
Cancer Center ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
Available N ◽  
Patients With Cancer ◽  
Barriers To Enrollment ◽  
Pharmacy Quality

17026 Background: Clinical trials offer the best treatment for patients with cancer, yet less than 5 percent of adults and less than 60 percent of children are enrolled on clinical trials. To determine reasons for lack of enrollment on clinical trials and to assess areas for potential trial development, we designed a ‘non-protocol’ form for use at our center. Our goal was to assess deficiencies in our menu of trials, identify other barriers to enrollment, and to indirectly increase awareness of trials. Methods: Completion of a ‘non-protocol’ form was required by the pharmacy with the first set of new chemotherapy orders for all Cancer Institute of New Jersey ambulatory patients who were not enrolled on a clinical trial. The form required completion of one of three areas for lack of enrollment: trial availability, reason for ineligibility, or other reason for not enrolling the patient. Results: From June 2003 through December 2005, 474 forms were collected for patients not enrolled on a clinical trial. The median age of patients not enrolled on trial was 56 years (range 1 to 88 years) and females outnumbered males (69% vs 31%). Lack of trial availability limited enrollment for 51% of patients (n=241) while administration of standard therapy was listed for 10 patients. Of those patients where a trial was available (n=223), 65% (n=145) of patients were not eligible, most commonly due to performance status (n=55). The remaining 78 patients refused participation. To determine if implementation of this pharmacy service changed the reasons for lack of enrollment, the data was evaluated by year: Conclusion: Lack of trial availability has been a rate-limiting factor in enrollment on clinical trials at our center. The data generated from the implementation of this novel pharmacy service is of strategic importance to the center. It is reviewed with the tumor-focused groups of the cancer center to identify areas for developing clinical trials. [Table: see text] No significant financial relationships to disclose.

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